Last updated: December 5, 2025
Minidoka: An American Concentration Camp
During World War II, over 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated without due process of law. Although little remains of the barbed-wire fences and tar-papered barracks, the Minidoka concentration camp once held over 13,000 Japanese Americans in the Idaho desert. Minidoka preserves their legacy and teaches the importance of civil liberties.
- Duration:
- 30 minutes, 1 second
Watch the official park film for Minidoka National Historic Site, narrated by actor and activist George Takei. Learn about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, the experiences of survivors and their descendants, and the site's relevance to the complicated issues Americans face today.
The visitor center is CLOSED for the season.
Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, a site on Bainbridge Island, WA, established to honor those who were removed.
Complete activities to earn a junior ranger badge or patch!
Bring your class or organization to experience the site in person, or arrange a virtual program with a park ranger.