Minidoka National Historic Site
Time Needed: half-day
Experience Type: historic landmark, military history
The Minidoka National Historic Site honors the 13,000 Japanese-Americans incarcerated here during World War II. Through preserved landscapes and moving exhibits, gain insight into the hardships and resilience, reflecting on lessons of justice, identity, and the strength of democracy.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- Walk the 1.6-Mile Interpretive Trail – Follow a self-guided path past barracks foundations, mess halls, and 25 panels detailing daily life in the incarceration camp.
- Watch the Park Film – Narrated by actor and incarceration survivor George Takei, the 30-minute documentary offers a powerful introduction to the site’s history and human stories.
- Tour the Visitor Center and Exhibits – Explore artifacts, photos, and interactive displays that reveal the experiences of Japanese-Americans imprisoned at Minidoka during wartime.
- Reflect at the Guard Tower and Honor Roll – Stand beneath the reconstructed guard tower and see the monument honoring more than 840 incarcerated men who served in World War II.
- Visit Block 22 – Wander the remains of this residential block, where incarcerated individuals built rock gardens and personal touches amid the harsh desert environment.
Recommended Reading: In Looking After Minidoka: An American Memoir, Neil Nakadate weaves together family stories, history, and poetry to reflect on three generations of his family’s experience—especially their lives during World War II.
Photo Credit: Stand Honda/NPS