Sacramento Japantown – Destroyed by Design

Once a thriving neighborhood filled with businesses, families, cultural institutions, and community life, Sacramento's Japantown was an integral part of the city's history. Yet, over the course of the twentieth century, this vibrant community was profoundly altered by the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the urban redevelopment that followed.

Join the Sacramento Historical Society on Tuesday, November 17, at the Sacramento History Museum for a special presentation by members of Reclaim Sacramento Japantown, exploring the neighborhood's remarkable history and the stories behind the museum's new exhibit, Sacramento Japantown: Destroyed by Design.

Through personal recollections, family heirlooms, historic photographs, and multimedia displays, the exhibit brings the lost neighborhood to life, offering visitors a glimpse into the people, places, and traditions that once defined Sacramento's Japantown. The presentation will explore the neighborhood's evolution, the events that led to its destruction, and the enduring legacy of a community whose contributions continue to shape Sacramento today.

About the Exhibit

Developed in partnership with Reclaim Sacramento Japantown and the Asian/Pacific Bar Association Law Foundation, Sacramento Japantown: Destroyed by Design opens November 6, 2026, and will remain on display through May 24, 2027, in the Agriculture Gallery on the first floor of the Sacramento History Museum.

Important Location & Parking Information

Please note that this program will take place at the Sacramento History Museum in Old Sacramento, rather than our usual meeting venue.

Free parking is available in the lot behind the California State Railroad Museum. When entering Old Sacramento from I Street, turn right and then make an immediate left into the parking lot. Guests may park in any available space.

👉 Register HERE

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