When you’re in Winslow, visit the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial (BIJAEM), maintained by the Bainbridge Island Japanese American community. This outdoor memorial was created to provide lasting memories of the internment of Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island in Washington. They were among 110,000 Japanese Americans gathered from the West Coast and sent to 10 inland states for up to three years during World War II.
The memorial, near the historic Eagledale ferry landing, informs visitors about the 227 Japanese Americans who were forced to leave the island with just a few days’ notice in March, 1942. Although most were American citizens and long-time residents of Washington, they were taken from their homes and transferred to the eastern part of California or to the Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho. Look for the famous photo of Bainbridge resident Fumiko Hayashida and her infant daughter as they prepared to board a ferry on the day they left the island.
The memorial was built as an outdoor cedar story wall. Read the names of 276 Japanese and Japanese American residents living on Bainbridge at the time. American Indian architect Johnpaul Jones designed the wall and its natural landscaping, including native species such as sword fern, mahonia, salal and shore pine. Notice the friezes on the wall created by local artist Steve Gardner, showing scenes of residents boarding the ferries during their transfer. Various markers near the wall provide historical information on the Japanese internment.
After viewing the memorial, stop at the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum to view the award-winning exhibit Kodomo No Tame Ni – For the Sake of the Children, highlighting 100 years of contributions by Japanese immigrants to the Bainbridge community.
The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, 4 miles (6 kilometers) from the Winslow ferry terminal. The memorial is open from sunrise to sunset. Admission is free. During the summer, the site is often staffed by a national park ranger, who can answer questions. Book a spot on a free guided tour. Make your reservation three weeks before a desired weekday tour or one before a weekend visit.
