American Memorial Park

Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, United States

History through the eyes of those who lived it

The National Park Service wanted to create a respectful visitor center that would reach a culturally diverse audience at American Memorial Park, which honors the Americans and Mariana Islanders who lost their lives during the battle for Saipan in World War II. APA carried out exhibit design from concept through final design, employing a thematic approach that portrays the battle from diverse perspectives in both English and Japanese, and respects the individual stories of all those involved. Visitors are led through a series of vignettes by the voices of survivors American forces, Japanese defenders, Okinawan and Korean farmers and indigenous civilians talking about pre-war life, the horror of the battle itself and its aftermath. Murals and archival photographs bring this journey to life.