National Japanese American Memorial
National Japanese American Memorial
National Japanese American Memorial
4.5
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- Union Station • 7 min walk
- Judiciary Square • 9 min walk
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
72 reviews
Excellent
41
Very good
23
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7
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Da M
Hilo, HI173 contributions
Jan 2013 • Solo
The maps of the Washington, DC area lists this site as a museum which it is not. It is an outdoor memorial. It gives a brief history of Americans of Japanese Ancestry in the United States, the formation of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team (the most decorated unit in the History of the US Army, MIS, the wrongful interment of AJAs during World War II, etc. The memorial also lists the larger US World War II Internment Camps that imprisoned tens of thousand of Americans of Japanese Ancestry.
Written January 17, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
snailkite
Northern Virginia, VA691 contributions
Apr 2012 • Family
This is an important memorial when learning, or teaching, about American history. The National Japanese American Memorial both recognizes the sacrifice, and bravery, of Japanese American soldiers and WWII, and the forced internment of Japanese Americans in the United States. The central monument of two cranes on a pedestal, wrapped in barbed wire, has many significances, and for most viewers it relates to the spirit of freedom held back by captivity. Note that the cranes rise just above the restricting walls of the monument. The walls list the names of Japanese American soldiers who gave their lives for America during the war.
The names of the 10 relocation camps, and their locations, are listed on other walls. Soil from each of the relocation camps has been placed under its respective wall. Visitors can reflect on how sometimes we, the people, react negatively towards a minority in America. Keep in mind that our Constitution was established, in part, to protect minority rights in the face of majority rule.
The last portion of this monument has a small pool with five rocks emerging from the waters, representing the five generations of Japanese Americans who existed when the monument was created. And finally there is a long tubular bell, designed by Paul Matisse, that visitors can strike using a lever system. The singular tone of the bell resounds beautifully in the plaza, and is a great joy for the children who visit the monument.
The names of the 10 relocation camps, and their locations, are listed on other walls. Soil from each of the relocation camps has been placed under its respective wall. Visitors can reflect on how sometimes we, the people, react negatively towards a minority in America. Keep in mind that our Constitution was established, in part, to protect minority rights in the face of majority rule.
The last portion of this monument has a small pool with five rocks emerging from the waters, representing the five generations of Japanese Americans who existed when the monument was created. And finally there is a long tubular bell, designed by Paul Matisse, that visitors can strike using a lever system. The singular tone of the bell resounds beautifully in the plaza, and is a great joy for the children who visit the monument.
Written April 28, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CynthiafromOhio2011
Cleveland, OH346 contributions
Apr 2012 • Friends
This is a small park that was dedicated during the Clinton era. It consists of two Japanese cranes trapped in barbed wire on top of a tall pedestal. There is a a landscaped plaza, with a water feature including large rocks. There is also a circular granite wall that curves around the Japanese cranes and includes the names of WW II battles that Japanese Americans fought in, as well as the names of the 10 internment camps that housed 120,000 Japanese.
It is a quiet reflective park and according to locals I talked with, it does not seem many tourists. I thought it was worth a short visit. It is adminstered by the National Park Service, but there are no rangers or information available there.
DC has a lot of these hidden gems and when you are here, you owe it to yourself to find at least one or two of them (in addition to spending time at the major sites).
It is a quiet reflective park and according to locals I talked with, it does not seem many tourists. I thought it was worth a short visit. It is adminstered by the National Park Service, but there are no rangers or information available there.
DC has a lot of these hidden gems and when you are here, you owe it to yourself to find at least one or two of them (in addition to spending time at the major sites).
Written April 19, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raintree_Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand3,760 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
Officially known as the "Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II," this important memorial is unfortunately little known and seldom visited. Located a few blocks north of the Capitol Building, it commemorates and apologizes for the internment of 120,000 Japanese-Americans during WWII. I didn't find the design of the memorial all that impressive (sculpture of cranes and listing of the numbers of individuals interned at each camp), but the focus is important and the quotes by leaders are very powerful. The memorial was completed and dedicated in 2001.
Written August 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hsphoser36
Washington DC, DC997 contributions
Our Uncle Roy 's name is engraved here. He died just days before the armistice in Italy, shot by a sniper. We come back to remember him when we are in town
Written July 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin K
Dumfries150 contributions
Jan 2013 • Solo
Stumbled across this park walking along Louisiana Avenue - I had heard about it but did not know exactly where it was. It's very well done, and tells the story of the contributions of Japanese Americans in combat during WWII, and the interment of Japanese Americans in 10 detention camps over five years, simply and powerfully.
It's a reminder of what this country is supposed to be about, and that sometimes, we really screw it up. Engraved in stone is the official determination that the detentions were militarily unnecessary and that compensation was made to those affected, and language to the effect of the token nature of that compensation. Worth a look.
It's a reminder of what this country is supposed to be about, and that sometimes, we really screw it up. Engraved in stone is the official determination that the detentions were militarily unnecessary and that compensation was made to those affected, and language to the effect of the token nature of that compensation. Worth a look.
Written January 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patsy D
Columbus, Ohio328 contributions
Apr 2012 • Couples
I have a family member who is Japanese-American and served in WWII and this meant a lot to me
Written April 14, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D2J8
Washington DC, DC8 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
I walked past the back of this on my way to work almost every day for a year and never realized it was there until I took a trolley tour of DC recently. I'm so glad this simple, yet moving memorial exists to remind us of one of the many shameful periods in American history.
Written August 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patsy L
Washington, DC95 contributions
Apr 2015 • Solo
This small but powerful memorial lists the sites where Japanese-Americans were detained during WWII. A small pond/fountain (when it is not freezing) provides a subtle reminder of the horrors faced by American citizens detained by the US Government because of their racial background.
Written April 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ms. Yokohama
Yokohama, Japan613 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
This is a beautiful tribute to the Japanese-Americans who had such a tough time in the U.S. during WWII. There is a dramatic statue of two cranes trying to break free of barbed wire. There are quotations from famous Japanese-Americans. This is an outdoors memorial. No entry fee, and it's always open. The day we went, almost no one was there. My friends in DC say that whenever they go, almost no one is there. Don't make the mistake of not going to see this important memorial.
Written July 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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National Japanese American Memorial Information
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