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Inslee listens to a constituent.

Montage of Wing Point in Bainbridge Island and the Edmonds Ferry.

Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

Issues

Japanese American memorial

Frequently Asked Questions about Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial Study Act of 2002

Q: What does the proposed legislation do?

It asks the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a suitability and feasibility study of the former Eagledale Ferry Dock at Taylor Avenue on Bainbridge Island for potential inclusion in the National Park System. The study should be completed within one year, so that the NPS may then decide how to officially designate the site (eg: a "National Memorial," "Historic Park," "Historic Site"). Inslee supports making the site into a National Memorial.

Q: Where is this land?

The former Eagledale Ferry Dock was at the end of Taylor Avenue on Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County, Washington State. Any designation (eg: National Memorial) by the NPS would include Taylor Avenue and some land surrounding this road. The land is located at the west uplands portion of the Wyckoff property.

Q: What happens when the NPS decides to include this land in the National Park System?

Depending on the outcome of the suitability study, the NPS could enter into an easement agreement, or enter into a co-operative agreement with the owner of the land. The land would not necessarily become federal property.

Q: Why is this land significant?

A little over one month after Executive Order 9066 was signed, on March 30, 1942, 227 Bainbridge Island men, women and children were sent to internment camps. These were the very first Japanese-American families in the United States to be sent to internment camps by the U.S. Army. Only allowed to bring what they could carry or wear, they boarded the ferry "Kehloken" with their friends and neighbors watching, and said goodbye to Bainbridge Island, beginning a lonely journey with an unknown destination and fate.

Q: Are there other sites related to Japanese-Americans during World War II within the National Park System?

There are two; however, these camps are not easily accessible because they were purposely placed in very remote areas. Bainbridge Island is a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington and the site would be within easy reach of those discovering or wanting to learn about this period in our nation's history.

  1. Minidoka National Monument in Idaho (internment camp)
  2. Manzanar National Historic Site in California (internment camp)

Q: Is there community support for a National Memorial designation?

YES! The Bainbridge Island City Council has passed a resolution encouraging Washington State’s federal delegation to designate this land as a National Memorial. State Rep. Rockefeller and State Sen. Sheldon have each introduced a memorial (resolution) to also encourage Congress to designate this land as a National Memorial.