Manzanar

We continued north on the 395 and stopped again at Manzanar National Historic Site. This was a Japanese Internment Camp during World War II. Over 10,000 people of Japanese descent, most with American Citizenship, were forced to relocate here between 1942 and 1945. The museum was really well done and very interesting. The movie shown every half hour is worth the trip. The whole site is family and child friendly. It was very windy there that day, which we learned was typical of the Owens Valley, and meant that the meager barracks were frequently covered with dust and sand. We were glad to be there and learn about the people who lived there and help preserve the memories of the Japanese Americans, many of home fought in the European Theater while their families remained captive back home.

We continued on 395 north until we finally reached Lee Vining at Mono lake around 4pm, just in time for an afternoon thunderstorm that made unhitching the trailer lots of fun. We found the local market and threw together our dinner, ready for our first night on the road.