Never forget: Museums and memorials around the world display testimonies, horrors, and stories of Holocaust survivors. In Europe, such institutions are widespread, serving as a stark reminder of the continent's past. But across the Atlantic, the US is home to a number of Holocaust remembrance centers. Most offer free entry and a powerful and respectful experience without long lines.
Washington, DC: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
One of the most prominent and important Holocaust museums outside of Israel, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC houses millions of archival items and groundbreaking exhibits. The building was designed by James Ingo Freed, a German-born Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor.
Its architecture draws on motifs from concentration camps, intentionally creating an environment of discomfort to provoke reflection and emotion.
One of the central aspects of the visit is receiving an "identity card" of a Holocaust victim or survivor, which accompanies visitors through the museum to foster a personal connection to the history.
New York City: Museum of Jewish Heritage
Located in Lower Manhattan, the Museum of Jewish Heritage serves as a living memorial to the Holocaust. Its hexagonal shape symbolizes the Star of David and the six million Jews who were murdered. The museum's Garden of Stones features 18 dwarf oak trees growing from boulders – symbolising life and renewal. The number 18 represents "Chai," or life, in Hebrew numerology.
The museum offers permanent and rotating exhibitions, thousands of photographs, films, and survivor testimonies, and serves as a significant educational center.
Miami Beach: Holocaust Memorial
The Holocaust Memorial on Miami Beach greets visitors with a quote from Anne Frank: "In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart." Initiated by Holocaust survivors in 1985, the site stands at Meridian Avenue and Dade Boulevard.
At the center is a massive outstretched human hand designed by sculptor Kenneth Treister, surrounded by crying figures and black granite walls etched with photographs and documentation. The memorial opened to the public in February 1990.
Boston: New England Holocaust Memorial
Six glass towers, each 16.4 meters high, rise from Carmen Park in downtown Boston. Etched on them are six million numbers, representing those murdered. The memorial, established by Holocaust survivors who settled in Boston, was inaugurated in October 1995.
The design includes excerpts of testimonies and special lighting effects that bring the site to life after dark. Each tower symbolizes a major extermination camp and the six candles of the menorah. A central granite walkway invites visitors to walk through the space in quiet reflection.
