Arranged thematically and chronologically, the Japanese American Gallery is a window to the past. Using hundreds of vintage photographs and artifacts, the 720-square-foot Gallery tells the story of the pioneering Japanese immigrants and their descendants who made their home in the Imperial Valley. Our story begins in 1904 when the first Issei (immigrants from Japan) permanently settled in the Impe
rial Valley. Because of depressed economic conditions in Japan, they sailed across the Pacific Ocean in search of the American dream. When they arrived in the Imperial Valley they called it Teikoku Heigen. The Gallery reveals the instrumental role the Issei played in developing the region’s agriculture industry and the other contributions that they made in spite of the discrimination and other hardships that they stoically endured. Visitors will see vestiges of the once vibrant Nikkei (ethnic Japanese) community, which included a variety of businesses in every town, Christian and Buddhist churches, clubs and organizations, language schools, and sports and other youth activities for the Nisei (second generation of Japanese Americans). The grave injustice of the forced removal of all persons of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast during the Second World War is presented. The Imperial Valley’s ethnic Japanese population was incarcerated in the Colorado River Relocation Center (also known as Poston) near Parker, Arizona. The Gallery also honors the Nisei servicemen from the Imperial Valley who served to distinction in Europe and the Pacific Theater. Several Nisei were killed in action and many were decorated for heroism. Our story concludes with the post-World War II return and resettlement. It was a difficulty journey home. Nonetheless, with fortitude Japanese Americans reestablished their lives in the Imperial Valley. Labeled aliens ineligible for naturalization until 1952, the Issei were finally permitted to become American citizens, and the Nisei subsequently realized the success of the redress/reparations movement.
