HMWF Accomplishments: Preservation

One of the central missions of the Heart Mountain, Wyoming Foundation is the preservation of oral histories and artifacts documenting all facets of the history of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center and its impact on the surrounding Wyoming communities. LaDonna Zall, a member of the HMWF Board of Directors and the curator of the HMWF's collection, cares for a large (and ever-growing) set of artifacts and oral histories -- items that will become display centerpieces of our Interpretive Learning Center.

Haiku rock, #07:9-1

The carver, an internee named Azaka Shikai, carved his name in the bottom of this more than 150-pound piece of granite. He buried it, hoping it would become an archeological find.

Mr. and Mrs. LaVerne Solberg found it during their homesteading days and placed it on their porch. They recently donated it to the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation's collection.

The haiku poem reads:

Mountain peak at my shoulder,
Thousand families (or barracks) under the Autumn moon.

Shell dancing doll, #02:20-1

Pink flower pin, #02:20-2

Purple corsage, #02:20-3

Poinsettia pin, #02:23-2

Four pieces of hand-crafted jewelry made of dyed seashells by unknown internee artists while incarcerated at the Heart Mountain Relocation Center.

Donations by Toshi Ito and Joy Wilson.

"Moonlight over the Camp," #06:1-1

Oil Painting on Window Shade, dated 1944, 19 1/2" x 29 3/4".

Artist: J. Yamiuchi

Red Boots,

#00:4.1

Internee Toshi Ito's father bought these boots prior to his family's incarceration.

After the Pearl Harbor attack, he feared that something might happen to his family and wanted to be sure that they had sturdy boots.

Mrs. Ito presented them to the Heart Mountain, Wyoming Foundation after after carrying them for many years.

Wood carving,

#05:17.1

This carving of fine-grained wood, possibly from a packing crate, was the work of an internee artist named K. Funiyama.

Donated by Betty Karlin.

Preservation Activities of the Heart Mountain, Wyoming Foundation