By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The Manenggon Concentration Camp on Guam and the Latte Stone Quarry on Rota were among the 19 new National Historic Landmarks designated by the Department of the Interior.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said the new designations announced Monday reflected “the importance of the sites in sharing America’s diverse history.”
“As America’s storyteller, it is our privilege at the Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service, to tell our nation’s history and honor the many historical chapters and heroic communities that brought us to where we all are today,” Haaland said. “These newly designated historic landmarks join a list of the nation’s premier historic and cultural places, all of which were nominated through voluntary and locally led stewardship.”
The Manenggon concentration camp located along a 1.5-miles stretch of the Ylig River near Yona was operated by the Japanese Imperial Army in 1944.
Over 10,000 CHamoru people were forcibly marched to the camp in the rain and forced to survive with few resources. A monument now stands on the site in honor of the natives who suffered one of the worst atrocities that took place at the end of the Japanese occupation during World War II.
The National Park Service initiated the process for this designation in February through a study.
Guam Del. James Moylan said the designation opened opportunities for Manenggon to seek federal funding.
"This site personifies both the struggles of our people during the occupation while representing the resiliency of Guam’s greatest population," Moylan said. "This designation would place Guam’s story in national history books while providing access to resources to ensure this site is maintained for generations to visit and pay respect to."
He added that a National Historic Landmark helps "promote heritage and other forms of education tourism, which we are confident that the Guam Visitors Bureau would be able to capitalize on."
On Rota, the Latte Stone Quarry, also known as Nieves Quarry, is the site of the largest unearthed latte stones in the Marianas. Some of the abandoned
megaliths would stand approximately 25 feet (7.6 m) high if the haligi (pillar) had been topped with tasa (cut-shaped capstones) and erected upright.
The prehistoric megaliths in the village of Sinapalo are believed to have been used as foundation pillars for houses.
An NHL designation is the highest federal recognition of a property’s historical, architectural or archeological significance, and a testament to the dedicated stewardship of many private and public property owners who seek this designation. While the National Park Service maintains NHL listings, most are privately owned.
Officials said the new NHLs are "nationally significant properties for lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans, African Americans, Asian American Pacific Islanders, and women’s history in addition to moments important in the development of American technology, landscape design and art."
The new NHLs are now among the 2,600 nationally significant places that have exceptional value in illustrating the history and culture of the United States. NHL theme studies supported many of these nominations and designations.
“The National Park Service is committed to helping preserve and share a fuller and more inclusive account of our nation's history, a history that is not complete until all stories are represented. These 19 newly designated landmarks help do just that,” said Chuck Sams, director of National Park Service.
“We are proud to recognize these nationally significant places representing the diversity of the American experience and our country’s collective heritage.”
In addition to the new designations, the NPS has updated documentation for 14 current NHLs and has withdrawn the designation of three NHLs because of demolition or destruction.
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