Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center
Learn about a school where the Army trained Japanese American soldiers as linguists in World War II.
This unassuming former aircraft hangar at Crissy Field was once home to a secret school where the U.S. Army trained Japanese American soldiers as linguists during World War II. They went on to serve in combat units in the Pacific Theater.
Open on weekend from 12 to 5 p.m., the museum features exhibits that describe what life was like for the recruits who studied and lived at the school, the impact they had on the war, and how their own families were affected by the mass incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans.
Getting to Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center
640 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94129
By Presidio Go Shuttle
Route: Any
Stop: Presidio Transit Center
Directions: Follow Halleck Street to Mason Street. Turn left to reach the Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center.
Parking
Paid parking near the MIS Historic Learning Center is available on Mason Street. Additional paid parking is in the lot next to the Sports Basement.
Why We Love Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center
For only $10 a ticket – with free admission for veterans and children under 12 – the MIS Historic Learning Center lets guests experience a moving chapter in Presidio history through attractions like a reconstructed classroom and the personal stories of individual Nisei soldiers.
Accessibility at the learning center
There is one parking spot for those with mobility limitations in front of the building on Mason Street.
Insider Tip
History enthusiasts may also be interested in the Korean War Memorial. Located about a 20-minute walk away just outside San Francisco National Cemetery, it consists of a peaceful plaza and memorial wall honoring those who served in what many call “the forgotten war.”
Experience the History of the Presidio
The MIS Historic Learning Center is operated by the National Japanese American Historical Society. Its mission is to preserve this vital part of American history as a tribute to the Japanese American experience. The center was opened in 2013.
Visit the Museum
The center is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $10, with veterans and children under 12 welcomed for free. Start your experience with a 10-minute introductory video shown in a reconstructed classroom. Then explore exhibits that unveil the personal histories of the soldiers and the campaigns in which they fought.
An Incredible Chapter in Presidio History
In November 1941, the first class of Nisei students began their secret training as linguists in Building 640 at the Presidio’s Crissy Field. They lived and studied in the dilapidated hangar. Ironically, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the orders directing the mass incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans on the West Coast were issued from a nearby Presidio building. Just one class would graduate from the Presidio language school before it was relocated. Learn about this incredible story on the MIS Historic Learning Center’s website.
EXCLUSION Exhibition at the Presidio Officers’ Club
During World War II, the Presidio – then the location of the headquarters of the U.S. Army’s Western Defense Command – played an important role in the unjust incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans. Learn more about these events and their impact at EXCLUSION exhibition at the Presidio Officers’ Club.
Rent the MIS Historic Learning Center
The MIS Historic Learning Center also functions as a community space that’s available for non-profits and families to rent. Learn more on their website.
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Experience the Presidio
The Presidio is San Francisco’s national park site, with endless trails, fun events, and unforgettable vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge.
