Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial

Duration:

28 minutes, 36 seconds

Bearing the Unbearable tells the story of the forced removal of Japanese Americans from their home on Bainbridge Island during World War II and their subsequent incarceration in Manzanar and Minidoka concentration camps, innocent of any crime and suspect only because of their ethnicity. Told in the words of Bainbridge Islanders who survived the camps, the film explores the experience of incarceration and the unconstitutional suspension of these islanders' civil rights.

 

Let It Not Happen Again

Paul Dunn

 

Quick Links

• Request a Tour
• Traveling to Bainbridge Island
• Download the NPS App
• Junior Ranger Program

Let it Not Happen Again

The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial honors the first Japanese Americans to be excluded, forcibly removed from their community, and incarcerated during World War II.

At the memorial, visitors can reflect and learn about this site’s legacy of Nidoto Nai Yoni (Let It Not Happen Again).

The self-guided walking tour available on the NPS App takes visitors through the memorial while listening to oral histories directly from survivors.

 

 

Areas of Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial

Park Ranger Station

Open March 1^st through December 1st, this small trailer is staffed by a National Park Ranger Fri-Sun weather permitting. During the summer months, pending additional seasonal staffing, 5 days per week. Inside visitors can find informational pamphlets, Junior Ranger booklets, additional interpretive materials about forced removal. The station can be locked if the park ranger is out roving the memorial grounds.

To reach a Ranger call: 206-713-8407
Passport Stamp Available Here
Request a tour

Pavilion

Crafted by the Timber Framers Guild in 2006, this pavilion was made using traditional methods which include hand-planning and no use of nails. Inside, visitors will find informational panels that explain the history of Japanese Americans on Bainbridge Island and the importance of community allyship during this unbearable event.

Memorial Wall

A cedar and granite constructed “story wall” is the focal point of this park site. Built on the former ground of the Eagledale Ferry Dock where on March 30, 1942, Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to incarceration sites for the duration of WWII. This memorial tells the story of Japanese Americans of Bainbridge Island through friezes and the name of all 276 people who were excluded from the island. The wall and surrounding landscape create an environment for reflection and education. The memorial’s motto Nidoto Nai Yoni (Let It Not Happen Again) activates this space as a place of remembrance and action.

Departure Deck

A deck with artistic installations have been designed to recreate the departure experience of the Japanese Americans forcibly removed from their homes on March 30, 1942 to an unknown place for an unknown amount of time. The artwork consists of a rusted steel sculptural pieces by Vaughan, Washington artists Anna Brones and Luc Revel, and an entrance gate by long-time memorial advocate John Buday.

Prichard Park

Connected to the memorial is Prichard Park a 50-acre beachfront park with a small trail system, dog friendly sections and a view of the Seattle Skyline and Mount Rainier. This area is great for watching the ferries, searching for wildlife or a beach picnic while visiting the memorial.

 

 

Junior Ranger Program

Download the new Bainbridge Island Junior Ranger Booklet on our Junior Ranger page to learn more about the Japanese American community of Bainbridge Island, Washington, and how this history inspires their mission: Nidoto Nai Yoni - Let It Not Happen Again.

 

 

Partners

The memorial is collectively cared for by the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community, the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum, Bainbridge Island Parks & Recreation District and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - Seattle. 

Visit our partners' sites to find out how to schedule tours and participate in upcoming events.