Manzanar National Historic Site To Host 57th Annual Pilgrimage April 24-26

INYO COUNTY, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Manzanar National Historic Site will host the 57th annual Manzanar Pilgrimage from April 24 through April 26, bringing together formerly incarcerated Japanese Americans, their families and descendants, and members of the public to honor those held at the site during World War II.

According to information provided by the Manzanar National Historic Site, the annual event is organized by the Manzanar Committee and serves as a time of remembrance, reflection, and community gathering.

According to historical records, Manzanar was one of 10 incarceration camps where more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and detained during World War II under Executive Order 9066. Located in the Owens Valley near the eastern Sierra Nevada, the site held over 10,000 people at its peak, many of whom were U.S. citizens removed from their homes along the West Coast. Today, Manzanar is preserved as a national historic site to educate the public about this period in American history and the civil liberties issues surrounding it.

The main pilgrimage ceremony will begin at noon on Saturday at the Manzanar Cemetery. A free shuttle service will run from the visitor center parking lot to the cemetery between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Events will begin earlier in the day with a performance by Kyodo Taiko, a student-run taiko drumming ensemble from UCLA, scheduled for 11:30 a.m., followed by a procession of camp banners at noon.

Speakers hosted by the Manzanar Committee will begin at noon near the cemetery, followed by an interfaith service at the Manzanar Cemetery Monument. The program will conclude with a closing ceremony and ondo dancing, a traditional Japanese dance honoring ancestors.

The Manzanar Pilgrimage, which began in 1969, has become an important annual tradition focused on remembrance, education, and civil rights awareness.

Visitors planning to attend are encouraged to bring water, snacks, and a chair, as seating and food will not be available on-site. Attendees should also wear sunscreen, a hat, comfortable shoes, and dress appropriately for the weather.

The annual event continues to serve as a powerful reminder of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the importance of protecting constitutional rights.

For more information, visit the Manzanar National Historic Site Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ManzanarNationalHistoricSite.

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