The museum "collects and preserves artifacts, photographs, archives and oral histories pertaining to the history, culture and art of the Asian Pacific American community."

"In recognition of the 70th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the mass removal and incarceration of over 110,000 Japanese Americans without trial, the Northwest Nikkei Museum presents an exhibit featuring arts and crafts from our Pacific Northwest community created by Japanese Americans in World War II incarceration camps. Largely made from scrap and found materials, objects such as carved wooden bird pins, shell brooches, dolls, inlaid furniture, and paintings are a testament to the spirit, strength, and creativity of Japanese Americans who created beauty in the harshest of physical and human conditions. The voices and humanity of those unjustly deprived of their civil liberties are remembered through their art created behind barbed wire."

The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community (BIJAC) honors the heritage of the Issei (first–generation Japanese) who came to the United States, and particularly to Bainbridge Island, to make a new life for themselves and their children. We hope to promote a better understanding of the diversity of our nation by sharing their history, customs, and values. BIJAC is dedicated to preserving and sharing an accurate historical record through oral histories and an outreach educational program.

Faculty may reserve and check out a heritage kit on the internment of Japanese Americans. The kit includes evacuation baggage tags, news articles and copies of other primary documents.