Tulelake in Siskiyou County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Camp Tulelake
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 21, 2015
1. Camp Tulelake Marker
Captions: (top left) These buildings are the remains of a camp that served many purposes over the years; (top right) Remaining buildings are shaded on this simplified diagram of the original CCC layout; (bottom row, left to right) CCC workers on Hill Road; Camp Tulelake in 1940; Arrival at the nearby Tule Lake Segregation Center in Newell; POWs at work near the dump.
Civilian Conservation Corps
This camp was built and staffed by the CCC, an organization that was established during the Great Depression by President Franklin Roosevelt to reduce unemployment and to preserve the nation's natural resources.
CCC workers took on many local projects, including building new headquarters and a stone overlook for Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, reconstructing the Clear Lake Dam, and constructing canals, dikes, roads, and rock walls.
Japanese Americans
For several months in 1943, over 100 "disloyal" Japanese Americas were separated from the interment center at Newell and were housed at Camp Tulelake.
Internees cleaned up the camp's buildings and grounds, installed new windows, and repaired electrical fixtures and plumbing.
During this time many Japanese Americans also worked at the Wildlife Refuge headquarters, maintaining the landscape and buildings.
Italian & German POWs
Several months after the Japanese Americans were moved from the buildings, the camp came to life again as housing for Italian and German prisoners of war.
The Tulelake Growers Association requested that POWs help local famers harvest crops, in order
this page online
In May of 1944, 150 Italian prisoners converted the camp into a full-blown POW camp that held up to 800 German prisoners between June 1944 and the end of the war.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Charity & Public Work • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) series list.
Location. 41° 58.146′ N, 121° 33.936′ W. Marker is in Tulelake, California, in Siskiyou County. Marker is on Hill Road near East West Rod, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2604 Hill Road, Tulelake CA 96134, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Applegate Trail - Clammett Lake (approx. 2.2 miles away); The Applegate Trail (approx. 2.9 miles away in Oregon); The Stone Bridge (approx. 2.9 miles away in Oregon); a different marker also named Stone Bridge (approx. 2.9 miles away in Oregon); Dennis Crawley Cabin (approx. 3.9 miles away in Oregon); The Ranch of J. Frank Adams (approx. 3.9 miles away in Oregon); Applegate Trail - Up a Steep Hill (approx. 4 miles away); Tulelake World War II War Memorial (approx. 4.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tulelake.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 21, 2015
2. Camp Tulelake Marker
Only four of the original buildings remain.
Also see . . . Camp Tulelake. Not to be confused with Tule Lake War Relocation Center... With so many local farmers and workers participating in the military during World War II, the Tulelake Growers Association petitioned the US Government for prisoners of war to help with the harvest. In May 1944 the federal government sent 150 Italian POWs to the area. US officials converted Camp Tulelake to accommodate additional German POWs who were transferred from Camp White (near Medford, Oregon) the following month. (Submitted on September 1, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 406 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 1, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
