At Newell, Tule Lake’s Historic Jail Tells a National Civil Liberties Story

NEWELL, Modoc County — One of the most consequential historical sites in Northern California stands along Highway 139 near Newell. The Tule Lake Segregation Center was the only one of the ten federal War Relocation Authority camps converted into a high-security segregation center during World War II.

What happened here?

The National Park Service history explains that Japanese Americans were forcibly incarcerated following federal action in 1942. Tule Lake was transformed into a segregation center in 1943 amid coercive loyalty questionnaires and administrative decisions. The government’s “loyal” and “disloyal” labels do not adequately capture the range of experiences and resistance among incarcerated people.

Can the public enter the jail?

No self-guided entry is permitted. The park service’s jail listing says visitors may enter the jail and stockade only with a ranger-led tour. The agency allows photographs from outside the fence at designated public viewpoints but warns that some portions of the historic camp footprint now lie on private property.

How to plan a respectful visit

The NPS tour page recommends making arrangements in advance; access depends on staffing and season. Check current tour times directly with the park, and do not climb gates or enter private land. The visitor center is generally seasonal.

The Newell site is not a celebration of detention infrastructure. It is preserved so the public can confront the abuse of civil liberties and hear testimony from those subjected to forced removal and incarceration. Read original testimony and the park’s interpretive materials before visiting.

Image credit: Photograph: National Park Service, restored jail cell at Tule Lake Segregation Center.

Sources: National Park Service jail access information; guided tours; NPS historic pamphlet.

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At Newell, Tule Lake’s Historic Jail Tells a National Civil Liberties Story — but Access Is Restricted