The temporary on-site trailer is generally staffed during the weekends, with the exception of winter, by staff when available. Inside, visitors can find informational pamphlets, Junior Ranger booklets, the National Park Service stamp, and additional interpretive materials about the impact of EO 9066 on Bainbridge Islanders. The station remains locked when the park ranger is out roaming the memorial grounds.
To reach a Ranger call:
206-713-8407
Passport Stamp Available Here
Request a tour
Crafted by the Timber Framers Guild in 2006, the pavilion was constructed using traditional Japanese woodworking methods, including hand planing and the use of no metal fasteners. Inside, visitors will find informational panels that explain the history of Japanese Americans on Bainbridge Island and the importance of community allyship before, during, and after the exclusion.
A ”Story Wall,” constructed of native cedar and granite, is a focal point of the Memorial. The Wall follows the exact path that the Japanese Americans walked on March 30, 1942, as they were forcibly removed from their homes and exiled to incarceration sites during WWII. The Wall tells the story of Japanese Americans of Bainbridge Island through terra cotta artworks that capture and depict quotes from survivor oral histories. The Wall spans 276 feet, one foot for each of the 276 residents who were excluded from the island. The names and ages of all 276 residents are memorialized on the Story Wall. The Wall and surrounding landscape create an environment for learning, rememberance, and reflection.
The Departure Deck sits at the exact location of the former Eagledale Ferry Dock, from which Japanese Americans departed at the start of their forced removal to Manzanar. An interpretive public art installation evokes the feelings of fear and uncertainty that the Japanese Americans experienced as they departed for an unknown destination and an indeterminate amount of time. The artwork consist of steel sculptures created by Vaughan, Washington artists Anna Brones and Luc Revel, and a gate created using the shou sugi ban woodburning technique by long-time memorial advocate John Buday.
Connected to the memorial is Pritchard Park a 50-acre beachfront park with a small trail system and a view of the Seattle Skyline and Mount Rainier. This area is great for watching the ferries, searching for wildlife, or enjoying a beach picnic after visiting the memorial.
