February 2007
	People

A Historical Landmarker

A former World War II Japanese internment camp is now a designated historic site, thanks to a Colorado teacher.

« People Home | More Profiles »

 What was once a symbol of oppression and hatred is now one of reflection, thanks to the efforts of social studies teacher John Hopper and his Granada High School students. The Amache Japanese internment camp was one of 10 U.S. government holding facilities for Japanese-American citizens forced from their homes after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Hopper knew of the camp since childhood because his mother used to work for a woman forced to live there. After first assigning his students 16 years ago to interview those held there, he realized both he and his students had much more to learn about its history. “What was more interesting was when I got more into it and listened to more experiences,” Hopper says. “I felt deeply moved.” The more firsthand accounts Hopper heard, the more he wanted to advocate for the movement to make Amache a National Historic Landmark.

Hopper created Granada High School’s Amache Preservation Society, where he and his students wrote letters to Colorado congressional members. With their backing and the support of the National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and other local organizations, Amache was finally dedicated as a National Historic Landmark last year. “It’s an extremely important lesson to be learned about American citizens losing their rights in this country,” Hopper says.

Granada High now even offers an elective course on Amache’s preservation, and students travel across the region to speak about the camp.                         

 —Natalie McGill