With an average elevation of 5,000 feet (1,500 m), Camp John Hay - and Baguio in general - is much cooler and less humid than the rest of the Philippine Islands thereby providing a more familiar mild climate the typical American soldier knows back home.

John Hay Air Station was established on October 25, 1903, after President Theodore Roosevelt signed an executive order setting aside land in Benguet for a military reservation under the United States Army.

Camp John Hay was the first place in the Philippines bombed by Japan in World War II.

The one thousand American and Filipino soldiers at Camp Hay made little effort to defend Baguio from the advancing Japanese invaders.

They abandoned the area on December 24, destroying most of their weapons and equipment and leaving the Japanese internees locked up without food and water.

Halsema, in charge and he and Elmer Herold, another American resident of Baguio, provided food and water to the Japanese internees.

[3] About 40 percent were missionaries from 22 different denominations, some who had recently fled China and organized a language school in Baguio.

All 500 internees were crowded into a single building, which had previously housed 60 soldiers, and the Japanese made little provision for food and water.

Among its facilities are the 19th Tee, Halfway House, Scout Hill baseball field, Main Club (also known as Officer's Building), the Par-69 golf course, several restaurants and shops, The Manor Hotel, The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay.

Built by Paul V. McNutt, then high commissioner and later Ambassador to the Philippines, his "summer palace" was criticized at the time for being too expensive, notably by Representative Albert J. Engel of Michigan.

At 1210 hours, September 3, 1945, Tomoyuki Yamashita and Vice Admiral Denhici Okochi emerged from Kiangan to sign the Instrument of surrender with Major General Edmond H. Leavey.

[citation needed] During Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone's term, the U.S. State Department wanted to give up the residence because it was costing too much to maintain.

In this building on September 3, 1945, at 1210 hours, General Yamashita and Vice Admiral Denhici Okochi, Commander of the Japanese Navy in the Philippines, formally surrendered to United States' Forces represented by Major General Edmond H. Leavey, Deputy Commander of the United States Army Forces, Western Pacific.

[8][9] Today, its façade showcases the 1930s modern style with traditional southern plantation, white columns, US embassy seal and tall flagpole.