CyArk and NPS Unveil Preview of Manzanar Digital Reconstruction

The public is invited to a special preview at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles

by Taline Ayanyan
July 9, 2012
CyArk is excited to unveil the in-progress digital reconstruction of Manzanar for public preview and comment. Through a unique partnership with the National Park Service, CyArk is working to create a digital reconstruction of Manzanar circa 1944. With support from the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program, the project also includes the creation of digital reconstructions of the Topaz and Tule Lake Relocation Centers during World War II. In order to create historically accurate models, CyArk is utilizing laser scan data it collected at each site, along with historic documentation like architectural drawings, photographs, and archival research.

The National Park Service invites the public to a special preview of the digital “reconstruction” of Manzanar on Monday, July 23, 2012 in Garden Room B of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center located at 244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Staff from Manzanar National Historic Site and CyArk will be available from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm to share the project and welcome comments.

Les Inafuku, Superintendent of Manzanar National Historic Site says, “We're honored that CyArk is digitally rendering the buildings, Japanese gardens and other features so we can all better understand what life was like for those incarcerated at Manzanar. CyArk's final products will mesh well with the interpretive exhibits being planned for Block 14. The input which we received from the public on Block 14 has been invaluable. We hope our friends in the Nikkei community and interested others will join us again to share their recollections and ideas.”

Please see below under "Related Documents" for a PDF of the official NPS News Release.
Preview of the in-progress 3D digital model, with a residential barrack in the foreground and the admin area in the background.
Overview of the in-progress 3D digital model, with the hospital block in the foreground.