Overhead view of the Tuna Canyon Detention Station in 1941. [M.H. Scott, Officer In Charge, Tuna Canyon Detention Station]
Set to run from March 7 to 9, 2025, the Tuna Canyon Detention Station Exhibit unearths a lesser-known World War II chapter often overlooked in broader historical discussions. The showcase details how over 2,000 Japanese, German and Italian immigrants, as well as Japanese Peruvians, were unjustly held at the Tuna Canyon Detention Station in Los Angeles between 1941 and 1943.
The facility was located in the southeastern area of what became the Verdugo Hills Golf Course, specifically where the driving range and overflow parking are now located.
Visitors to this thoughtful installation will encounter a range of original documents, identification cards, letters and personal belongings that illuminate the human cost of wartime prejudice. Historical photographs and oral histories further convey the daily realities inside what was originally a Civilian Conservation Corps camp repurposed by the U.S. government to hold detainees.
“Through its thoughtful curation, the Tuna Canyon Detention Station Exhibit serves as both a memorial to those unjustly detained and an educational tool,” said Juliann Rooke, CEO of Descanso Gardens. “It highlights the broader implications of wartime xenophobia, not only emphasizing the resilience of those affected but also challenging visitors to consider the importance of protecting civil rights in the present.”
Positioning the exhibit in the Japanese Garden near the entrance emphasizes the call for deeper reflection, especially since Tuna Canyon Detention Station once stood just five miles away. Though its barbed wire fences, guard posts and barracks have long since disappeared, the stories remain as warnings of how fear can corrode civil liberties.
Informational panels detail the impact of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the removal and incarceration of individuals of Japanese descent, and address how German and Italian immigrants were similarly labeled “enemy aliens.”
The exhibit underscores the policies, societal prejudices and wartime hysteria that fueled these injustices, challenging present-day audiences to recognize the fragility of constitutional protections. It is a moving reminder of the need to preserve civil liberties for all and to ensure that such injustices are never repeated. The exhibition was created by the Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition.
Descanso Gardens is honored to host this powerful experience, offering it free with regular garden admission. Founded as a public garden in 1953 and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the National Register of Historic Places, Descanso Gardens remains a member-supported institution that welcomes visitors year-round.
It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with general admission set at $15 for adults, $11 for seniors and students with a school ID, $5 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for those under 5. Members enjoy free admission and early entry in all seasons.
Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, (818) 949-4200, descansogardens.org
