Historic photograph taken at the Heart Mountain Internment Camp near Powell, Wyoming
Did you miss the “Let’s Go Places: Exploring the Wyoming Places Heart Mountain Japanese-American WWII Internment Camp Digital Exhibit” webinar presented on Friday, August 16? A recording of the webinar is now available here.
The Heart Mountain World War II Japanese American Confinement Site (also known as the Heart Mountain Relocation Center or the Heart Mountain Internment Camp) was constructed in the summer of 1942 as part of a larger government movement during WWII to house Japanese-Americans the United States Government perceived as a threat to national security. More than 10,000 people were incarcerated at the Heart Mountain Camp, located between the towns of Powell and Cody in Wyoming, and remained until its closure on November 10, 1945. At its peak, the camp’s population was more than 10,000. Their forced relocation by the government meant they had to give up property such as houses, businesses, cars, and bank accounts, and leave their friends, jobs, and schools.
This digital exhibit features historic newspapers written in both English and Japanese languages, historic photographs, drawings, artwork, videos, and other resources that highlight Wyoming’s only Japanese Internment Camp. This webinar was presented by Jessica Otto and Travis Pollok and facilitated by Paige Bredenkamp, all of the Wyoming State Library.
Recordings of other webinars presented by the Wyoming State Library can be found on our webinars page.