TULE LAKE INTERNMENT CAMP TODAY

Having explained a little of the history of the Tule Lake internment camp, my husband and I decided to take a trip there and see first hand what it looks like today. We were especially interested because we saw on the website that there will be a pilgrimage there July 3rd through the 6th of this year. Also, in December 2006 President Bush signed a bill setting aside $38,000,000 for the rehabilitation of Tule Lake and the nine other internment camps throughout the United States.

We took the trip north on Highway 97 and turned off just north of Dorris onto Highway 161 which led us along the Oregon border and through the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. It was truly amazing to stop and watch the thousands of birds and the different species of birds along the way. If you go, bring your binoculars. There is even a view area as well as roads that take you right through the refuge. As we drove along the terrain became more and more desolate and lonely. We reached the small of Tule Lake, which seemed almost deserted. There are signs of potato fields and cold storage sheds along the way.

Actually, the camp is located in Modoc County just over the border from Siskiyou county near the tiny town of Newell, and equally desolate and lonely place. On the left side of the road there is a memorial placed there in 1976. A plaque explains the false imprisonment of many Japanese Americans from 1942 to 1946. Behind the memorial is high fencing used to keep people from escaping. We drove in to the area itself. It was disgraceful. Many of the old barracks were still there. Nothing had been done as far as restoration. Even worse, people were living in many of these buildings. The poverty and unsanitary conditions were appalling.. Most of the buildings should have been condemned. We did see a few signs place on buildings saying that they were unsafe.

In 1988, President Ragan signed the Civil Liberties Act, which gave reparations to survivors and issuance of an official apology by the United States Government. I find it shameful that even with the money given for restoration in 2006, nothing has been done to preserve this site as a reminder of how insane we can be in times of war. War itself is insanity. Who is in charge of the money and the project? I am going to try and find out.