Japanese Occupation Site, Kiska Island
Japanese Occupation Site, Kiska Island | |
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Rusted remains of a Japanese 75mm gun on Kiska, now protected as part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge | |
| Location | Aleutian Islands, Alaska, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°59′5″N 177°31′46″E / 51.98472°N 177.52944°E |
| Area | 48,900 acres (19,800 ha) |
| Built | 1942 |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002732 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 4, 1985 |
| Designated NHL | February 4, 1985 |
| Designated AHRS | November 24, 1972 |
The Japanese Occupation Site on Kiska island (along with Attu Island) in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska is where the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked and occupied the island in World War II, as one of the only two enemy invasion sites in North America during the war. The Japanese built defenses and other infrastructure on the island before abandoning it in 1943 after losing the Battle of Attu. American and Canadian forces reoccupied the abandoned island, and departed the island in 1946. Now a part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, the central portion of the island, where these military activities were concentrated, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985. The site is part of the Aleutian Islands World War II National Monument.