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Archaeological Excavation at MIIN: August 2-8, 2002
For nearly sixty years, events and forces such as the removal of buildings, the establishment of
expansive agricultural fields and the elements have combined to leave only traces of a tragic
chapter in American history. During Word War II, Minidoka was an internment camp that housed and
incarcerated nearly 13,000 Japanese Americans from the Northwest. During one week in August,
National Park Service archaeologists and volunteers cleaned a central area of Minidoka and uncovered
well-defined archaeological features and artifacts that date to the 1940s.
The archaeological excavations at Minidoka brought public attention to the site,
the story of Japanese American internment, and the process that is underway to create plans
for its development. Southern Idaho television, radio, and newspapers featured articles
on Minidoka and its history. The media attracted visitors from as far as Chicago and Seattle,
as well as many local residents who remember the camp during World War II.
A handful of Japanese Americans interned at Minidoka visited during the excavation,
including internationally recognized artist, Roger Shimomura from Kansas.
The sites hidden artifacts were revealed and stories were brought back to life with every scrape
of a trowel and carload of visitors. The area was cleared of overgrown sagebrush, exposing building
foundations and walkways. The precise location of the Honor Roll board, which listed the names
of 1,000 Japanese American soldiers from Minidoka was found. A large Japanese style garden with
upright rocks and large earthen mounds was revealed, mapped and admired.
The National Park Service has performed studies to document what exists on the site.
Although there are very few remaining buildings, the landscape, the remains of building foundations,
walkways and artifacts provide a surprisingly rich source amount of information about the camp.
The site, also known as "Hunt Camp," was proclaimed Minidoka Internment National Monument
on January 17, 2001 by President William J. Clinton. The National Park Service has initiated
a planning phase for the new National Monument and the public is encouraged to participate
in the planning of this newest National Monument to ensure its success.
Open house meetings on Minidoka will be held in November in the Seattle and Bainbridge
in Washington and Portland and Ontario in Oregon. In Idaho, there will be open houses in Jerome,
Twin Falls, and Pocatello.
For more information about Minidoka Internment National Monument log onto
www.nps.gov/miin
or contact:
|
Neil King, Superintendent Hagerman Fossil Beds P.O. Box 570 Hagerman, ID 83332 telephone (208)837-4793 MIIN_GMP@nps.gov |
Anna Tamura National Park Service 909 First Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 telephone (206)220-4157 Anna_Tamura@nps.gov |
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