Friends of Minidoka

Home
United States
Twin Falls, ID
Friends of Minidoka

Directions Website Contact the organization

The Friends of Minidoka is a non-profit organization, which honors and preserves the incarceration experience at Minidoka and its legacy.

The Friends of Minidoka is a non-profit organization that engages in and supports education, upholds the legacy of those incarcerated and the incarceration experience, supports research, and promotes alliances with organizations and entities with common objectives, specifically, but not limited to, the National Park Service.

10/15/2026

Join us next Thursday, October 22, for the first event in Friends of Minidoka’s 2026 Civil Liberties Symposium.

We’ll be screening "Wayne Collins: One Fighting Irishman," a 30-minute documentary about the San Francisco attorney who spent more than two decades defending Japanese Americans who renounced their U.S. citizenship under duress while unjustly imprisoned at the Tule Lake Segregation Center during World War II. The film will be followed by a discussion with Emily Croston, staff attorney with ACLU of Idaho, and Wendy Olson, former U.S. Attorney for Idaho and member of the Idaho State Bar’s Diversity Section.

📅 Thursday, October 22 | 5:30 PM MT
📍 University of Idaho College of Law, Boise Campus, Room 221

This free community event is open to all, but registration is required.

Learn more and register: https://www.minidoka.org/2026-civil-liberties

Thank you to our community partners: University of Idaho College of Law, ACLU of Idaho, Idaho State Bar Diversity Section, Boise State University, Boise State Public Radio, Boise Valley Japanese American Citizens League, and LED.

10/14/2026

Meet Sarah, Friends of Minidoka's new Philanthropy/Administrative Assistant. Sarah has worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade in community impact, grantmaking, administration, and philanthropy capacities.

She is excited for the opportunity to work with the Friends of Minidoka team in honoring and preserving the incarceration experience at Minidoka. In her free time, you’ll find Sarah hiking, skiing, checking her library book waitlist status, baking, dreaming of her next travel destination, and taking turns with her husband chasing after their toddler.

10/09/2026

When fear threatens freedom, history offers a warning — and a call to action.

Drawing lessons from the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, the 2026 Civil Liberties Symposium examines how citizenship, immigration, and national security shape our constitutional rights — and what we can do to protect them. Through historical insight and contemporary legal perspectives, we’ll explore the enduring importance of due process, equal protection, and civic engagement in defending justice and democracy.

• October 22, 2026: "Wayne Collins: One Fighting Irishman" Film and Legal Discussion
• November 5, 2026: 2026 Distinguished Lecture — Mass Deportation, Detention, and ICE:
How We Got Here and What We Can Do
• December 8, 2026: 2026 Distinguished Lecture — Mass Deportation, Detention, and ICE:
How We Got Here and What We Can Do (Online Presentation)

All events are free to the community, registration is required.

Learn more about the 2026 Civil Liberties Symposium events: https://www.minidoka.org/2026-civil-liberties

10/05/2026

The National Park Service's Historic Preservation Training Center crew and Conservation Legacy interns have been hard at work at Minidoka National Historic Site this summer. Thanks to funding from the Great American Outdoors Act's Legacy Restoration Funds, four projects are underway at the site: restoration of the Historic Root Cellar, Barrack, and Mess Hall, as well as the construction of a new modern maintenance/staff facility.

Read the latest historic preservation project update from the September Irrigator: https://www.minidoka.org/post/preservation-update-sept26

10/02/2026

Last Saturday, volunteers came together at Minidoka National Historic Site to celebrate National Public Lands Day through hands-on stewardship. Working alongside National Park Staff, volunteers removed invasive plants and helped to restore the landscape.

During the cleanup, the team also uncovered an unexpected piece of history: a World War II-era shovel. Because Minidoka is protected historic ground, National Park Service archaeologists are present during cleanup activities to help identify and protect historic artifacts. Archeologists Tara, Heather, and Tatianna identified the shovel as a Baldwin Optimist shovel used as military surplus during World War II.

We’re grateful to everyone who spent part of their weekend caring for Minidoka. Your time, hard work, and dedication help protect this important place for future generations.

Watch the full story from KMVT 11: https://www.kmvt.com/2026/09/27/volunteers-remove-invasive-plants-minidoka-national-historic-site/

10/01/2026

Last week, the Friends of Minidoka team and Minidoka National Historic Site Superintendent Wade Vagias traveled to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, Colorado, to participate in the National Friends Alliance Meeting, With over 400 attendees from friends groups and National Park sites across the country, we shared ideas, learned from the experiences of other organizations, and built relationships with peers who are working alongside National Park Service partners.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring new ideas, insights, and inspiration back to Friends of Minidoka — helping us expand our impact, strengthen our storytelling, and continue finding meaningful ways to support Minidoka National Historic Site.

09/26/2026

The last day of Visitor Center operations for 2026 is Sunday, September 27. If you’ve been meaning to visit Minidoka National Historic Site, this weekend is a great time to make the trip.

While the Visitor Center is open, you can:

• Explore museum exhibits and learn more about the history of Minidoka
• Watch the park film
• Get your National Parks Passport stamp
• Join a free ranger-led tour on Saturday or Sunday at 11 a.m.
• Take a self-guided walking tour through the historic site

The Visitor Center will close after September 27, but the historic site grounds and walking trails remain open daily from sunrise to sunset for self-guided visits. Brochures and the passport stamp will also be available at the after-hours box outside the Visitor Center.

Make one more visit to Minidoka this season and take some time to walk the site, learn its history, and reflect on the stories held here.

Learn more and plan your visit: https://www.nps.gov/miin/planyourvisit/things2do.htm

Photo Credit: Guy Hand

09/18/2026

We're looking for a few more volunteers to join us on September 26 at Minidoka National Historic Site!

We'll be removing the invasive plants along the canal in order to restore the natural habitat found in the 1940s. Staff will provide instruction, tools, and guidance throughout the project. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Register for this morning of stewardship: https://www.minidoka.org/event-details/volunteer-at-minidoka-national-historic-site

09/14/2026

Partner Highlight: Egyptian Theatre

The Egyptian Theatre has been a wonderful partner in helping us bring stories of Minidoka to the Boise community.

From Day of Remembrance programs featuring Kishi Bashi and his "Omoiyari" film, to our Civil Liberties Symposium, "Out There: A National Parks Film", and our 25th anniversary celebration featuring Sangha Taiko and Kishi Bashi, the Egyptian has provided a beautiful space for learning, remembrance, music, film, and community.

As the Egyptian celebrates its 100th year, they’re working to preserve the stories of the theatre and the generations of people who have made it part of Boise’s history through a new documentary film. We encourage our community to learn more about their fundraising campaign and consider supporting this effort to preserve the Egyptian’s legacy for generations to come. Explore their campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jelliot/preserving-the-egyptian-theatre-legacy

We’re grateful to celebrate this milestone alongside a locally owned and operated Boise landmark that continues to bring people together. We’re proud to partner with them and look forward to many more shared programs in the years ahead.

09/01/2026

Join Friends of Minidoka and Minidoka National Historic Site on Saturday, September 26 to help remove invasive plants and support native habitat restoration around the site.

When: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM –12:30 PM Mountain Time
Where: Minidoka National Historic Site

Register to volunteer, space is limited: https://www.minidoka.org/event-details/volunteer-at-minidoka-national-historic-site

What to Expect:

• Activities will include bending, kneeling, pulling, carrying tools, and walking on uneven ground in sunny or variable weather.

• We’ll provide instruction, tools as needed, and guidance throughout the project.

• We kindly request that children who attend are at least 11 years old and accompanied by an adult.

• Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Please join us for a morning of stewardship at Minidoka National Historic Site.

Address

Twin Falls, ID
83303

Website

http://minidoka.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Friends of Minidoka posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Friends of Minidoka:

Want your organization to be the top-listed non profit organization in Twin Falls?