Traveling Arkansas Stop #2

Welcome back! 

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Powhatan State Park. This entry is going to another historic location in Arkansas that many are not aware of. It is the Rohwer Relocation Memorial and Internment Museum. These are two separate locations in Desha County. 

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942. This order authorized the creation of areas within the United States which led to the forced removal of Japanese Americans to these locations. Two of these locations are within Arkansas, the Rohwer and Jerome Relocation Centers. Rohwer saw over 10,000 incarcerees with over two-thirds being American citizens. 

I recommend you start your visit at the WWII Japanese American Internment Museum at 100 S. Railroad Street in McGehee, Arkansas. There is an admission cost of $5, but it is worth the money. The museum features articles, artifacts, and video interviews with those who were interned in Arkansas. 

After the museum you should then travel north to the Rohwer site. This site is also a memorial cemetery. You will find several monuments along with various headstones. When  you arrive at the site you will travel on a dirt road leading to the small group of trees within the field. There is no cost to visit the site but it is important to plan ahead for this trip. Please be respectful of the memorial while visiting. This is a moving and emotional location to visit. 

As stated this is a location and part of Arkansas history that is not commonly known but it’s my hope that more will learn of this memorial and time in United States History. Below are two pictures from my visit to the site in 2017. 

Until next time, 
Jason ​

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For more information, please see the following websites. 

• Rohwer Relocation Memorial Cemetery 
• Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center
• History of the Japanese American Internment Camps