Sitting at the foot of Heart Mountain in northern Wyoming lies a preserved piece of history within Yellowstone Country. From the moment you turn onto Road 19, you feel like you've been transported back in time. Driving past the remnants of barracks, or witnessing the towering red chimney of the hospital boiler house in the distance, each visitor can’t help but feel the weight of the stories and experiences made at this renowned site.
Located near Cody in Powell, Wyoming, the Heart Mountain Relocation Center was one of the confinement sites created under Executive Order 9066 during World War II. Over 14,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly incarcerated here, enduring harsh conditions behind barbed wire and under the watchful eyes of guard towers. The few haunting remnants of the “camp” that still stand serve as a reminder of the importance of preserving sites that are key to fostering a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of U.S. history—especially when that history casts our nation in a less positive, yet honest, light.
The Heart Mountain Interpretive Center
Today, the heart of Heart Mountain lies in its Interpretive Center and the Mineta-Simpson Institute, dedicated to safeguarding and educating visitors from far and wide on this pivotal chapter of American history. Recently selected as a Smithsonian Affiliate, the museum, as a part of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, serves as an invaluable epitaph for this important part of America’s history.
At the Interpretive Center, visitors are immersed in the history of Heart Mountain through an array of photographs, artifacts, oral histories, and interactive exhibits that honor the stories of those who were incarcerated at Heart Mountain. This center offers a profound glimpse into the lives of the Japanese and Japanese Americans who were imprisoned behind barbed wire there during World War II. It presents a comprehensive overview of the forced relocation of Japanese Americans, shedding light on the historical context of anti-Asian sentiment in America and the circumstances that led to their confinement. The exhibits particularly emphasize the experience of incarceration, highlighting the varied personal responses of those imprisoned, the constitutional and civil liberties issues, and the broader implications for race and social justice in the United States.
The Mineta-Simpson Institute
In recent years, fear and anger have increasingly dominated American politics. For those elders who experienced unjust imprisonment during World War II due to their race, today's political climate feels eerily reminiscent of the past. The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation recognizes the importance of not only educating about historical injustices but also in shaping the leaders of tomorrow, and thus, the Mineta-Simpson Institute was founded.
Bolstering the efforts of the Interpretive Center, the newly opened Mineta-Simpson Institute serves as a dedicated retreat space at the center, hosting workshops and programs designed to nurture empathy, courage, and cooperation among future leaders. This initiative draws inspiration from the remarkable lives, accomplishments, and everlasting friendship of the late Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Senator Alan K. Simpson. Having met as children at Heart Mountain, Mineta and Simpson spent decades working together—despite their political differences—to improve the lives of Americans.
Heart Mountain Annual Pilgrimage: July 25-27th
Each year, the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation hosts the annual Pilgrimage, where former incarcerees and their families, along with the local community, gather together to honor and keep the memory of their experiences alive. This year’s celebration, from July 25-27th, is especially significant, with the Grand Opening of the Mineta-Simpson Institute at Heart Mountain! Conceptualized and created in the spirit of the late Norman Mineta and Alan Simpson, the Mineta-Simpson Institute (and its namesakes) inspired this year’s theme of Courage, Cooperation, & Empathy.
The Pilgrimage entails three days worth of workshops, events, ceremonies, and meet-ups, allowing participants to experience Heart Mountain, connect and reconnect with friends old and new, and be a part of the start of a new chapter at Heart Mountain with the grand opening of the Mineta-Simpson Institute. While the 2024 Pilgrimage is currently sold out, registration for the 2025 Pilgrimage will be open next spring. Discover more about the annual Heart Mountain Pilgrimage at the Heart Mountain website.
An absolute must-visit on your next trip to Cody, Wyoming, Heart Mountain stands as a beacon of hope, education, and unity. The Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, Mineta-Simpson Institute, and the annual Heart Mountain Pilgrimage, collectively embody a commitment to preserving history, fostering future leadership, and honoring the resilience of those unjustly imprisoned during WWII.
The Interpretive Center offers a profound educational experience, immersing visitors in the stories of Japanese Americans affected by wartime incarceration. The Mineta-Simpson Institute expands this mission by nurturing empathy and cooperation in future leaders, ensuring that the lessons of the past continue to inform and inspire. And the annual Pilgrimage serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring strength of the human spirit, bringing together generations to reflect, remember, and renew the pledge to uphold justice and equality for all.
An impactful experience hosting visitors year-round, be sure to add the Interpretive Center to your Yellowstone itinerary. Help keep Heart Mountain’s history alive!
.webp)
