Built by Del Webb in 1942, the Poston War Relocation Center was home to over 17,000 Japanese American internees, mostly from California. The site was built on Colorado River Indian Reservation land despite objections by the tribe, who did not want any part of the Center. Temperature extremes were common in the desert, with highs reaching 115°F and lows down to 35°F. The Center closed in 1945 and the land was returned to the Colorado Indian Reservation. The Poston Memorial Monument was built near the site in 1992.
The 40 Families Collection from the Palos Verdes Community Archives includes dozens of photos from the Poston Relocation Center, including images of internees, buildings, and every day life at the Center. Two yearbooks, El Chapparal from the Poston Two High School, are also part of their Collection.