Heart Mountain Chronicles

Most books and articles about the Heart Mountain Relocation Center focus on recounting the experience of the 14,000 people of Japanese ancestry who were forcibly confined at a remote location in Wyoming during World War II. How did they adapt? What hardships did they endure?

By contrast, Ben and Jim Murphy have chosen to focus their research on the physical, operational and administrative infrastructures of the Heart Mountain camp itself. The result is a remarkable, pathbreaking and much needed book.

The value of this fact-filled volume cannot be overstated. It will serve as an indispensable resource for future scholars, historians, researchers and it will enrich the already great work being done by staff of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation's Interpretive Center and Museum. Beyond that, the Chronicles is written so clearly and illustrated with such fascinating photographs, it will be enjoyed by even the casual reader who wants to learn a bit more about what had once been the third largest city in Wyoming.

This is the fascinating story of a temporary city, its infrastructure, its people, and all the accompanying community services that were created from scratch in a very short time with very few resources.

Included are many previously unpublished photographs and blueprints.