Densho Encyclopedia
Fort Lewis (detention facility)
We need your help! There is little available research or existing scholarship about the subject of this article. If you have information or sources that you can share, please help make the Encyclopedia better by contacting us at [email protected]
| US Gov Name | Fort Lewis Internment Camp |
|---|---|
| Facility Type | U.S. Army Internment Camp |
| Administrative Agency | U.S. Army |
| Location | Fort Lewis, Washington (47.1333 lat, -122.4833 lng) |
| Date Opened | 1942 |
| Date Closed | March 30, 1943 |
| Population Description | Held people of Japanese descent from Alaska, Hawaii, and the mainland U.S.; also held German and Italian nationals. |
| General Description | Located within Fort Lewis Army Base, 17 miles south of Tacoma, Washington. |
| Peak Population | 42 (1942-05-04) |
| National Park Service Info | |
- The War Department planned Fort Lewis as a temporary facility. By 1943, all the internees of Japanese and Italian descent were sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ) internment camp at Fort Missoula, Montana; the German internees were transferred to the DOJ internment camp at Fort Lincoln, North Dakota.
Last updated July 14, 2015, 10:10 p.m..
