Governor Brad Little issued a proclamation Monday to recognize and remember the people of Japanese ancestry imprisoned at the Minidoka Prison Camp in south-central Idaho during WWII.
An executive order punished American citizens for their ancestry and is considered a dark spot on American history. Organizers say it's a moment in history that must never be forgotten.
"A lot of Idahoans don't know that Minidoka was in Idaho and is very very close," said Katie Niemann, with the Boise Valley Japanese American Citizens League. "They're having their grand opening this weekend. We have a lot of events going on in the next few weeks that people are able to catch if they want to learn more about the incarnation."
10,000 Japanese-Americans were interned at Minidoka in Idaho during the war. In all, 120,000 people were interned across the United States. The visitor center opens to the public February 22.
