Turlock in Stanislaus County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Turlock Assembly Center
Learning From the Past
Photographed by Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, May 1, 2010
1. Turlock Assembly Center Marker
On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. This order led to the internment of Japanese Americans, a majority of whom were United States citizens.
Where you are standing today was once a temporary detention center that incarcerated a total of 3,699 innocent men, women and children from April 30th to August 12th, 1942. From the Turlock Assembly Center the internees were relocated to the Gila River Internment Camp located in the Arizona desert, where they remained until the end of WWII.
President Reagan sought to correct this sense of betrayal when he issued House Resolution 442 on August 10, 1988. As you stand here today it is imperative to learn from the past and to secure our civil liberties for future generations.
This monument is dedicated to the uprooted evacuees of the Japanese American internment.
Erected 2010. (Marker Number 934.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #32 Franklin D. Roosevelt
this page online
Location. 37° 30.101′ N, 120° 51.498′ W. Marker is in Turlock, California, in Stanislaus County. It can be reached from Broadway 0.1 miles north of Canal Drive, on the left when traveling north. Located in Stanislaus County Fairgrounds next to the Floriculture building. The fairgrounds are only open during special events. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 900 N Broadway, Turlock CA 95380, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the San Joaquin Valley and specifically in the Central Valley. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Carnegie Arts Center (approx. 0.7 miles away); John W. Mitchell (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Freedom Tree (approx. 0.9 miles away);
Photographed by Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, May 1, 2010
2. Turlock Assembly Center Marker
Regarding Turlock Assembly Center. This is California Historical Landmark No. 934, one of twelve California Assembly Center markers with the same number.
Statement of Significance:
Temporary Detention Camps for Japanese Americans, Turlock Assembly Center —
The temporary detention camps (also known as 'assembly centers') represent the first phase of the mass incarceration of 97,785 Californians of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Pursuant to Executive Order 9066 signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, thirteen makeshift detention facilities were constructed at various California racetracks, fairgrounds, and labor camps. These facilities were intended to confine Japanese Americans until more permanent concentration camps, such as those at Manzanar and Tule Lake in California,
Dorothea Lange (War Relocation Authority, courtesy of the Bancroft Library), May 2, 1942
3. Families of Japanese ancestry arriving at the Turlock Assembly Center.
"Their baggage will be inspected for contraband and they will then be medically examined and assigned places in the barracks by family groups. Later evacuees will be transferred to War Relocation Authority Centers for the duration."
Additional keywords. California Historical Landmark No. 934
Dorothea Lange (War Relocation Authority, courtesy of the Bancroft Library), May 2, 1942
4. "Families of Japanese ancestry arrived at Turlock assembly center...
Evacuees will be housed later at War Relocation Authority centers for the duration."
Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 2,648 times since then and 155 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 23, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3, 4. submitted on July 23, 2020. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
