The War in the Pacific National Historical Park is a multi-unit
protected area in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
territory of
Guam
Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...
, which was established in 1978 in honor of those who participated in the
Pacific Theater of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. Uniquely among the
National Park System
The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...
, it honors the bravery and sacrifices of all those who participated in the Pacific Theater.
During World War II,
Guam was captured by the
Japanese forces in 1941,
occupied for four years, and
liberated by the Americans in 1944. The park includes former battlefields, gun emplacements, trenches, caves, and historic structures.
The Park was also featured on the
Washington Quarter
The Washington quarter is the present quarter dollar or 25-cent piece issued by the United States Mint. The coin was first struck in 1932; the original version was designed by sculptor John Flanagan.
As the United States prepared to celebrate ...
in 2019 as a part of the
America the Beautiful Quarters Series.
Components
The T. Stell Newman Visitor Center is located in
Santa Rita, outside the gate of
Naval Base Guam
Naval Base Guam is a strategic U.S. naval base located on Apra Harbor and occupying the Orote Peninsula. In 2009, it was combined with Andersen Air Force Base to form Joint Region Marianas, which is a Navy-controlled joint base.
The Ship Repa ...
. The front of the Center displays
Ha. 62-76 Japanese Midget Attack Submarine, an
NRHP-listed item. The Park Headquarters itself is located in
Hagåtña.
Other units are largely areas significant to the American invasions on either side of the
Orote Peninsula
The Orote Peninsula is a four kilometer-long peninsula jutting from the west coast of the United States territory of Guam. A major geologic feature of the island, it forms the southern coast of Apra Harbor and the northern coast of Agat Bay. Its t ...
in 1944. These are:
Northern units
There are four distinct park units related to the northern invasion beach.
Asan Beach Unit
This unit comprises land, surface, and subsurface assets from
Adelup Point
Adelup Point is limestone promontory in Hagåtña, Guam that extends into the Philippine Sea and separates Asan Bay from Hagåtña Bay. It has been the site of the Ricardo J. Bordallo Governor's Complex since 1990. Adelup is therefore a metonym ...
in Hagåtña to Asan Point and the waters around the point in
Asan
Asan () is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It borders the Seoul Capital Area to the north. Asan has a population of approximately 300,000.
Asan is known for its many hot springs and is a city of spas.
Asan has grown into th ...
.
Asan Invasion Beach
The Asan Invasion Beach is a historic site in the village of Asan, Guam. The beaches of Asan were one of the landing sites of American forces in the 1944 Battle of Guam, in which the island was retaken from occupying Japanese forces. The designa ...
itself is an NRHP-listed asset, though there are many pillboxes, caves, and tunnels in this Unit.
The Unit also includes:
* the Liberator's Memorial, erected on the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Guam
* two monuments in honor of
Apolinario Mabini
Apolinario Mabini y Maranan (, July 23, 1864 – May 13, 1903) was a Filipino revolutionary leader, educator, lawyer, and statesman who served first as a legal and constitutional adviser to the Revolutionary Government, and then as the firs ...
and the Filipino insurrectionists of the
Philippine–American War who were imprisoned at a prisoner of war camp located here in 1901.
* the Monument for the
3rd Marine Division
The 3rd Marine Division is a division of the United States Marine Corps based at Camp Courtney, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler in Okinawa, Japan. It is one of three active duty infantry divisions in the Marine Corps and together with th ...
* the US Landing Monument
Asan Inland Unit
Including the NRHP-listed
Matgue River Valley Battle Area and
Asan Ridge Battle Area, this unit comprises areas of
Asan-Maina and
Piti
Piti may refer to:
* Pīti, a mental factor in Buddhism
* PITI, the principal, interest, taxes, and insurance sum of a mortgage payment
* Piti (food), a soup dish of Central Asia
* Piti (footballer) (born 1981), Spanish footballer
* Piti, Guam
* Pi ...
extending up towards
Nimitz Hill Nimitz Hill may refer to:
* Nimitz Hill (geographic feature), a hill in Asan, Guam surrounded by the Nimitz Hill Annex census-designated place
* Nimitz Hill (CDP), a census-designated place in Piti, Guam located adjacent to the Nimitz Hill Annex CDP ...
. It also includes the Asan Bay Overlook on
Guam Highway 6 off
Nimitz Hill Annex
Nimitz Hill Annex is a community and census-designated place (CDP) in Asan-Maina, Guam. It contains the geographic feature of Nimitz Hill, and is located immediately northeast of the Nimitz Hill CDP in Piti. In normal conversation, the Nimitz Hi ...
, which includes developed walkways, views, and sculptures. The Overlook also includes a Memorial Wall of Names for the 1,888 U.S. servicemen who died in the 1941 and 1944 battles, as well as the 1,170 people of Guam who died and the 14,721 people of Guam who suffered war atrocities.
Fonte Plateau Unit
Located in the
Nimitz Hill Annex
Nimitz Hill Annex is a community and census-designated place (CDP) in Asan-Maina, Guam. It contains the geographic feature of Nimitz Hill, and is located immediately northeast of the Nimitz Hill CDP in Piti. In normal conversation, the Nimitz Hi ...
community, this Unit was the Japanese naval communications center. Following the battle, it temporarily became the Headquarters for
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Chester W. Nimitz.
Piti Guns Unit
The NRHP-listed
Piti Guns
The Piti Guns or Piti Coastal Defense Guns is the site of three Vickers-type Model 3 coastal defense guns in the War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Piti, Guam. The Japanese manufactured these Model 3 coastal defense guns in 1914. Du ...
are the centerpiece of this Unit in the hills of Piti. A trail maintained by the Park leads from Highway 6 to the three coastal guns.
Southern units
Agat Unit
The Agat Unit on the south side of the Orote Peninsula comprises land, surface, and subsurface assets in
Agat Bay and the villages of
Agat, Guam and Santa Rita. It extends from Apaca Point south to Bangi Point, including Alutom Island. A park at Ga'an Point includes several defensive structures and two types of guns.
NRHP-listed resources here include:
*
Agat Invasion Beach
*
Agat World War II Amtrac, located offshore
*
Hill 40, just inland of Bangi Point
Mt. Alifan Unit
The undeveloped
Mount Alifan Unit was the high point used by the Japanese commander directing the defense of the Agat beaches.
References
External links
*Official NPS website
War in the Pacific National Historical Park
{{Authority control
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Guam
National Historical Parks of the United States
World War II on the National Register of Historic Places in Guam
World War II memorials in the United States
World War II museums in the United States
Military and war museums in insular areas of the United States
Museums in Guam
Protected areas of Guam
Protected areas established in 1978
1978 establishments in Guam
Agat, Guam
Asan-Maina, Guam
Piti, Guam
Guam Highway 1
Agat Bay