Grants Awarded

Camp Amache - Granada Relocation Center

Prowers County

During World War II, the U.S. government forcibly relocated over 100,000 Japanese-Americans to internment camps, where they remained for the duration of the conflict. 

One such camp was the Granada Relocation Center, simply known as Camp Amache, which served as a temporary prison for approximately 10,000 Japanese-Americans. Amache was formally closed in October of 1945, and quickly fell into disrepair as the nation lacked the interest in preserving this rather ugly aspect of its past. By the 1980s, however, Japanese-Americans began making yearly pilgrimages to the site in order to commemorate the resilience of those who were unfairly interned there. Several building foundations, remnant landscaping, and surface artifacts remaining on the site earned its declaration as a National Historic Landmark in 2006. An SHF grant will enable the University of Denver to conduct another session of its renowned Field School program at Amache. The program focuses on community outreach programs, collection management study, and surveys and analysis of the Relocation Center. The University Field School works to educate students and the larger community and helps to recover and preserve this controversial but important aspect of Colorado’s history.

A glazed ceramic sherd with part of a blue and white design pattern found during work at Camp Amache (Granada Relocation Center).

Historic ceramic sherd with part of a blue floral pattern found during work at Camp Amache (Granada Relocation Center).