PLAN YOUR VISIT
Group Bookings & Rentals
Group Tours
Who is this for?
Groups of 10 or more visitors with an organization who plan to visit the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center and would like to notify our staff of their arrival and are interested in our group admission rate. This option is ideal for commercial bus tours and other groups who do not require special programming, private tours, or customized activities.
Standard Tours allow our staff to prepare for your group’s arrival and help ensure a smooth visit to the museum and historic site.
Includes:
- Staff introduction
- All We Could Carry film
- Self Guided tour of Museum
- During summer months: guided barrack tours available on select dates and times
Who is this for?
Groups of 10 or more with an organization who are interested in customizing their experience at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center.
Additional fees apply. All add-ons are subject to staff availability and require booking two weeks in advance.
Possible add-ons include:
- Welcome and brief introduction to the Heart Mountain site by a senior staff member
- Private guided tour of the historic barrack (1hr)
- Custom talk on Heart Mountain subjects (i.e. agriculture, religion, draft resistance, military service, etc.)
- Custom curriculum/HMWF lead workshops
Book Your Group Tour
Commercial tour companies: If you are a commercial tour operator looking to establish a tour contract please contact Rebecca McKinley at rebecca@heartmountain.org.
Customized experiences are subject to staff and space availability.
School groups: For field trips and educational visits, please visit Field Trips.
Host Your Event at Heart Mountain
Looking for a unique place to host your next event? The Mineta-Simpson Institute at Heart Mountain offers a flexible, multi-use space for receptions, board meetings, workshops, conferences, and more.
While we are happy to provide a beautiful space with a view, Heart Mountain offers something more: a powerful sense of place and history. Enhance your event with programmatic experiences that connect your guests to the history of the site and the stories of those who were incarcerated here.
Our team can work with you to explore options that complement your event and create a meaningful, memorable experience for your guests.
Facility Rental Details
Mineta-Simpson Institute at Heart Mountain
Seats up to:
- 140 (Theater Style)
- 60 (Classroom style)
- 45 (Banquet style, round tables)
- 75 (Banquet style, rectangular)
- Varied (Reception style, mixed hightops and round tables)
- 20 (Board/Conference Table style)
- Food and catering options
- Coffee and water service
- Snacks and refreshments
- Presentation equipment, including projector and microphones
- Welcome & Site Introduction: A brief welcome and introduction to Heart Mountain led by a senior HMWF staff member
- Private Barrack Tour: A one-hour private tour of the historic Heart Mountain barrack
- Customized Talks: Presentations on topics related to Heart Mountain and Japanese American history, including agriculture, religion, draft resistance, military service, and more
- Customized Workshops: HMWF-led workshops and curriculum tailored to your group’s interests and goals
Group Bookings & Rentals FAQs
How do I book a commercial tour?
If this is a single visit please fill out this form and a staff member will be in touch to confirm details and booking.
If you are interested in establishing a contract with Heart Mountain for commercial tours please email Rebecca McKinley at rebecca@heartmountain.org.
How much does it cost and when are you open?
Tour directors and drivers are free; for quote, scheduling, and any other questions please fill out this form and a staff member will be in touch to confirm details and booking.
If you are interested in establishing a contract with negotiated rate, please email Rebecca McKinley at rebecca@heartmountain.org.
We are open from 10:00am to 5:00pm every day during our summer hours and Wednesday – Saturday during our winter hours. For tours outside our regular hours please fill out this form and a staff member will be in touch to confirm details and booking.
Is there bus parking?
Yes. Our main driveway is large enough to accommodate a bus and there is plenty of space to load/unload passengers before parking further back. The driveway to the walking path and memorial is a large loop that allows a bus to drive around and park along the edge of the sidewalk by the entrance. The road to the hospital area is large enough to accommodate a bus but does require a tight turn-around.
The short drive to the barrack building is not large enough for a bus and has only one handicapped parking space. The barrack is accessible to ambulatory visitors via a short walking path from the front entrance of the HMIC. This path is well-maintained and marked.
Is the site handicapped accessible?
The Interpretive Center has:
- ADA-compliant doors, walkways, and bathrooms;
- a single transport chair that can be used by visitors on a first-come-first-serve basis;
- audio translations of interpretive panels in English, Japanese, Spanish, and German; and
- subtitles on the introductory video in the same languages.
The Original Barrack has:
- handicap parking; and
- an ADA-compliant access ramp and entrance.
The Memorial and Setsuko Saito Higuchi Walking Trail:
- has a paved wheelchair-accessible path that is mostly over flat ground; and
- an introductory sign with Braille
The Honor Roll and Hospital Grounds do not meet ADA standards at this time.
How long does a group visit take? What do we see?
We recommend budgeting 90 minutes for a standard group visit package. This includes a thirty-minute introduction in the theater, including a presentation by a staff member and a screening of our introductory film, and one hour for visitors to explore the exhibits at their own pace.
Can we do a shorter visit?
Yes, with a little preparation. We sell copies of our introductory film that can be shown on the bus ahead of your visit so that the introduction onsite only takes 10 minutes once everyone is seated. This effectively cuts your visit to just under 60 minutes.
Can we customize our visit?
Yes, we offer customization for commercial tours. If you have the time to see the different areas of our site outside of the Interpretive Center, you will have a chance to delve into the history and culture of Heart Mountain while standing where the camp stood.
In addition, each tour includes an introductory presentation by a knowledgeable, trained staff member. As much as we are able, we help your group understand the story of Heart Mountain in the context of the theme of your tour and the ages of your participants.
Are there special options for groups?
Yes! If you are interested in special tours and programmatic add-ons please see the “Customizable Tours and Programmatic Add-Ons” tab at the top of the page and please fill out this form and a staff member will be in touch to confirm details and booking.