Rohwer War Relocation Center

Rohwer War Relocation Center (1942-1945) - One of ten World War II Relocation Centers built to house West Coast Japanese U.S. Citizens and resident aliens for the duration of the war with Japan. Established under Executive Order 9066, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt in February 1942. Initially established by the military Wartime Civil Control Authority (WCCA) and became the Rohwer War Relocation Center run by the civilian War Relocation Authority (WRA). The camp was built starting in 1942 The center was located near McGehee City in Desha County, Arkansas. Closed in 1945. History Established in 1942, the Camp was built by the Linebarger-Senne Construction Company under the supervision of the U.S. Corps of Engineers (USACE) The center became the Rohwer War Relocation Center run by the civilian War Relocation Authority (WRA). The relocation centers were not considered by authorities to be either concentration camps or internment camps but the perception was otherwise. Barbed wire fencing enclosed most of the of the living area, the guard towers with searchlights and the military police were always visible. Rohwer War Relocation Center Timeline Date Event Notes 18 Sep 1942 Camp Opened opened on 18 Sep 1942 peak population of 8,475, Mar 1943. camp schools opened 9 Nov 1942, camp closed, on 30 Nov 1945 Residential Areas Facilities at the center included 36 residential blocks with each block having twelve, 20' by 120' barracks structures and five service buildings. The service buildings included a 40' by 100' mess hall, a 20' by 50' laundry, two latrines and an ironing room. These buildings were all temporary military style Theater of Operations (TO) structures of wood frame construction with tar paper covering the outer walls and roof. These buildings were designed to last two years but because of the green lumber used the buildings began to deteriorate early. The buildings were not insulated or properly partitioned for family groups. Other Facilities Other facilities at the center included most of the infrastructure that would be required for any town of 10,000. The administrative area included admin buildings, a town hall, post office, mess hall, police station and staff housing. There was a warehouse group & motor pool group. Other groups included a Hospital & Orphanage Group, schools and fire protection. Agricultural facilities included a hog farm and chicken ranch as well crop fields. The military police provided external security. Closed on 30 Nov 1945 when the last evacuee departed. Current Status Now part of Rohwer National Historic Landmark. Location: Near McGehee City, Desha, Arkansas. Maps & Images Lat: 33.76630 Long: -91.28016 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: yyyyy' GPS Locations: 33.76630, -91.28016 Rohwer WRC See Also: WWII War Relocation Centers Sources: Burton, Farrell, Lord, and Lord, Confinement and Ethnicity: An Overview of World War II Japanese American Relocation Sites, Western Archeological and Conservation Center, National Park Service, 1999 (rev. July 2000), NPS Online Book. Wyatt, Barbara, Ed, Japanese Americans In World War II, National Park Service, August 2012, Washington DC, Pdf. USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: ..... Fortification ID: xx0000 - Rohwer War Relocation Center Links: Wikipedia - Rohwer NPS - Rohwer War Relocation Center Visited: 5 Sep 2020