Hanoi Hilton Exhibit

AHM EXHIBIT CONSTRUCTION

Hỏa Lò Prison - a.k.a. the Hanoi Hilton

We need your support. Read more about the project. www.hanoihiltonexhibit.org The American Heritage Museum is building a tribute to the POWs of the Vietnam War, the Hanoi Hilton exhibit. Authentic materials from several cells of the original Hỏa Lò prison in Hanoi, known by many as the “Hanoi Hilton” have made their way to the United States. We are in the process of reconstructing the cells as part of an immersive exhibit to be featured within the Vietnam War Gallery of the Museum.

Coined the “Hanoi Hilton” by American prisoner Robert Shuemaker, the Hỏa Lò prison became synonymous with the POW plight during the War, and long after. American prisoners of war in the Hỏa Lò prison were subjected to extreme torture and malnutrition during captivity. Although a signatory of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949, which demanded “decent and humane treatment” of prisoners of war, North Vietnam employed severe torture methods, including sleep deprivation, malnutrition, beatings, hanging by ropes, locking in irons, and prolonged solitary confinement.

they went through.” - Rob Collings, President of American Heritage Museum

Photo: The original Hỏa Lò prision during the Vietnam War.

The prison was built in Hanoi by the French between 1886 to 1901, when Vietnam was part of French Indochina. The French called the prison Maison Centrale or Central House, which is still the designation for prisons housing dangerous or long sentence detainees in France. Known locally as Hỏa Lò prison, it was built at the previous location of the Phu Khanh village. The village baked locally sourced earthenware in furnaces, and the name “Hỏa Lò” means “fiery furnace” or “stove.”

The prison was originally designed to house 460 inmates but was often overcrowded. Due to the harsh nature of French rule and a vicious justice system, the prison was always oversupplied with inmates. Many were political prisoners agitating for independence who became the subjects of torture and execution.

Re-purposed during the Vietnam War, the first U.S. prisoner sent to Hỏa Lò was Lieutenant JG Everett Alvarez Jr., who was shot down on August 5, 1964. From the beginning, U.S. POWs at Hỏa Lò endured miserable conditions, including meager rations of food with the everpresent threat of starvation.

We hope to have this ambitious project finished before February 2023, the 50th Anniversary of Operation Homecoming and the return of the POWs from Vietnam in 1973. Construction of this major exhibit comes at a substantial cost. If you are interested in contributing to this project please scan the QR code for more information.

Photo above: American Heritage Museum President Rob Collings captured in a video talking about the Hanoi Hilton exhibit project. Scan QR code to see this video.