Tule Lake National Monument Designated
/Tule Lake Unit, WWII Valor in the Pacific Redesignated as Tule Lake National Monument
Tule Lake Segregation Center - Converted to a high-security Segregation Center in 1943, Tule Lake became the largest of the 10 War Relocation Authority (WRA) camps. (National Parks Service)
Tulelake, Calif. — The National Park Service announces the redesignation of the Tule Lake Unit of WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument to the Tule Lake National Monument. This provision was passed as part of the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act (formerly known as the Natural Resources Management Act) which passed both houses of Congress in February and was signed into law on March 12, 2019 by President Donald Trump.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming the public to one of the newest national monuments in the system,” said Superintendent Larry Whalon. “I am grateful to our great partners who are already helping us engaged with our local community and the broader public.”
Tule Lake was added to the National Park Service in 2008 as part of the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. This redesignation makes Tule Lake its own congressionally established national park unit. This act does not change any of the monument’s boundaries, and follows the recommendations that were approved in the park’s 2018 General Management Plan.
Visitors can expect to start seeing the new name on signs and brochures, as well as Tule Lake’s website and social media sites in the coming months. Regularly scheduled weekend tours of the Tule Lake National Monument sites will resume on or around Memorial Day weekend, but can also be requested throughout the year by contacting us at 530-260-0537 or 530-667-8119.
The Tule Lake National Monument is a nationally significant site dedicated to telling the story of the unjust incarceration of over 29,000 US citizens and long-term residents of Japanese ancestry at the Tule Lake Segregation Center. It also tells the stories of the Civilian Conservation Corp members and Prisoners of War who were held at Camp Tulelake.
Press release provided from Tule Lake National Monument, National Parks Service.