Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, National Memorial in Bainbridge Island, United States
The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial is a site dedicated to honoring those forcibly removed from the island in 1942. The memorial features a 276-foot wall constructed with granite and cedar panels, along with a 150-foot cedar fence containing 276 identical posts, one representing each person displaced.
Bainbridge Island was the first location in the United States where Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes under Executive Order 9066 in March 1942. This forced removal set a precedent that led to widespread displacement of Japanese American families across the nation during World War II.
The site honors the Japanese American community through its design, which emphasizes individual human stories rather than abstract historical facts. Visitors can encounter personal narratives and names displayed throughout, connecting the memorial's purpose directly to real people and their families.
The memorial is accessible daily from sunrise to sunset and sits in a quiet waterfront location that is easy to walk around. Guided tours are available through the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum for those wanting more detailed information about the site.
The 150-foot cedar fence with 276 posts was intentionally designed to change with the seasons as the wood naturally ages and weathers over time. This living element means the memorial is never static, subtly transforming and presenting a different appearance with each visit throughout the year.
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