Inside a former airplane hangar at Crissy Field in San Francisco’s Presidio, the Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center tells the story of Japanese American servicemen in World War II. Exhibits trace the building’s use as a language school and the work of Nisei and Kibei soldiers, who translated intercepted Japanese military messages and served as interrogators. Personal accounts and artifacts also show the discrimination Japanese Americans faced during the war. A docent-led tour can add context to the stories and the site’s history.
A language school in a former hangar
The learning center is housed in an airplane hangar at Crissy Field, within the Presidio of San Francisco. In 1941, the building was converted into the Army’s Secret Language School, where Japanese American servicemen trained as linguists. The school began with 58 students and later moved to Minnesota as recruitment expanded.
The building’s earlier use as a military airfield adds local context to the exhibits. What began as a training site now preserves the history of the servicemen who studied and worked there.
Language work and wartime discrimination
The exhibits focus on the Military Intelligence Service and the work of Nisei, the second-generation Japanese Americans, and Kibei, Japanese Americans educated in Japan. They translated intercepted Japanese military messages and served as interrogators, supporting American military intelligence in the Pacific.
Personal stories and artifacts place that service alongside the discrimination Japanese Americans endured during World War II. The center also addresses the mistrust directed at Japanese American servicemen, as well as the incarceration of Japanese American civilians. Together, these accounts give the military history its human context.
Making sense of the exhibits
A docent-led tour can provide more detail about the people and events represented in the galleries. The exhibits cover Japanese American experiences before, during and after the war, along with the history of the Presidio site.
Some visitors have received complimentary books with admission; one account describes choosing up to three. Ask about the current arrangement when you visit, as the available details do not establish whether it remains in place.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is the Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center?
It is at Crissy Field in the Presidio of San Francisco, in a former airplane hangar.
What can you see at the learning center?
Exhibits include personal stories and artifacts about Japanese American servicemen, their military intelligence work and the discrimination Japanese Americans faced during World War II.
Can you take a guided tour?
Docent-led tours have been offered. Ask about availability when planning your visit.
