JANM Statement on Passage of Amache National Historic Site Act into Law

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Japanese American National Museum celebrates the passage of the Amache National Historic Site Act (H.R. 2497) into law by President Biden on Friday, March 18, 2022. This law designates the Amache incarceration site in Granada, Colorado, as part of the National Park System, preserves the site for future generations, and expands the story and history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II.

Amache was one of ten incarceration camps that held nearly 10,000 people of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Bipartisan action to preserve Amache began when the site became a National Historic Landmark in 2006. It gained momentum in 2018 when the Amache Study Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate.The Amache Study Act was a bill that directed the Department of the Interior to conduct a study to assess Amache’s historical significance and determine the feasibility of adding it to the National Park System. It was signed into law in 2019 as part of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. 

Bipartisan support helped the Amache National Historic Site Act pass with unanimous agreement in the U.S. House and Senate in February 2022. Today, Amache includes a historic cemetery, monument, building foundations, reconstructed structures, and interpretive panels. The Amache Preservation Society will continue to oversee the site while the National Park Service works with community stakeholders to plan, preserve, and interpret the Amache National Historic Site.

“We are proud to support the Amache National Historic Site Act, which reaffirms the National Park Service’s commitment to preserving and interpreting sites that convey difficult chapters in our nation’s history,” said Ann Burroughs, President and CEO. “The Japanese American story illustrates the rich cultural heritage of the nation spanning generations, while the incarceration of over 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry in violation of their civil liberties provides lessons today in learning from history and correcting our mistakes to prevent them from happening again. Because of President Biden’s actions today, we can now look forward to building upon a legacy of government and community partnerships to protect Japanese American confinement sites with the designation of the Amache National Historic Site.”

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