Topaz Museum — Attraction in Delta

Very pleasant surprise while passing through Delta, Utah. My first thought as I drove by was that this might be a museum dedicated to the local geology of the area, since Topaz Mountain is nearby and people still look for Topaz rocks there. Boy was I wrong.

I learned very quickly that this museum is dedicated to the treatment and housing of over 11,000 Japanese citizens at the Topaz Japanese American Internment Camp just a few miles outside of Delta during World War 2. It was an eye-opening experience.

I appreciate the staff who directed us first to two short films that gave an introduction to the Topaz camp. After that, we were able to spend considerable time walking around the beautiful museum, taking pictures, and reading as much information as we could from the various signs and placards. The message was clear: This camp, and the others just like it, violated the civil rights of the people it housed. At Topaz, at least one detainee was shot and killed as he tried to escape. Others suffered through unimaginable conditions after being forced to leave their homes in the Bay Area of California.

Later, we were invited to go out to the actual site of the camp. I must thank our tour guide (Scott) who drove the lead vehicle as we took our vehicles in a caravan out to the site. We were able to listen on our phones as Scott spoke and directed us to where we were going.

Scott provided very insightful comments and clear knowledge of what actually happened at the camp and the conditions the detainees faced during their time at Topaz. In addition to the wind and blowing sand, he made sure we realized just how cold it got in the winter and how hot it got during the summer. Of course, there was no air conditioning out in the brutal desert. I believe Scott communicated the brutality and the desperation quite effectively.

It was also interesting during the tour to see some of the re-constructed houses (and portions of the hospital) that are now relocated to Delta. I truly enjoyed my experience at...

Took a day trip from SLC to visit this museum, as well as the actual internment site. Very humbling, sobering and educational experience about a part of history not often talked about. TIP: to get the full experience, you should plan on visiting 2 locations. First, go to the museum on Main St. in Delta. Start by watching both of the 5 minute videos which will give you a background on the Japanese American WWII Internment Camp. Then peruse the museum. It’s very well done, and the staff are so friendly. Plan on about 1 hour if you’re like me and enjoy reading every exhibit and artifact. Second, ask the staff for the ‘Topaz Camp Driving Tour’ sheet if you’d like to visit the actual site of the camp. You will be driving about 25 minutes from the museum to get to the camp. TIP: about 5 miles of the drive is on a gravel road, not paved. (It’s not too bad, I did it in my Prius and it was fine going slower at about 20 mph.) Another thing to keep in mind is that there are no structures left standing at the camp site. There are signs posted that let you know what buildings used to be there. You can drive through the campsite and the Driving Tour sheet highlights where the main buildings used to be. Again, all roads are dirt and not paved. Even though there are no structures, just being there you can imagine how terrible life must have been living in confinement. I have much more...

The egregious violation of the human rights and dignity of over one hundred thousand Japanese immigrants and U.S. citizens took place with the forcible removal of these people from their homes and replacement into internment camps during WWII. This museum shares the history of this time.

The museum is free to all visitors and will take about 30 mins to an hour to experience. I was greeted by staff and invited to watch a few short films to begin the experience. The staff was very informative and told stories and answered questions from the visitors. The museum provides great information and displays the stories and lives of those that lived within the camps during this period. They will also take you into the desert or give you directions to visit the actual site for yourself if you wish.

I highly recommend if your traveling through town to take a short break to visit this museum as it is very well curated and tells an important history that we may be doomed to repeat if the lessons of this time period...