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.
Photo: NPS Photo
Minidoka National Historic Site
During World War II, over 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated without due process of law.
- LocationJerome, ID
- Entrance No fee listed
- HoursDaily, Sunrise to Sunset
-
Weather now44°F Overcast
- Alerts No active alerts
Overview
Topics
- Asian American Heritage
- Incarceration
- Japanese-American Internment
- Tragic Events
- Wars and Conflicts
- World War II
Things to Do
4 experiences from the National Park Service, plus every activity offered in the park. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
-
Become a Minidoka Junior Ranger!
Become a Minidoka Junior Ranger and earn a special badge or patch! Junior Ranger booklets offer opportunities for visitors of all ages to explore and help protect this important chapter in American…
Learn more about Become a Minidoka Junior Ranger! on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Minidoka
Minidoka National Historic Site offers 1.6 miles (2.5 km) of gravel walking trails. Visitors may explore the site and the exteriors of historic structures at their own pace. Educational exhibits are…
Learn more about Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Minidoka on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
View Exhibits at the Minidoka Visitor Center
Much of the Minidoka Visitor Center, located within a historic warehouse, is dedicated to museum exhibits. Displays and historic objects help to tell the story of the Japanese Americans incarcerated…
Learn more about View Exhibits at the Minidoka Visitor Center on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
Watch the Minidoka Film
"Minidoka: An American Concentration Camp" offers a moving introduction to Minidoka National Historic Site and the Japanese American incarceration during WWII. The 30-minute film, narrated by actor…
Learn more about Watch the Minidoka Film on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Showing 4 of 4
Activities in the park
Pick one to find other parks that offer it.
Facilities & Services
Find visitor centers and other services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Visitor Centers
-
Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Visitor Center
Visitor Center
The Beginning of a National Injustice: On March 30, 1942, 227 Americans of Japanese ancestry living on Bainbridge Island were forced to assemble at the Eagledale Ferry…
Details
The Beginning of a National Injustice: On March 30, 1942, 227 Americans of Japanese ancestry living on Bainbridge Island were forced to assemble at the Eagledale Ferry Dock. These island residents, most of them United States citizens, were guided by soldiers with rifles and bayonets onto a ferry to leave their home island. These Bainbridge Island residents were the very first of the over 110,000 Japanese Americans forced from their homes and imprisoned during World War II.
Other Visitor Services
-
Minidoka Visitor Center
Facility
Located at 1428 Hunt Road. Start here for visitor information, the passport stamp, the park film, museum exhibits, and the park bookstore. The visitor center is open…
296 S 1400 E, Jerome, ID (208) 825-4169 Directions
Details
Located at 1428 Hunt Road. Start here for visitor information, the passport stamp, the park film, museum exhibits, and the park bookstore. The visitor center is open Fridays through Sundays, from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. If the visitor center is not open during your visit, please check the After-Hours box for brochures and the passport stamp. The historic site grounds are open year-round for self-guided walking tours. Restrooms are only open during visitor center hours.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Daily, Sunrise to Sunset · Minidoka National Historic Site
Hours details
-
Minidoka National Historic SiteDaily, Sunrise to Sunset
The Historic Site is open daily during daylight hours year-round for self-guided tours. Visitor center hours and ranger program offerings vary seasonally. Restrooms are only open during Visitor center operations.
Monday Sunrise to Sunset Tuesday Sunrise to Sunset Wednesday Sunrise to Sunset Thursday Sunrise to Sunset Friday Sunrise to Sunset Saturday Sunrise to Sunset Sunday Sunrise to Sunset
Entrance fees
No entrance fees listed.
Contact the park
Weather & conditions
44°F
Overcast · feels like 39°
-
Today
49° 38°
Overcast83% rain
-
Tomorrow
55° 42°
Overcast5% rain
-
Wednesday
60° 41°
Sunny1% rain
Updated 7 min ago
What to expect by season
Jerome and Twin Falls, Idaho, gets 10 inches of rain per year. On average, there are 213 sunny days per year here. The July high is around 94 degrees. The January low is 22. High winds are common, and little shade is available at the site.
Photos
-
A view from Minidoka through the barbed wire fence. — NPS Photo -
-
Getting There
Jerome, ID 83338
Minidoka National Historic Site is located between the towns of Twin Falls and Jerome, Idaho in south central Idaho.
Mailing address: 1428 Hunt Road, Jerome, ID 83338
Map loads when you scroll here