The Nebraska History Museum opened two exhibits on Saturday that focus on the lives of Japanese Americans during World War II.
The first is a Smithsonian traveling exhibition titled "Righting a Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II" and the second is a locally developed exhibit titled "Preserving a Legacy: Japanese in Nebraska." The latter was created through a partnership between History Nebraska and the Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering.
According to History Nebraska, both exhibits will be open to the public until Oct. 1.
Righting a Wrong centers around Executive Order 9066, an order signed into law on Dec. 7, 1941, by President Franklin Roosevelt following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The order sent thousands of Japanese Americans and Japanese nationalists to incarceration camps, which were in place from March 1942 through March 1946. The exhibit also features stories, photos and personal items from those that were in the camps.
Preserving a Legacy expands on the story of Japanese Nebraskans that moved to Nebraska during World War II. Japanese Americans living in Nebraska were not sent to incarceration camps during the war, as those camps were largely made up of Japanese Americans living on the West Coast, but those living in Nebraska faced hostile treatment.
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The exhibit also explores how World War II was both covered and perceived in Nebraska, as well as what the lives of Japanese Americans living in Nebraska were like.
Following Oct. 1, the Preserving a Legacy exhibit will move to the Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering for a yet-to-be-determined time, according to the Nebraska History Museum.
Joseph Eskenazi of Redondo Beach, California, the oldest living survivor of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, marked his 105th birthday Wednesday at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
Photos: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1941
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
In this Dec. 7, 1941 file photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the destroyer USS Shaw explodes after being hit by bombs during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. About 20 survivors are gathering on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, at Pearl Harbor to remember thousands of men lost in the Japanese attack 77 years ago. The youngest of the survivors is in his mid-90s. The Navy and National Park Service will jointly host the remembrance ceremony Friday at a grassy site overlooking the water and the USS Arizona Memorial. (U.S. Navy via AP, File)
National Park Service
The_USS_Arizona
The USS Arizona (BB-39) burning after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. The ship is resting on the harbor bottom. The supporting structure of the forward tripod mast has collapsed after the forward magazine exploded.
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
Planes and hangars burning at Wheeler Army Air Field, Oahu, soon after it was attacked in the morning of 7 December 1941, as seen from a Japanese Navy plane. Donation of Theodore Hutton, 1942. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Catalog #: NH 50473
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
Dense smoke rises from the forward and midships portion of the USS Arizona BB-39. Just ahead of her (L-R) the sinking USS West Virginia BB-48 outboard with the slightly damaged USS Tennessee BB-43 inboard.
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
USS Arizona (BB-39) ablaze, just after her forward magazines exploded. At right, shrouded in smoke from the fire, are the main and foremasts of USS West Virginia, which is listing sharply to port after she was torpedoed. Upright mast further to the right is the mainmast of USS Tennessee (BB-43), moored inboard of West Virginia. The bow and foremast of USS Vestal (AR-4), moored outboard of Arizona, are visible at the left. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
Panorama view of Pearl Harbor, during the Japanese raid, with anti-aircraft shell bursts overhead. The photograph looks southwesterly from the hills behind the harbor. Large column of smoke in lower right center is from the burning USS Arizona (BB-39). Smoke somewhat further to the left is from the destroyers Shaw (DD-373), Cassin (DD-372) and Downes (DD-375), in drydocks at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
Japanese torpedo makes a direct hit on battleship USS Oklahoma. This dramatic image captures the opening sequences of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
PBY at Kaneohe Naval Air Station burns out of control. Sailors rush to rescue another PBY that is badly damaged. No airfield on Oahu suffered more damage to hangars and aircraft than Kaneohe. Of the 37 planes, 28 were lost and the remainder severely damaged.
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
This image was captured by a Japanese naval aviator in the opening moments of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Torpedo tracks can be seen headed towards Battleship Row. Smoke rises in the distance from the burning aircraft and hangars at Hickam Field.
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
A fireboat pours water onto the burning battleship USS West Virginia BB-48 following the attack by Japanese naval aircraft. The USS Tennessee in background.
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
This image was taken from the fleet landing area at Ford Island. Sailors attend to a launch pulling alongside during the raid. The battleship California can be seen to the left and in the center, the clear devastation of Battleship Row. Note to the right the fleet oiler Neosho backing away and seeking safety during the raid. It was taken just before 9:00 a.m.
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
Pearl Harbor Shipyard Floating Dry dock #2: USS Shaw burns after being bombed. Nevada has run around and the Avocet is in the foreground.
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
Shock and amazement are registered on the expression of the Schofield Barracks soldier in the foreground. December 7, 1941.
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
This aerial view was taken over Ford Island on November 10, 1941, less than one month before the Pearl Harbor attack. At the bottom of the photo, six battleships occupy the line that will forever be known as “Battleship Rowâ€. At the top, the western shoreline of Ford Island is the berthing area at Fox-9 of the carrier USS Lexington.
National Park Service
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
Sailors at Ford Island Naval Air Station look on as the USS Shaw explodes in the distance. This view is of the PBY ramp with assorted aircraft scattered among the debris. Barely seen in the background is the beached USS Nevada.
National Park Service
USS Arizona
Fuel oil pours out of battleships moored off Ford Island in Pearl Harbor after the Japanese attack on Dec. 7 1941.
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941
Strafed Fire House on Hickam Air Field with two fire trucks outside & Debris from the attack This vivid photo shows the damage to Hickam Field’s fire station. Note pot marks of machine gun fire on the side of the building. This building is presently restored and the home of Hickam Air Force Base Security.
National Park Service
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