Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center

At the end of this summer, we had a group staying with us that filled the hotel. They came from all over the country for the Grand Opening of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center. This musuem was built on the site of the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp - one of ten internment camps used to incarcerate Japanese/Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. These Japanese citizens were made to pack only what they could carry and move out of their homes and neighborhoods (mostly on the west coast) to be interned in what was essentially concentration camps for the duration of the war.

This event brought over 1000 people to Cody, many of whom were at this camp as children. The had sad and wonderful stories to tell and one women told me that she had planned never to return to Cody because of the way she was treated. I think being back here was very cathartic for these folks and they were able to do some healing while they were here. The community welcomed them with open arms, unlike during the war.

Some of the speakers at the grand opening were Tom Brokaw, Jamie Ford, Alan Simpson, Norman Mineta, as well as former internees. Today we went to learn more about the way they lived and were blown away by the fantastic displays at the Center. As you enter, you hear recordings simulating people's feelings about being at the camp - they don't want to be here, they're worried about what will happen to their homes and businesses - it's all very sad!

We met Christy, the manager of the Center, and she gave us a quick tour - from the small apartments that were remade with personal belongings of the internees, to the model of the actual camp. It sat on 124 acres and housed more than 14,000 people. The museum is set up in a way that you can experience life in the camp. Even the latrines have been fitted with mirrors on the side walls to show the lack of privacy that they lived with.

We had a great time, look forward to going back and can't wait to send our guests to the Heart Mountain Interprative Learning Center!