Amache National Historic Site
Officially named the Granada Relocation Center by the War Relocation Authority, incarcerees began referring to the site as Amache after its postal designation. Amache was the smallest incarceration site by population. While built to accommodate up to 8,000 people, Amache housed 7,318 Japanese Americans at its peak in 1943. It was the 10th largest population center in Colorado at the time. During its three years of operation, 10,331 people passed through Amache.
Aftermath of Pearl Harbor On December 7, 1941, Imperial Japan launched a surprise attack on the Naval Station at Pearl Harbor. The attack marked the United States entry into World War II. Building on decades of growing anti-Asian sentiments, the government used the attack as an excuse to place curfews and conduct FBI raids on people of Japanese descent.
On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which allowed for the military to create "civilian exclusion zones." Soon, the War Department created these exclusions zones along the West Coast. While no ethnic group was specifically mentioned in the executive order, the exclusion zones only applied to people of Japanese descent.
Forced Removal and Relocation By spring of 1942, evacuation notices began appearing in neighborhoods. Noticed instructed residents to report to a location where they would be "evacuated" to an unknown location for an unknown period of time. They were given one to two weeks to pack a limited amount of personal clothing and equipment, usually a suitcase or two. What they couldn't bring was either sold or put in the care of a trusted neighbor.
From there, they were sent to temporary detention centers, euphamistically called "assembly centers." These hastily built centers were built to house the incarcerees until more permanent camps were constructed. Amache incarcerees came from Merced Assembly Center and Santa Anita Assembly Center. In the case of Santa Anita, some people were housed in horse stalls that still stank of manure and urine.
Land acquisition and construction Officially named the Granada Relocation Center by the War Relocation Authority, incarcerees began referring to the site as Amache after its postal designation. Amache was the smallest incarceration site by population. While built to accommodate up to 8,000 people, Amache housed 7,318 Japanese Americans at its peak in 1943. It was the 10th largest population center in Colorado at the time. During its three years of operation, 10,331 people passed through Amache.
Aftermath of Pearl Harbor On December 7, 1941, Imperial Japan launched a surprise attack on the Naval Station at Pearl Harbor. The attack marked the United States entry into World War II. Building on decades of growing anti-Asian sentiments, the government used the attack as an excuse to place curfews and conduct FBI raids on people of Japanese descent.
On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which allowed for the military to create "civilian exclusion zones." Soon, the War Department created these exclusions zones along the West Coast. While no ethnic group was specifically mentioned in the executive order, the exclusion zones only applied to people of Japanese descent.
Forced Removal and Relocation By spring of 1942, evacuation notices began appearing in neighborhoods. Noticed instructed residents to report to a location where they would be "evacuated" to an unknown location for an unknown period of time. They were given one to two weeks to pack a limited amount of personal clothing and equipment, usually a suitcase or two. What they couldn't bring was either sold or put in the care of a trusted neighbor.
From there, they were sent to temporary detention centers, euphamistically called "assembly centers." These hastily built centers were built to house the incarcerees until more permanent camps were constructed. Amache incarcerees came from Merced Assembly Center and Santa Anita Assembly Center. In the case of Santa Anita, some people were housed in horse stalls that still stank of manure and urine.
Land acquisition and construction Unlike the other WRA sites, which were primarily built on land already managed by the federal government, Amache was built on seized private land. The XY and Koen ranches were condemned after the Dust Bowl and aquired through eminent domain at an artificially low price. The government chose the Granada area for its location far away from major cities and military installations, proximity to a rail line, and agricultural potential.
Construction of the site began in late June 1942. The first group of people arrived in August to a facility that was not fully built. The first wave of people helped finish the construction of the prison that would hold them and their families.
Creating a community It wasn't long after their arrival that the people of Amache began making improvements to the camp. They planted trees and gardens to create shade and areas of beauty. They organized sports teams and art classes. They created places of worship for both Christians and Buddhists. Amache quickly became a city behind barbed wire, complete with schools, a hospital, fire and police departments, and a co-op store.
Closing Amache On October 15, 1945, the last Amache resident left and the camp closed its gates. Incarcerees were given $25 and a train ticket to a destination of their choosing and told to start their lives over again. Many lost everything during the forced removal three years prior.
Things to Do
Amache is currently home to a reconstructed barrack, historical recreation hall, historical water tower, and reconstructed guard tower. The interior of the barrack and recreation hall can only be accessed while park staff is present.
There is also a cemetery and memorial to honor the people who died while incarcerated at Amache and the soldiers from Amache who were killed while serving in World War II. If you choose to visit, please be respectful.
Ranger-led tours Amache National Historic Site is excited to begin offering ranger-led tours and talks on site beginning in summer of 2025. Programs will be offered at 10:00 am on the first and third Friday of every month beginning in June and running through August. Programs are subject to change or cancellation due to weather.
Amache Museum Amache Preservation Society student volunteers operate a museum in Granada that features exhibits and collections of items culturally significant to Amache. To participate in a guided tour of the museum, please make a reservation through the Amache Preservation Society by emailing amache@usa.com.
Plan Your Visit
Presently there are no facilities on site. Park operations are currently in the Amache Museum in Granada, CO. At the museum, you can find a restroom, park staff, the NPS Passport stamp, and a vast collections of items donated by survivors and descendants of Amache.
Directions and Transportation Amache National Historic Site is in southeastern Colorado about 1.5 miles west of the town of Granada, 17.5 miles east of Lamar, and half an hour drive from the Kansas border. The site is located off Highway 385/50 along the Santa Fe Trail.
From Granada: Travel west on Highway 385/50 for one mile. Turn left at the Amache sign onto County Road 23 5/10.
From Lamar: Travel east on Highway 385/50 for 17.5 miles. Turn right at the brown Amache sign onto County Road 23 5/10.
Granada, Colorado is a four hour from the closest major airport, Denver International. Colorado Springs Airport is another option and is approximately three hours by car. Lamar, Colorado is served by Amtrak and is approximately a 20-minute drive from the park.
Park Hours Every Day: Sunrise–Sunset The site is currently open to the public with limited hours and services. The site currently consists of a cemetery, a monument, building foundations, and landscaping. Interpretive panels and a downloadable self-guided auto tour are available on amache.org to assist with navigation of the site. There is no visitor center at the site.
Get Involved
Our Partners Park partner organizations work with the National Park Service in a number of ways. Some offer dynamic education programs that teach students about cultural history through place based learning and hands-on activities. Partners also help National Park units preserve or restore historic structures and raise funds to support park initiatives. Recent partners of Amache National Historic Site include:
- Amache Alliance
- Amache Preservation Society
- The Fund for People In Parks
Through partnerships, Amache and its partners are developing a shared sense of stewardship to protect and conserve the park's nationally significant cultural resources.