Statement from National Trust President Richard Moe on the Minidoka National Historic Site in Idaho
Posted September 25, 2008 | Contact pr@nthp.org or 202-588-6141
Washington, DC - September 24, 2008 - The National Trust for Historic Preservation today voiced great concern about the future of the Minidoka National Historic Site following the Jerome County Board of Commissioners decision to grant a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) permit to Big Sky Farms, an adjacent property. In 2007, the Minidoka National Historic Site was named one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
"It is very disconcerting that the commissioners have chosen to ignore a broad coalition of concerned citizens and groups who raised the alarm about building a feedlot near the Minidoka National Historic Site," said Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "We will continue to fight this present threat to Minidoka and are committed to the long term protection of this nationally significant site."
The Minidoka Relocation Center, a World War II-era internment camp for Japanese Americans and their immigrant ancestors, operated from August 1942 to October 1945, housing 13,000 internees from Washington, Oregon and Alaska on a 33,000-acre site with over 600 buildings. Designated a National Monument in 2001 under the auspices of the National Park Service, the site is visited annually by thousands, including former internees and their families who pay homage to the wartime hardships and sacrifices of Japanese Americans.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, nine regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories. For more information visit www.PreservationNation.org.
