I Am An American: The Nisei Soldier Experience Traveling Exhibit

"My father always told me, 'You're an American citizen, so do the best you can for your country, this is your country.'"  Sakae Takahashi, 100th Infantry Battalion

Join our circle of donors to support the completion of the National Museum of the United States Army's first traveling exhibit, I Am An American: The Nisei Soldier Experience Traveling Exhibit. The exhibit will highlight the patriotism, loyalty, and selfless service of Japanese American World War II Nisei soldiers who served courageously in the European and Pacific theaters, while their families battled discrimination at home. The theme was inspired by a historical photo taken by Dorothea Lange of Tatsuro Masuda's "I Am An American" sign that he placed on the Oakland, California, storefront on December 8, 1941, to declare his American identity.

The 11-city traveling exhibit will launch in February 2026 from San Francisco, California, to travel nationwide for five years. The exhibit will feature 25-35 Nisei wartime objects and will present the national story through 6 thematic areas: I Am An American, life in Hawaii, life in the WRA Camps, Two Front War, Price of War, and Post-war Legacy.

Please consider making a donation in honor of the Nisei soldiers today.