Explore America’s lesser-known World War II history, from inspiring achievements to painful injustices, through these significant but often overlooked sites. Ready to uncover the full spectrum of America’s wartime past?
1. Manzanar National Historic Site, California
Image Credit: Shutterstock / EWY Media
Once an internment camp for over 110,000 Japanese Americans during WWII, Manzanar is now a somber reminder of the consequences of wartime fear and racial prejudice.
2. Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, California
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Zack Frank
This park celebrates the contributions of women workers during the war, highlighting the social shifts and the empowerment of women in the workforce.
3. Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Alabama
Image Credit: Pexels / Miguel Cuenca
Visit the training grounds of the first African American pilots in U.S. military history, whose excellence challenged racial discrimination and helped initiate integration in the armed forces.
4. Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, California
Image Credit: Pexels / Vinicius Apude Nascimento
Memorializes the 320 victims of the Port Chicago explosion, most of whom were African American sailors, and spotlights the racial injustices of naval operations during the war.
5. Minidoka National Historic Site, Idaho
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Zack Frank
This site marks one of the internment locations for Japanese Americans, preserved to honor the resilience and contributions of the internees under harsh conditions.
6. Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument, Colorado
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Eric Poulin
Explore the former training ground of the 10th Mountain Division, elite ski troops who trained in harsh conditions and played a pivotal role in the mountainous regions of Europe.
7. Hanford Site, Washington
Image Credit: Shutterstock / J.D.S
Once a top-secret site for the Manhattan Project, Hanford was instrumental in the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons, including the bomb dropped on Nagasaki.
8. The Presidio of San Francisco, California
Image Credit: Shutterstock / James Kirkikis
Home to the Western Defense Command, which played a crucial role in the internment of Japanese Americans. Today, it serves as a museum highlighting its mixed legacy of military strategy and civil rights violations.
9. Wendover Air Base, Utah
Image Credit: Pexels / Sean P. Twomey
Visit the training site for the crew that dropped the atomic bombs on Japan, a pivotal yet controversial part of WWII history.
10. WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument, Hawaii
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Pung
Includes several sites like Pearl Harbor, which offer insight into the events of December 7, 1941, that led the U.S. into World War II.
11. Los Alamos, New Mexico
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Zack Frank
Explore the birthplace of the atomic bomb where scientists raced against time to develop a weapon that they hoped would end the war sooner.
12. Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Arlene Waller
Formerly a military training area for bomber crews, this park now offers insights into the war’s impact on remote regions of the U.S.
13. Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter, New York
Image credit: Shutterstock / George Dodd III
This shelter was the only U.S. location to officially house Holocaust refugees during the war, a unique historical site with a story of sanctuary amid global conflict.
14. Italian Chapel, Camp Concordia, Kansas
Image Credit: Pexels / Deniz Özgür
Built by Italian POWs held at Camp Concordia, this chapel stands as a testament to the human spirit under captivity and the complex relationships between captors and captives.
15. German POW Camps, Algona, Iowa
Image Credit: Pexels / Daniel Neves Cotta
Visit the site of a major POW camp where German soldiers were held. The camp is now an educational center exploring wartime ethics and the treatment of POWs.
16. Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, Washington
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Zack Frank
This memorial marks the first site of forced evacuations of Japanese Americans on the West Coast, providing a poignant reflection on civil liberties during wartime.
17. Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado
Image Credit: Pexels / Drew Burks
Formerly a training base for bomber crews, this site sheds light on the less glamorous but crucial aspects of military training and munitions storage.
18. Moab Isolation Center, Utah
Image Credit: Pexels / James Lee
This lesser-known site was once a remote detention area for particularly troublesome Japanese Americans, revealing the harsher aspects of the internment policy.
Delving Into the Shadows
Image Credit: Shutterstock / 22Images Studio
These sites encourage us to delve deeper into the complexities of America’s WWII history, challenging us to learn from both the valor and the hardships of those times. As you visit these places, consider the broad spectrum of experiences and the enduring lessons they offer for future generations.
Unveiling the 21 Places Single Women Should Avoid at All Costs
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Carles Iturbe
Traveling solo as a woman? It’s an adventure with its own set of challenges. From street safety to discrimination, some spots are riskier than others. We’ve used the Women’s Danger Index and other resources to craft a guide that helps you choose your destinations wisely. Unveiling the 21 Places Single Women Should Avoid at All Costs
Ghost Roads of America: 12 Haunted Highways with Tales of Terror and Creepy Rest Stops
Image Credit: Shutterstock / donvictorio
Discover chilling tales from the America’s spookiest roads complete with ghostly figures and eerie phenomena in this thrilling guide to paranormal hotspots—perfect for adventure seekers and ghost enthusiasts. Ready for a supernatural road trip? Ghost Roads of America: 12 Haunted Highways with Tales of Terror and Creepy Rest Stops
18 High-Crime Cities in the US You Should Avoid
Image Credit: Pexels / Adrian Newell
American cities dazzle with culture and history, yet rising crime rates demand cautious exploration. This guide ensures you stay informed and safe. 18 High-Crime Cities in the US You Should Avoid
20 Things That Americans Tolerate That Canadians Would Never Accept
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Nicoleta Ionescu
Canadians often find American customs ranging from amusing to astonishing. From the quirky to the confounding, let’s explore the U.S. through a Canadian lens—maple syrup and poutine in hand. Get ready for a journey that’s both odd and insightful, seen from the Great White North. 20 Things That Americans Tolerate That Canadians Would Never Accept
22 of America’s Most Charming Towns
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Nejdet Duzen
Hit the road and discover America’s coziest towns, real-life versions of those quaint settings from your favorite novels. Explore charming streets where every storefront tells a story and locals greet everyone with a hello. Ready to dive into the charm? 22 of America’s Most Charming Towns
The post 18 Hidden WWII Stories America Wants to Bury republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Bonsales.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
Tips for Trip Success
Book Your Flight
Find an inexpensive flight by using Kayak, a favorite of ours because it regularly returns less expensive flight options from a variety of airlines.
Book Your Hotel or Special Accommodation
We are big fans of Booking.com. We like their review system and photos. If we want to see more reviews and additional booking options, we go to Expedia.
You Need Travel Insurance!
Good travel insurance means having total peace of mind. Travel insurance protects you when your medical insurance often will not and better than what you get from your credit card. It will provide comprehensive coverage should you need medical treatment or return to the United States, compensation for trip interruption, baggage loss, and other situations.Find the Perfect Insurance Plan for Your Trip
PassingThru is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To view PassingThru’s privacy policy, click here.
