Last Tuesday, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior designated the Manenggon Concentration Camp Memorial Park in Guam as a National Historic Landmark (NHL). Guam Delegate James Moylan announced the designation in a press release the same day.
Manenggon was one of the locations where nearly half of Guam’s 21,000 Indigenous CHamoru population was captured and imprisoned by Japanese forces during World War II.
On July 10, 1944, the valley between the villages of Yona and Talo’fo’fo became a concentration camp. Located along the Ylig River, it was the site of atrocities committed in the weeks leading up to the U.S. military’s recapture of the island.
80 years later, the designation as a National Historic Landmark underscores the importance of preserving the site as a testament to the CHamoru experience during the war.
In his statement, Moylan emphasized that the NHL designation opens up opportunities for federal funding and grants, such as those from the Historic Preservation Fund. It also provides access to technical preservation assistance through the National Park Service, ensuring the site’s maintenance and protection for future generations.
Moylan also noted the potential for the designation to enhance tourism on Guam. He expressed confidence that the Guam Visitors Bureau could leverage the recognition to boost visitor interest in the island’s cultural and historical sites.
