Manzanar Baseball Project is a cultural and historical initiative led by Great Leap, a nonprofit dedicated to community-transformation through storytelling and performance. Centered on the restoration of the historic baseball field at Manzanar National Historic Site—where more than 10,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II—the project reclaims the field as a living symbol of resilience, memory, and community strength.

Under the creative leadership of MBP Project Director Dan Kwong, Great Leap stages historically inspired exhibition games at the restored field, featuring vintage equipment and custom 1940s uniforms. These games are not merely reenactments—they are immersive, site-specific performances that honor a legacy of endurance and cultural pride.

Through partnerships with the National Park Service, descendants of the incarcerated, the Nisei Athletic Union, and community collaborators, Great Leap ensures these stories are not only preserved but actively brought to life. Restoration began in 2023 and will culminate in a Grand Opening in Fall 2025, extending Great Leap’s mission to create spaces of justice, remembrance, and creative reflection.

To learn more about Associate Artistic Director Dan Kwong’s journey in bringing this vision to life, please visit this page.