History of Eden Camp Museum
In early 1942 the site was identified and requisitioned by the War Office from Fitzwilliam Estates. Tents were established inside a barbed wire enclosure. By mid-1943 a permanent camp was completed and the first Italian prisoners of war were moved in. By the end of 1943 the Italian prisoners of war were moved out.
In early 1944, the camp provided accommodation for Polish forces amassed in the North Yorkshire area in preparation for an invasion of Europe. By mid-1944 the first German prisoners of war arrived at Eden Camp. The last German prisoner of war left the camp in early 1949.
From 1950 until 1955, Eden Camp was used as an agricultural holiday camp where guests paid for board and lodgings to work on local farms. School children stayed at Eden Camp during school holidays to learn more about the countryside and agriculture. In 1952 it was used as a Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries depot.
In 1955 the site was returned to Fitzwilliam Estates who leased it to Headley Wise and Sons who owned Malton Minerals. The huts were used for drying and storing grain and rearing pheasants on grain.
The site was purchased by Stan Johnson in 1985 with the intention of a potato crisp manufacturing factory. However, after being approached by three Italian ex-Eden Camp prisoners of war who were seeking permission to have a look around the camp, the idea of preserving the camp and opening it as a museum was born. On 21 March 1987 Eden Camp Museum opened to the public. It is billed as the world's first Modern History Theme Museum and ten huts were utilised for display.
In 1990 Hut 24, the first of a series of five huts designated to display the military and political events worldwide between 1939 and 1945 opened.
In 1992 Eden Camp won the Yorkshire Tourist Board's 'Visitor Attraction of the Year' and came second in the England for Excellence English Tourist Board's Awards for Tourism.
In 1995 the last remaining empty hut opened and was dedicated to coincide with the 50th Anniversary VE Day celebrations. The museum also won its second Yorkshire Tourist Board 'Tourism for All' award. It won the award again in 1996.
In 1998 Eden Camp won the Yorkshire Tourist Board's 'Visitor Attraction of the Year' award.
In 1999 Hut 13 opened to cover military conflicts which British Commonwealth forces have been involved in since the end of the Second World War up to the present day.
In 2000 Hut 11 opened to include the events of the First World War.
In 2001 Eden Camp was voted runner up attraction to the London Eye by the readers of Group Travel Organiser magazine.
On 8 November 2002 the museum was visited by Prince Phillip.
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