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Exhibits inside the MIS Historic Learning Center in the Presidio. Photo courtesy of the National Japanese American Historical Society

Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center

Learn about a school where the Army trained Japanese American soldiers as linguists in World War II.

Region

Crissy Field Region

Type

Military & Historic Site, Museum

Top Amenities

Accessible Parking, Accessible Restrooms, Paid Parking, Shuttle-accessible, Muni Bus-accessible

The Military Intelligence Service (MIS) Historic Learning Center invites visitors to explore a chapter from World War II right where it happened.

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

Map of the Presidio

By Public Transit

Muni Route: 30

Stop: Sports Basement Parking Lot

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.”

Two veterans of the learning center tour the exhibitions.Photo courtesy of the National Japanese American Historical Society.

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.

The exterior of the center at Crissy Field, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.
Photo by John Sutton.

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.

Park Itineraries 

Need help planning your day at the Presidio? We’ve put together some itinerary ideas for things to see and do in the park. Whether you’re planning to spend a few hours or an entire day, there’s something for everyone at the Presidio.

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