A memorial at the former ferry dock
The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial stands at the site of the old Eagledale ferry dock in Pritchard Park, on the south side of Eagle Harbor. It remembers the people of Japanese ancestry who were forced to leave the island in 1942.
The memorial is a unit of the Minidoka National Historic Site, which is run by the National Park Service. Its motto is "Nidoto Nai Yoni", which the memorial association renders as "Let it not happen again".
What happened on 30 March 1942
After six days' notice, 227 Japanese and Japanese American residents of Bainbridge Island were removed from their homes and taken away by ferry. The National Park Service describes them as the first group affected by this exclusion on the West Coast. They were first sent to Manzanar, and some of them were later moved to Minidoka.
The two figures on this page mean different things. The 227 people are the group taken away on 30 March 1942. The 276 names on the wall include everyone of Japanese ancestry who lived on the island at the time.
Japanese American internment
The removal from Bainbridge Island was part of the wider forced removal and incarceration of people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast during the Second World War. The memorial tells this history from the place where it began for the people of the island. The history of Bainbridge Island places it in the story of the island as a whole.
The memorial today
A wall, a deck on the old ferry dock and a visitor centre.
The memorial wall
The cedar memorial wall was designed by the architect Johnpaul Jones, with reliefs by Steve Gardner. It opened to the public on 30 July 2011 and carries the names of the 276 islanders.
The Departure Deck
The Departure Deck stands where the old Eagledale ferry dock was. It was dedicated on 30 March 2021, and further artworks were added in September 2022. It was also designed by Johnpaul Jones.
The visitor centre
A visitor centre is now open on the site. It opens Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00, and on other weekdays only when staff are available.
Audio tour and rangers
An audio tour is available, and seasonal rangers are on site at times. A guide in person cannot be assumed for every visit.
Visiting the memorial
The outdoor memorial is free and open every day.
Opening times and entry
Entry is free. The outdoor memorial is open daily from dawn to dusk. The visitor centre keeps its own, shorter hours.
Address and getting there
The address is 4192 Eagle Harbor Drive NE. From the ferry terminal in Winslow it is about 3.7 to 3.8 miles by road, or around 11 minutes by car. Walking there is not recommended, because the road has no continuous pavements. See getting to Bainbridge Island for the ferry and car options.
Parking
Follow the signs on site and do not drive into the private marina next to the memorial. Parking arrangements can change while the site develops, so check the current notes of the memorial before you go.
Dogs
Rules on dogs differ between published notes. Leashed dogs may be allowed outside, but pets are not allowed in the visitor centre. Check the current rules before you bring a dog.
Guided visits
School, community and family groups can request a guided visit with docents of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community. Requests should be made at least two weeks in advance and depend on availability. There is no daily walk-in tour.
Please treat the site as a place of remembrance: keep your voice low, stay on the paths and take photographs with care.
Guided visit to the memorial
A guided island tour that stops at the memorial.
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Guided visits on Bainbridge Island
Guided trips on Bainbridge Island with live prices and availability. Ask before you book whether a stop at the memorial is part of the route.
Japanese American Exclusion Memorial: frequently asked questions
Where is the memorial?
At the site of the former Eagledale ferry dock in Pritchard Park, 4192 Eagle Harbor Drive NE, on the south side of Eagle Harbor.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Entry is free, and the outdoor memorial is open daily from dawn to dusk.
When is the visitor centre open?
Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00, and on other weekdays only when staff are available.
Why are there 276 names but 227 people?
The 227 people were taken away by ferry on 30 March 1942. The wall lists the 276 people of Japanese ancestry who lived on the island at the time.
Can I join a guided tour?
Groups can request a docent-led visit at least two weeks in advance. There is no daily walk-in tour, but an audio tour is available.
What does "Nidoto Nai Yoni" mean?
The memorial association renders it as "Let it not happen again".