Exhibit Opening: Land of Joy and Sorrow

This exhibit pays homage to the determination of the Japanese pioneers who came to this region in the late 19th Century and how they contributed to the development of the Yakima Valley for over 30 years before WWII. With the signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, over 1,000 Japanese and Japanese American citizens were forcibly evacuated from this area and relocated to Heart Mountain, Wyoming with only what they could carry. For those that decided to return to the Yakima Valley in 1945, their resilience is shown in every aspect of our community today. The Yakima Japanese story is still relatively unknown in the United States and this permanent exhibit, after its successful 10 year run from 2010 - 2020, will continue to tell their story for future generations.