Locked Away- An Internment Camp in our backyard?

Growing up in the “land of the free”, it’s hard to imagine that not too long ago, we had internment camps in our own backyard. And for over 17,000 people, these scars from their past run deep.

Between 1942 and 1945 Poston Camp incarcerated 17,867 Japanese men, women and children. Regarded as the largest and hottest camp at 115 degrees in the summer (with humidity off the Colorado River), Poston War Relocation Camp is located 17 miles south of Parker, AZ and encompassed over 71,000 acres.

Evacuees of Japanese descent were forcibly taken from their homes and only allowed to bring with them what they could carry. The majority of people were from Los Angeles and San Diego, CA and the government saw anyone with at least 1/16th of Japanese blood as a threat to the United States during World War II.

Poston encompassed three camps in the area known as Poston Camps I, II and III. Camp I was the largest and had 36 residential evacuee blocks and each block contained a staggering 14 barracks, a mess hall, rec building, bathrooms, laundry facilities, staff housing, admin buildings, a hospital and police headquarters. Camp II had even more residential blocks, staff housing, storage and warehouse buildings, a swimming pool. fire station, medical facilities, fire station and carpentry shop. While Camp III had 18 residential blocks, an elementary and high school, staff housing, admin buildings, a library, auditorium, stage, two swimming pools and a dry goods store.

It would seem as if the internees had their own fully functional city, but the reality of life in the camp was harsh, barren and frightening. The government only allocated $.40 cents a day for food, so the internees grew their own fruits and vegetables and raised their own chickens and pigs. Housing was extremely primitive and the lack of privacy was incredibly difficult for the Japanese women who were required to do ALL of their daily routines in front of others.

As time passed, 662 babies were born and 221 adults passed away at the Poston Camps and the quality of education and job opportunities were seriously lacking, while hope and morale were fading.

For years, tens of thousands of people were locked away in the desert, forced to start over and build a life out of sand and fear. It wasn’t until the spring of 1944 that the executive order was lifted and the internees were finally free. All that stands today of those indignities are some derelict buildings, a beautiful memorial monument and a haunting reminder of what life must have been like for those imprisoned families.

Although the Totally Trailer gang did not take our RV here and there is no RV camping at the site, it is certainly a fascinating day trip from Parker, AZ.

The monument has a few benches and a kiosk with photos and informational brochure too.

Built in 1992 a beautiful monument was constructed in memory of internees of Poston Camps

Plaque and memorial in Poston honoring the site

Now un-maintained and overgrown by vegetation, these lonely and abandoned roads indicate the presence of a once populated camp.

Deserted living quarters now rotting away in the Arizona sun and over-run by rodents and bees

Wandering through abandoned places is both exciting and eerie!

Walking through the burnt and broken down elementary school

In awe of the adobe bricks still hanging on after years of the harsh elements and devastating recent fire to the school building

A massive warehouse houses thousands of old books, textbooks, files and magazine from a bygone era

Newspapers for the entire year of 1971 on display and stored in Poston

A hidden plaque survives time, fires and weather to proudly display the site of the Poston Elementary School

One of many residential evacuee blocks serve as an eerie reminder of war, fear and imprisonment

A rusty old water tower marks the relocation camp vicinity

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