To properly honor the Alien Detention Center Barracks and all those who made its preservation, restoration, and interpretation possible, the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula will host a public ribbon cutting on Saturday, August 1st at noon.

During World War II, Fort Missoula was turned over to the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, to use as an Alien Detention Center. From 1941 to 1944, the camp held over 2,000 Italian, Japanese, and German men. Fort Missoula is currently the most intact WWII internment site in the US. We are honored to be able to feature this unique part of Missoula's history as part of the new barracks exhibit. The new exhibit will feature a wide span of WWII era photographs, an interactive touchscreen with videos and educational games, as well as a memorial wall to honor the detained men. The process is finally complete and we are excited to show off this distinctive piece of Montana history.

This project is only possible because of the support from the Greater Montana Foundation, National Park Service; Japanese American Confinement Sites (JACS) grant program, Montana Department of Commerce's Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program, and supporters like YOU!

Please come out to the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula and enjoy this amazing piece of Missoula's history.