Camp Harmony
Encyclopedia
Camp Harmony was the unofficial name of the Puyallup Assembly Center, a temporary facility within the system of internment camps
set up for Japanese Americans during World War II
. Approximately 7,390 Americans of Japanese descent in Washington state were sent to the camp before being sent to the Minidoka relocation center near Twin Falls, Idaho.
Camp Harmony was established in May 1942 shortly after the bombing attack on Pearl Harbor. The location for the assembly center was on and around the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington
. It consisted of four distinct areas:
In September 1942, the Japanese-Americans were sent to other locations, and the camp was torn down. Then, the Puyallup Fairgrounds were occupied by the U.S. Army 943rd Signal Service Battalion until they were transferred to Fort Lewis
, Washington in December. From this time until the end of World War II, the Puyallup Fairgrounds remained closed.
The first postwar Fair took place in September 1946.
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
set up for Japanese Americans during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Approximately 7,390 Americans of Japanese descent in Washington state were sent to the camp before being sent to the Minidoka relocation center near Twin Falls, Idaho.
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
. It consisted of four distinct areas:
- A, with a population of about 2000, located northeast of the fairgrounds.
- B, with a population of about 1200, just east of the fairgrounds in the vicinity of the current Blue parking lot.
- C, with a population of about 800, located northwest of the fairgrounds.
- D, with a population of about 3000, located on the fairgrounds in the area including the racetrack and grandstand, east of the roller coaster.
In September 1942, the Japanese-Americans were sent to other locations, and the camp was torn down. Then, the Puyallup Fairgrounds were occupied by the U.S. Army 943rd Signal Service Battalion until they were transferred to Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
, Washington in December. From this time until the end of World War II, the Puyallup Fairgrounds remained closed.
The first postwar Fair took place in September 1946.
External links
- University of Washington Libraries Camp Harmony Exhibit
- Wing Luke Asian Museum
- University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections – Social Issues Photographs
- History of The Fair