Minidoka

Minidoka, officially Hunt Relocation Center, was located in the high desert of south-central Idaho. It operated from August 1942 to October 1945, holding a peak population of 9,397 people.

The camp primarily incarcerated Japanese Americans from Oregon and Washington. Today, Minidoka National Historic Site preserves the memory of incarceration and serves as an important educational resource. In 2008, Minidoka Pilgrimage, an annual gathering of survivors and descendants, began the tradition of returning to remember.

Located in Idaho's Snake River Plain, Minidoka faced harsh desert conditions—extreme temperature swings, dust storms, and sparse vegetation. The camp's remoteness added to the sense of isolation from the Pacific Northwest homes most prisoners had left behind.

Despite adversity, Minidoka residents built schools, athletic leagues, agricultural projects using irrigation from the Snake River, and cultural programs. The camp maintained one of the more extensive farming operations among WRA camps, producing vegetables for consumption within the camp and at other facilities.