Amache National Historic Site

National Treasure Visited #12 on Shea’s Ultimate American Quest
First Experienced During Quest On: November 14, 2023

Amache National Historic Site preserves the location of the Granada War Relocation Center, one of the ten internment camps where Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated during World War II. Located near Granada, Colorado, Amache housed over 7,500 Japanese Americans between 1942 and 1945. Despite harsh living conditions and the unjust circumstances of their imprisonment, the residents of Amache built a resilient community, creating schools, churches, and businesses within the camp.

Designated a National Historic Site in 2022, Amache stands as a powerful reminder of a dark chapter in American history and a testament to the strength and perseverance of the Japanese American community. The site includes restored structures, a memorial cemetery, and a museum that preserves personal artifacts and stories from former internees and their families.

Amache’s status as a national site underscores its significance in confronting racial injustice and safeguarding civil liberties. It serves as a place of remembrance and education, ensuring that the lessons of wartime incarceration remain relevant for future generations. Visitors to Amache can reflect on the complex history and resilience that define this sacred site.

A small, elevated guard tower stands on wooden stilts in a dry, grassy field under a clear blue sky. Nearby, there's a long, low wooden barracks. In the distance, a water tower is visible against the open landscape.

Shea's Videos and Travel Journal Entries Tagged with Amache National Historic Site

Under a blue sky with wispy clouds, the wooden watchtower and brown building stand in open grassland. A solitary windmill marks the horizon at Amache National Historic Site, a path leading toward this poignant reminder of a darker chapter in U.S. history. Leafless trees scatter the background.
Visiting a Dark Chapter of U.S. History: Amache National Historic Site
It's still hard to believe that at the beginning of World War II, the United States turned over 110,000 Japanese in concentration camps, including this one in southeastern Colorado.
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A small brown barracks with a window is in the foreground on the left. In the background, a wooden guard tower with a weather vane stands in a flat, dry landscape under a blue sky with scattered clouds. The scene is bright and open, suggesting a rural setting.
A traditional Japanese Hina doll display features intricately dressed dolls in red and gold attire, set on a tiered platform with a green roof. Nearby is a historical book with Japanese text, placed on a black tablecloth, surrounded by informational displays and an instrument.
Side view of a brown barracks with white trim. The wall displays the text "BLOCK 12H BLDG. 7" in black stencil. Two windows are visible along the side. The ground is dry grass, and the sky is clear with a few wispy clouds.
A sunlit park scene with two white metal benches facing a tall stone monument on a grassy area. The monument is surrounded by a low fence, and trees with sparse leaves stand in the background. The sky is partly cloudy with a flagpole behind the monument.
Display featuring a traditional Japanese kimono with floral patterns on a wooden stand, surrounded by framed art and a Time magazine cover on blue walls. Below the kimono is a glass case with a ceremonial sword. The area is cordoned off with black stanchions.
A faded historic information board titled "A Place of Honor and Rest" details life during the Amache War Relocation Authority's operation. Includes sepia photos of grave markers, a clergyman and veterans at a cemetery, period cars, and barracks. The text highlights the 1943 events and the Amache site.
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