The Presidio's Role in World War II Japanese American Incarceration ExhibitNEW

During World War II, the Presidio of San Francisco " the Army's Western Defense Command " played a pivotal role in the unjust incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans, purportedly in the name of national security. This special exhibition marks 75 years since Lieutenant General John L. DeWitt issued Civilian Exclusion Orders from the Presidio, and examines the post's little understood part in these events.

The exhibition invites visitors to investigate the choices " both personal and political " that led to this dark chapter in American history. How did leaders arrive at this decision? How did Japanese Americans respond to the violation of their civil liberties? And what, as a nation, have we learned that can help us address the present-day issues of immigration, racism, and mass incarceration?
Exclusion is the latest special exhibition at the Presidio Officers' Club, a cultural institution showcasing the Presidio's role in shaping and serving the nation. S​​pecial exhibitions explore the Presidio's heritage and allow for fresh perspectives and a deeper exploration of the topics and themes presented in the club's permanent exhibition.​​

Schools Can Have Guided Tours
Schools have the opportunity to register for guided tours of the exhibition. Registration and additional resources for teachers are available online at www.presidio.gov/teachers/special-exhibition.

Date
​Extended to Spring 2019

Time
Tuesdays to Sundays, 10 am to 5​ pm

Location
Presidio Officers' Club

Video


About the Fred T. Korematsu Institute
The Korematsu Institute (KI) promotes the importance of remembering one of the most blatant forms of racial profiling in U.S. history, the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, by bridging the Fred Korematsu story with various topics in history, including other civil rights heroes and movements, World War II, the Constitution, global human rights, and Asian American history. The Institute makes connections to present-day civil rights discrimination and political scapegoating, such as mass incarceration, anti-immigrant sentiment, and Islamaphobia. They work toward building solidarity and partnerships with other groups and organizations to accomplish their mission. In 2009, the Fred T. Korematsu Institute was founded to honor Fred Korematsu’s legacy. It was originally a local community and education program whose vision changed in 2010 as a result of Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution being established in California on January 30 in perpetuity. They’ve since become a national organization that inspires others through the Fred Korematsu story.