Recently arrived interned Japanese-Americans queue for housing assignments. Begun in March of 1942, the Manzanar War Relocation Center was built by Los Angeles contractor Griffith and Company. Construction proceeded 10 hours a day 7 days a week; major construction was completed within six weeks. On March 21 the first 82 Japanese Americans made the 220-mile trip by bus from Los Angeles. More volunteers soon followed to help build the relocation center. Over the next few days 146 more Japanese Americans arrived in 140 cars and trucks under military escort. Another 500 Japanese Americans, mostly older men, arrived from Los Angeles by train. By mid April, up to 1,000 Japanese Americans were arriving at Manzanar a day and by mid May Manzanar had a population of over 7,000. By July Manzanar‘s population was nearly 10,000. Over 90 percent of the evacuees were from the Los Angeles area; others were from Stockton, California, and Bainbridge Island, Washington. Manzanar incarcerated 10,046 internees at its peak. A total of 11,070 people would be imprisoned there. The War Relocation Authority closed Manzanar On November 21, 1945. | |
Image Filename | wwii1103.jpg |
Image Size | 279.83 KB |
Image Dimensions | 983 x 754 |
Photographer | Unknown |
Photographer Title | |
Caption Author | Jason McDonald |
Date Photographed | April 24, 1942 |
Location | Manzanar War Relocation Center |
City | Manzanar War Relocation Center |
State or Province | California |
Country | United States |
Archive | |
Record Number | |
Status | Caption ©2007, ©2024 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission |
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