Tule Lake National Monument

Visitor Center Completion

National Historic Landmark
2006
National Monument
2008
 
Park Size
1,391 acres
 
Annual Visitors
2,700
 
Park Fee
none
 
Superintendent
Chris Mengel
 
Location
Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, CA

Tule Lake National Monument preserves and protects the history of the Tule Lake Segregation Center, where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. Of the 10 War Relocation Authority centers, Tule Lake had the largest population, was the only one to become a maximum-security site, and was the most militarized.

Previously, access to the park was only by ranger-guided tour, and the park rented a 10’ x 10’ office at the local fairgrounds. Major upgrades have been made to a building at the park site to be used as its first real visitor center.  The Fund for People in Parks provided a grant for the last upgrades needed to open the building: an accessible ramp and deck to allow visitors of all mobilities to enter the visitor center, as well as paint, gutters, and other finishing touches needed to open.

The new visitor center opened in June 2022! This upgrade has greatly improved the visitor experience by allowing visitors on the grounds, expanding educational exhibits, and increasing the visibility of the park by being located on a major highway adjacent to the turn-off to nearby Lava Beds National Monument. 

The park was able to save some money on construction materials, so they are in the process of adding a wayfinding sign for the site, as well as metal guard tower cutouts that will represent all of the incarceration camps. These final pieces will be complete in Summer 2024.
 
Project Cost:  $125,960                                                                   Project Begun: 2021
     National Park Service: $82,360
​     The Fund for People in Parks: $44,600

Finishing the Tule Lake visitor center is the top priority for the park. Park staff and our community partners are all very excited and eager to see the first visitor center completed for Tule Lake National Monument and for visitors to be able to independently explore the site. Once we are on-site, we will be able to open the grounds, offer multiple daily tours, and have a year-round operation."
​     -Jaime L. Smith, Chief Ranger, Tule Lake National Monument