CCC / WPA / WWII POW Camps
New Deal infrastructure and wartime history hiding in plain sight.
About These Sites
Three of American history's most consequential programs left physical traces scattered across nearly every county in the country — and most people drive past them every day without knowing it.
The Civilian Conservation Corps built the backbone of America's park system. The Works Progress Administration put up public buildings in every town. And during World War II, over 500 POW camps held hundreds of thousands of German, Italian, and Japanese prisoners in places that are largely forgotten today.
Finding and researching these sites connects you to a period of American history that is simultaneously well-documented in the archives and almost invisible on the ground. The research tools are largely free. The sites are often on public land. And the history waiting at each one is genuinely remarkable.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) — Active 1933–1942, the CCC employed millions of young men building trails, bridges, lodges, and infrastructure across America’s public lands. Over 3 million men served in more than 4,500 camps nationwide, building trails, fire towers, dams, and campgrounds. Abandoned sites often leave stone foundations, concrete slabs, and distinctive CCC-style masonry. Key resources: CCC Legacy Foundation, National Archives CCC records (RG 35), state historical societies.
Works Progress Administration (WPA) — The WPA (1935–1943) was the largest New Deal agency, employing over 8.5 million workers on more than 1.4 million projects — post offices, courthouses, schools, murals, and the American Guide Series. Unlike the CCC, workers weren’t housed in camps. Recognizable by Art Deco/PWA Moderne style. Key resources: Living New Deal project (interactive map), National Archives WPA records (RG 69), Smithsonian Federal Art Project archives.
WW2 POW Camps — Between 1942–1946, the U.S. ran over 500 POW camps in 46 of 48 states, holding 400,000+ German, Italian, and Japanese prisoners, often on farms or near canneries where labor was needed. What survives: concrete foundations, guard tower footings, fencing hardware, occasional prisoner-made artifacts. Records are unusually complete due to Geneva Convention documentation requirements (). USGS aerial photos from 1943–46 often show camp layouts clearly.
Forum Discussion — Join the community discussion about CCC / WPA / WWII POW Camps.
Getting Started Tips
Research property ownership before visiting — many CCC camps sat on what’s now private land, and some former POW camp sites remain on active military property or restricted federal land.
Look for concrete foundation slabs, chimney stacks, and grid-pattern building layouts — the telltale signature of a demolished camp, even decades after every structure is gone.
Cross-reference potential site locations against the Living New Deal map and National Archives POW camp records before heading out — both are free and cover most documented sites.
Bring a metal detector for buttons, mess kit hardware, dog tags, and personal effects — camp sites, especially mess halls and barracks footprints, are often surprisingly productive.
Respect any remaining structures — many CCC-built stone bridges, lodges, and trail work are still standing, still in public use, and protected under historic preservation law.
Verify access before visiting any former WW2 POW camp site — several sit on land that’s now restricted, privately owned, or part of an active military installation.
Clubs & Organizations:
CCC Legacy Foundation — Preserves the history and legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Living New Deal — An interactive, ongoing project mapping New Deal-era public works across the country, including WPA sites.
