Posting Civilian Exclusion Order No. 1

The memorial project has earned strong support not only from the residents of Bainbridge Island, but also from regional, state, and federal governments. Working in partnership with the City of Bainbridge Island, the BI Parks and Recreation Department and the BI Historical Society, the memorial committee won unanimous support for a national memorial designation from Kitsap County, the Washington State Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D—Bainbridge Island), the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Monument Act became law on May 8, 2008 when President George W. Bush signed the bill that made the memorial a national historic site, becoming a part of National Park Service as a satellite unit of the Minidoka (Idaho) National Historic Site. Today, the memorial is staffed by a National Park Service ranger during the Spring through Fall season.

The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association (BIJAEMA) is a private non-profit organization that designed and supports the maintenance and operation of the memorial. The memorial is located at the west end of Pritchard Park, which is co-owned by the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park and Recreation District and the City of Bainbridge Island. These organizations, along with the Bainbridge island Historical Museum, cooperate in partnership with the BIJAEMA in the management of the site.

Photo Information:

Posting Civilian Exclusion Order No. 1 — When army soldiers arrived via ferry to post notices of Exclusion Order Number One, several Nisei or second generation men arrived to help show the soldiers where the posters should be placed so they would be most visible. Left to right: Unknown soldier, possible young Issei, Takashi Sakuma, Robert Koba, George Chihara. Bainbridge Island, WA March 24, 1942. Copyright: Library of Congress