Guard Tower Reconstruction Project

View the Guard Tower Reconstruction Website  set up by Boise State University.
 
The entry Guard Tower at Minidoka was one of eight guard towers located around the perimeter of the camp manned by US military police, their guns pointing in at Japanese American captives. The Guard Tower reconstruction will closely resemble what former incarcerees witnessed, and offer visitors a window into the physical and emotional experience of those who passed beneath it to enter the camp when confined at Minidoka. This two-year project is expected to be complete by the Summer 2014 Pilgrimage.
 
We are pleased to be working with faculty at Boise State University's Department of Construction Management and their graduate students to research, construct, and install the guard tower at the Minidoka National Historic Site with the help of National Park Service staff. Cole Architects and Boise State University are donating their time to create plans and construct the Guard Tower. The tower will be constructed with the same materials as originally created and placed in its historical location. 
 
In 2012, the Friends of Minidoka received a $280,378, 2-for-1 matching grant awarded by the National Park Service Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program. This year we were awarded a $5000 grant from the Bower Trust and numerous generous donations from individuals. Our total fundraising goal was reached on November 6th, by the generous donations of individuals. Thank you to all the contributors! FOM will continue to collect donations and offer the contribution rewards until the WeDidIt campaign closes on November 17. Please note that all additional funds, beyond the fundraising goal, will go toward other projects or operating costs for Friends of Minidoka. 

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Thank You To Our Generous Contributors!

Gold Supporter: $500+
Janet and Sam Sato
Bob and Lucy Sato*
Dan Sakura*
Toshizo Kobayashi*

Silver Supporter: $250+
Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee
In honor of Kiyomi Momohara by Emily Hanako Momohara
Neil King
Russ Tremayne
Guy Matsuoka Memorial Fund by Janet Keegan*

Bronze Supporter: $100+
In memory of Chester Y and Agnes Sakura by David Sakura
Laura Tomita Kusaka
Lily Tamura
Louise Takisaki
Tebokiku Matsudaira
Larry Matsuda
Hatsuko Mary Higuchi
In memory of Bob M. Ando and Sakae (Fujii) Ando by Roberta Ando
In memory of Roy and Shigeko Yorizane and Jean Yorizane Sakamoto by Ron Yorizane
Paul Tomita
Mari Watanabe
In memory of Tsuyoshi and Yayoi Inouye by Geraldine Shu
Gerrald Matsudaira
John Eiji Tanaka
Bill Tashima
In honor of Martha Nishitani by Martha Lee Fleming
Hanako Wakatsuki
Keith and Mary Ann Yamaguchi
Janet and Bob Keegan
Brooks Andrews
Lynn Longfellow
Kathryn Ferrier
Richard Oba
Alan Momohara
Ron James
Yoshi Teshima*
Aleatha Scholer*
Kay Endo*
Ricki Ninomiya*
Karen and Terry Olen*
Louis Kashino*

Copper Supporter
Mary Higuchi
Sheila Omoto
Debbra Kashino
Kelly Michals
Shawn Newman
Eileen Yamada Lamphere
Teresa Fox
Marci Lock
Stella Ditoma
Jayna Umeda
Wendy Kato
Stanley Shikuma
Toni Yagami
In Honor of Ann Fuji-Lindwall by Anita Hidalgo
Roy Hatanaka
Calvin Oba
Ann Lindwall
Eileen Okada
Stanley Tomita
Lisa Doi Ferrier
David Thomson*
Marlin Brookbank*
Doug Morishita*

*Guard Tower Reconstruction Project donation received before the online fundraising campaign went live. These donors will receive donor rewards retroactively.