In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the National Park Service (NPS) has launched a “Virtual Museum” highlighting more than 200 items from Manzanar National Historic Site’s museum collection.

“This is the 41^st Virtual Museum that the National Park Service has created, and we’re honored to be launching it close to the 41^st annual Manzanar Pilgrimage,” said Superintendent Les Inafuku. “From any Internet-connected computer, anytime, any person can explore artifacts, photos, archives, and videos to discover the many stories of Manzanar.”

The Virtual Museum showcases items highlighting Manzanar’s past from centuries of Owens Valley Paiute life to the ranching and farming era; from the World War II confinement of 11,070 Japanese Americans, to later pilgrimages and the eventual establishment of Manzanar National Historic Site.

Most of the items featured online have never been seen by the public.

In addition to artifacts, artwork, documents, photos, and more, the Virtual Museum includes a virtual tour, oral history interview clips, photo slideshows, and “Teaching With Museum Collections” lesson plans.

Park staff collaborated with museum professionals from the NPS Museum Management Program based in Washington, D.C. and with museum staff from Death Valley National Park and the NPS Western Archeological Conservation Center, in Tucson, Ariz.

The project was made possible through the generosity of former internees, camp staff, local residents, their families, and others who have donated items to Manzanar.

Manzanar’s Virtual Museum is online at www.nps.gov/history/museum/exhibits/manz/index.html.

To explore the National Park Service’s other Virtual Museums, visit www.nps.gov/history/museum.

Manzanar’s “real museum” is located in the restored camp auditorium at Manzanar. The site is located along U.S. Highway 395, six miles south of Independence, Calif. and nine miles north of Lone Pine.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/manz or call (760) 878-2194.