One of the best small museums I have been to, and very tastefully well done. Such an important part of our country's history, and the Center staff were so kind and informative as well. If you're looking for something to do while in Cody/Powell, and you're into history, this is a must visit. read more

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The Heart Mountain Center preserves what remains of the WWII Japanese American Confinement Camp. You can see what remains of the Root Cellar, Memorial Monument, Hospital, Guard Tower, and Barracks. Inside the center tells the personal stories and educates on the history of what happened there. This is such a great place to learn about the importance of the Japanese American history so that it can be told for many more generations. This center is open every day 10-5pm. read more

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What an eerie but educational place to see. Every civilized nation has a lot of dark history, USA included! To see this site where Americans of Japanese heritage were forced after pearl harbor is something most dont learn in school, but be sure to visit and educate yourself on America's dark days. Well worth the visit. Be sure to plan ahead if you want to tour some of the buildings set up like back when Americans were forced to stay for nothing more than their heritage. We Did make an episode on our social media platforms. read more

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This is a worthwhile visit that highlights the internment of people of Japanese descent during World War 2. The museum is well-designed and informative with many personal stories of individuals who were moved there, their experiences, and their lives after being released. The museum is about four large rooms, a walk at the actual site, lots to see/read, and a video. I appreciate the tar-paper inspiration for the buildings (appropriate to the location's history) and being in the actual place where history took place. Farewell to Manzanar is a short autobiographical book about living in an internment camp that I had read previously. Manzanar is in CA but the experience sounds very similar. read more

Today, the Twins, decided it was high time to find out what Heart Mountain Interpretive center was all about. As we parked and entered the Center, we were greeted by a guide who gave us information regarding the Center and what we would be seeing. We watched an old movie that gave insight on what had taken place all those many years ago. As i left the theater, my heart felt heavy that a President, who should have been protecting these 'Americans' rights, chose instead to do just the opposite and destroyed many lives in the process. Much information is contained in the Center and, at a cost of just $7 (senior), you can learn a great deal through murals, short movies, as well as talking to the staff. The most interesting part of the day was standing between a couple of worn down barracks, and walking the worn trails so as to get pictures of the hospital, a guard tower and get a feel of a part of history that I pray never happens again! **Highly Recommend read more

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Heart Mountain Internment Camp was once the 3rd largest city in Wyoming - concentrated Into a very small space. Most Japanese-Americans had been relocated from Southern California. The museum is not within the camp itself which is down the road a bit. Not much remains of what had been the largest of all the internment camps Japanese-Americans living on the west coast of the United States were sent to starting in 1942 after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) in December 1941. An outdoor memorial across the street with a short loop walk and educational placards are more interesting than the few remaining barracks and single guard tower. Although the outdoor area is free, there is probably little point for most people to visit it without first paying to see the exhibits and watch at least one of the videos offered by the interpretive center to put it in context and provide some needed background information to help understand and appreciate it. While this is probably not a place most people think of visiting - or even know about - it is well worth a stop and spending some time and money to see. read more

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Excellent historical information! Staff was very friendly & knowledgeable & attentive to our questions. Michael was very attentive & provided us with personal tours & information. Johnny Yellow Tail was super nice. Thank you for a memorable experience! read more

If you're in the area stop in and take a step back in time. All the furor about racism today but back then... well it's a great place to search out how you feel inside and realize how far the country has come, hopefully it never happens again. Some remnants of the past exist but what a desolate place it must have been 75 years ago. read more

Whether you are a local resident or a visitor, Heart Mountain Interpretive Center is a must see. Through photographs, artifacts, oral histories, and interactive exhibits, visitors can see through the eyes of the Japanese and Japanese Americans who were confined there during WWII. We highly recommend Heart Mountain Interpretive Center! read more

This is a must see for anyone driving through or staying in Cody, WY. It's not to far from that location (or the East exit of Yosemite) and a really well done museum about the Japanese Internment during World War II. We were lucky to arrive when a wonderful docent was on duty, she was so knowledgeable and friendly. They had a phenomenal permanent exhibit about the Japanese interment there and a rotating exhibit. When we were there it was about victory gardens at Heart Mountain. Make sure to watch the introductory video with survivor testimony. It really made the internment come alive for me- so well researched and presented. There are a few buildings and the chimney stack left from the actual time period so make sure to drive up and see that as well. read more

An amazing place. A museum that tells the story of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, where over 10,000 existed Japanese Americans were interned during WWII. During this time, it was the third largest town in Wyoming. The Center does a great job telling the story of the internment as well as the personal stories of the folks interned there. The Center is built to evoke the barracks that the internees lived in. Plan on at least a half day to soak in everything. Don't miss the veterans memorial up the hill, as well as the interpretive path. The message of The Heart Mountain Center is that this should never happen in America. But, you know it could happen again in a minute. read more

Visiting Heart Mountain was not on our original agenda (as we didn't know it was there) but as I had recently visited Manzanar and was moved by it, I really wanted visit this place as well. While smaller and less original structures to see, Heart Mountain is definitely worth a visit. We walked in and it was fairly quiet and slow. The 2 ladies at the guest counter were very friendly and we talked to them for a little while. They were great. They them told us to check out this little gallery of art that was created by a Caucasian woman who chose to live in the camp to be with her husband. It was a really interesting story and captured a lot about what was going on. The bathroom is an exhibit itself. Even if you don't have "to go" definitely take a quick walk in there just to see what I'm talking about. You watch an interesting, but short film about some of the history of Heart Mountain. It is very informative, touching, and sad. After the film you move on into the Museum portion. There are lots to see, read, and take in. It took us about an hour or so to read everything. We then did the short walking tour. There isn't much left of the camp, but there is still more to experience and read up here. The walking portion took us about 20 minutes. Heart Mountain is both educational and moving. Definitely worth a visit. read more

I was moved beyond words in my first visit to the location of the Heart Mountain Incarceration Camp site where members of my family were incarcerated during WWII. Looking upon the field opposite from the Honor Roll (names of WWII veterans who fought in the US military while their family were still incarcerated) where I found my father and uncle's name, it filled me with a tumble of emotions ranging from sadness and anger, but also guilt at enjoying the current view of Heart Mountain looming over the site where 11000 Japanese were housed in barracks behind barbed wire, 2/3rd of whom were American born citizens from 1942-45. The interpretive center was well laid out, very informative, and like the view from the Honor Roll, filled me emotions I had not expected. Kudos to the Heart Mountain committees and organizations responsible for preserving the history...may it never happen again. read more

My parents (in their 80s) and husband and I visited the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center a couple of days ago. The Center was very informative and did an excellent job of relaying the Japanese-American internment experience. I gained a deeper appreciation for what the internees went through and the hardships they experienced. I commend the staff who work and volunteer there. They are committed to spreading the message of diversity and inclusion and to never having this happen again. Highly recommend as a mind-broadening experience! read more

This museum is very basic in its telling of the Atrocious internment of the Japanese American people during WWII. I found the information very repetitive. There is an informative short film and a model barracks where the internees lived. A short hike showed the layout of the internment camp. I wanted more information and that is why I'm giving it 2 stars. read more

The Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center just had its Grand Opening a week ago, and it's a must-see for anybody traveling in the Yellowstone region. It's a museum at the site where the US government put 14,000 Japanese Americans behind barbed wire for three years during World War II because of their race. It's incredibly moving to see and feel what these people went through. The museum has stuff in it for visitors of all ages -- things that will appeal to elementary-school-age kids all the way up to adults. There's an introductory film called "All We Could Carry" that makes you feel like you're getting to know the people who lived at Heart Mountain and what they endured. You go into barrack rooms that are set up just like the conditions that the people lived in. There are lots of video clips all throughout the museum with oral histories and also home-movie footage of the camp when it was in operation. There's a beautiful Reflection Room at the end where you can gather your thoughts. All in all, this is a really powerful place. It'll take you a few hours to take it all in. read more

Heart Mountain Interpretive Center - A reconstructed guard tower overlooks the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center. - Museums Near Me - Powell, Wyoming

Thank you for putting together an exhibit about the Japanese American experience in Heart Mountain -- that goes beyond the Japanese Americans and beyond Wyoming. I took a picture of a few of the comments from the visitor comment board so I could remember them. One said, "I was ten years old when my grandfather and uncle helped construct the camp. I didn't realize at the time how the people brought here sacrificed so much." Another said, "I pledge to keep my eyes open to opportunities to thwart racism and cultural insensitivity." For a city person like me, places like Heart Mountain are pretty hard to get to. But after visiting a few of them, I cannot tell you how worthwhile it is to be there and feel it for yourself. read more

Excellent learning experience. Well worth the trip and visit. Curatorial graphics are so lifelike and capturing of the emotions of those involved. read more

A somber reminder of a dark chapter of America's struggle with race, fear, and misunderstanding. There's not much remaining of the original buildings but the museum was very well done--the movie nearly put me to tears. Viewing a camp like this should be required curriculum for everyone--sad that so many forgot or don't know about this terrible injustice (could it happen again?). A short and easy drive from Cody. read more

WOW - hardly says it all! While traveling across the country we "happened onto" this location. We are so glad we did! We spent quite a time going thru the interpretive center at Heart Mountain Reolcation Center and wishes we'd had more time! As others have shared, this is where thousands of Japanese Americans were relocated during WW II. We are from CA and have visited the Manzanar Relocation site near Bishop, California, over the years - wanting our children to know about this part of our history. (Long ago it was just a spot off the road with a marker. I've heard it now has more to it.) Heart Mountain is incredible. Our tour started with a well-done video sharing some of what happened during that time; if I remember correctly, it was done by a family relative. There is a general area and then also a barracks area - from the outside looking like what the living quarters were, and on the self-guided tour through, you go from room/building to building where the exhibits are outstanding - ranging from life-sized "cut-out" photos of people - SOOO life-like I was startled as I entered a new area, copies of letters, pictures and explanations of the many different aspects life in the internment camp - including medical, school, boy scouts!, fire fighting, etc. There is also a gift shop. There is also a memorial walk - VERY interesting. There are markers sharing what you are seeing in the distance as well as about some of the people there. It was done in memory of one of the internment camp residents. There were a couple/few benches for sitting. This was truly a place for learning about history and contemplation - words are truly inadequate to describe it. read more

Very much worth your while. They are still developing this site and should have one of the barracks rebuilt in the near future. Great exhibits from actual internees! read more

This place is very new so it has that sparkly and shiny look and feel to it. It's in two parts: 1) Interpretive Center, ie. museum; and 2) memorial walk (short walk but very hot in July with very little shade). The museum was quite heavy on the reading - not the place to go with young children (saw several bored little ones). What I liked about the presentation was that it was written in the first person, and therefore came off as a very personal story. After a while though it seemed repetitive so I started skipping around. My favorite part was the recreated living spaces, which showed how the detainees turned the very few materials they were given into their home for 3 years. I didn't make use of the tv vignettes scattered throughout, and looking back on it I think I would have enjoyed it better if I had. Overall, I would highly recommend this stop for anyone who is interested in WWII and / or the detention of Japanese Americans. read more

Absolutely worth a visit. It tells a powerful story of the more than 10,000 Japanese Americans confined at Heart Mountain, and ends by raising questions of how we as a society treat minority communities today in times of fear and national insecurity. The video is good, the exhibits are moving, and the walking trail is well-done. It's also only little over an hour from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park, so those on a visit to the park can easily make their way over. read more