BIJAEMA’s executive director joined two new friends from UW Medicine and the University of Wyoming for an unforgettable day exploring Heart Mountain, a fellow member of the Japanese American Confinement Sites Consortium. Read the complete story behind their pilgrimage in UW Medicine’s newsletter.

A big ‘thank you’ to Executive Director Aura Sunada Newlin and the staff at Heart Mountain for a warm welcome and an inspirational day. Walking among the relics of the camp, spanning over 740 acres and once home to more than 10,000 incarcerees, was a somber yet powerful experience—a poignant reminder of the importance of remembrance and understanding.

The new Mineta-Simpson Institute’s official grand opening will be July 25-27 during this year’s annual Heart Mountain Pilgrimage. That did not stop the interpretive staff from proudly offering a sneak-peek of their new facility. The interior and exterior design of the Institute is reminiscent of the camp’s mess hall, and the building is cleverly situated to offer dramatic views of Heart Mountain and the surrounding foothills from nearly every window. Inside, the building offers a large meeting room soon to be utilized as a dedicated retreat space at the center, “a home for workshops and programming specifically designed to foster empathy, courage, and cooperation in the next generation of leaders.”

In addition to the new Mineta-Simpson Center the Heart Mountain operations and interpretive staff now have upgraded office facilities, including an expansive collections room with ample space to process and care for historic artifacts that may someday be on display in the existing interpretive museum. On the day of our visit, Aura’s grandfather’s uniform from his service in the 442nd regimental combat team was carefully laid out for inspection.

Going forward, exchange of information between the members of the JACS Consortium will be key to learning from one another as each organization becomes more developed and sophisticated. Under the leadership of JACS Consortium executive director, Rob Buscher, the Consortium hopes to develop consistent programming made available to a broader audience to ensure that the incarceration story is preserved and appreciated for generations to come. Again, thank you Heart Mountain for sharing.

Interested in visiting Heart Mountain? Heart Mountain is located just outside Cody, WY, and approximately 1-1/2 hours from Yellowstone National Park. Learn more at: https://www.heartmountain.org

BIJAEMA and Heart Mtn Executive Directors