During the World War II years, Heart Mountain Relocation Center was located on a 740-acre tract of land across the Burlington Railroad right-of-way westward from where you stand facing this monument and Heart Mountain itself, on the Heart mountain Division of the Shoshone Irrigation Project.

Eleven thousand people of Japanese ancestry from the three west coast states were loosely confined by the United States Government in the center for about three years. They lived in barracks as singles, or as families, according to their marital status.

The camp was equipped with modern waterworks and sewer system and a modern hospital and dental clinic, staffed with people from the ranks of the evacuees. First rate schooling was provided for the children of the evacuees through the high school grades.