Florida Holocaust Museum facts for kids
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| Location | St. Petersburg, Florida |
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| Type | Holocaust museum |
The Florida Holocaust Museum is a special place in St. Petersburg, Florida. It teaches about the Holocaust. The Holocaust was a terrible time when millions of people were killed. This museum helps us remember what happened. It also teaches us to prevent such events from happening again.
The museum started in 1992 and moved to its current spot in 1998. It was first called the Holocaust Center. In 1999, it officially became the Florida Holocaust Museum. It is one of the biggest Holocaust museums in the United States.
The museum was started by Walter and Edith Lobenberg. They were German Jews who escaped danger in Nazi Germany. Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel helped open the museum in 1998. The museum works with local people and survivors. They help spread awareness and teach about the Holocaust.
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Museum History
The Florida Holocaust Museum was founded by Walter and Edith Loebenberg in 1992. Both of them were born in Germany. They had to escape the dangers of the Nazi government.
Founding the Museum
Walter Loebenberg was born in Wächtersbach, Germany. His family faced problems because of the Nazis. So, they moved to Frankfurt in 1936. In 1938, Walter's family experienced Kristallnacht. This was a night of terrible attacks against Jewish people. Walter barely escaped harm and had to hide.
Later, with help from an aunt in the United States, Walter moved there. He then joined the United States Army in 1942. He served during World War II. After the war, Walter met Edith Loebenberg. They got married in 1948.
The Loebenberg family started the museum with an important idea. They wanted to teach everyone about the value of life. Their goal was to prevent future genocides. A genocide is when a large group of people is killed, often because of their race or religion.
The museum began as the Holocaust Center in Madeira Beach. It rented space from the Jewish Community Center. It started with only 10 Holocaust posters. These posters had been collected by the founders.
The first big exhibit was 'Anne Frank in the World'. It attracted 24,000 visitors in just one month. The center became very popular. It started holding teaching events, talks, and special remembrance events.
The museum also worked with schools. They gave study guides and training for teachers. Staff and Holocaust survivors gave presentations to students. This helped many schools around the Tampa Bay area.
New Building and Growth
By 1996, the Holocaust Center needed more space. Its leaders decided to buy and fix up a new building. The new building was a former bank. It was much larger, about 27,000 square feet. The old space was only 4,000 square feet.
An architect named Nick Benjacob designed the new building. He was from Israel. He made the building with a unique shape, using many triangles. He explained that he wanted a "broken shape" because the World War II era was so sad. He felt triangles would create a strong feeling for visitors.
The move to the new building was finished in 1998. In January 1999, the center officially became the Florida Holocaust Museum. Elie Wiesel, a famous Holocaust survivor, attended the opening ceremony.
In its first year, the new museum welcomed 65,000 visitors. The extra space also allowed the museum to grow its library. The library has many audio and visual materials. The museum has three floors. The main exhibit and archives are on the first floor. Temporary exhibits are on the second and third floors. One of the first major items was a real boxcar.
Museum Exhibits
The museum has both permanent and temporary exhibits. These exhibits help visitors learn about the Holocaust. They also teach about human rights.
Permanent Collection
The main exhibit is on the first floor. It is called "History, Heritage, and Hope." This exhibit has many items from the Holocaust time. Visitors take a self-guided audio tour. The tour starts with the history of antisemitism, which is hatred against Jewish people. It shows life before World War II.
Then, it covers the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. It also shows the anti-Jewish laws they made. The exhibit also tells about other groups who were victims. It shows ghettos and stories of rescue. The tour ends with sections about concentration camps and killing centers.
The last part of the exhibit is "Lessons for Today." Here, visitors learn about other genocides and hate happening now.
The most important part of the permanent collection is a real boxcar. This boxcar, number 113 069-5, came from Gdynia, Poland. It was used to transport victims to concentration camps. It sits on original train tracks from the Treblinka Killing Center. It is a quiet reminder of those who were killed.
Recently, the museum received a collection of art from Toby Knobel Fluek. She was an artist and Holocaust survivor. Her work is now part of the museum's permanent collection.
Temporary Exhibits
The second and third floors host temporary exhibits. These exhibits change over time. They cover different topics. Some show artistic views of the Holocaust. Others give information on related subjects. An example is the Nuremberg Trials.
The third floor also has a large open area. This space is used for talks, presentations, and events.
One special exhibit is Dimensions in Testimony. This exhibit is interactive. Visitors can ask questions. A pre-recorded video of a Holocaust survivor answers them in real-time. This project uses advanced filming and special technology. It creates an interactive way to learn a survivor's story.
Another exhibit is Matezevot for Everyday Use. This exhibit shows photos of Jewish tombstones. During the war, cemeteries were destroyed. The tombstones were used to make other things. Many still have Hebrew writing on them.
A special exhibit, Humanity behind Barbed Wire, tells about a little-known part of Florida history. It shows how more than 10,000 German prisoners of war were held in Florida. This included places like McDill Air Force Base in Tampa.
Museum Programs
The Florida Holocaust Museum also runs several programs. These programs reach out to the community. They aim to continue raising awareness about human rights.
One program is "Speak Up, Speak Now!" This program helps students discuss important topics. It includes guest speakers. These speakers are Holocaust survivors, police officers, and activists.
The Anne Frank Humanitarian Award started in 2001. It honors high school students. These students show great kindness and help others.
The museum also teaches police agencies in Florida. Their "Law Enforcement And Society (LEAS)" lessons educate officers. They learn about the role German police played in the Holocaust.
Additionally, the Generations After group exists. This group is made up of children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. They are dedicated to sharing their families' stories.
Education at the Museum
Florida was one of the first states to require Holocaust education in public schools. The museum played a key role in making this law happen in 1994.
The Florida Holocaust Museum sends speakers to schools. It also brings classes to the museum for tours. As part of its education program, teachers can borrow materials for free. These materials help them teach about the Holocaust. In 2014, these materials reached 17 states. They helped about 50,000 people learn.
The museum also offers guided tours for school groups. These tours last about two hours. They are available for students from fifth to twelfth grades. The museum also offers free workshops for all teachers in Florida.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum created a Virtual Education Outreach Program. This allowed learning to continue online.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Florida Holocaust Museum also has volunteer programs. People of all ages can help with the educational process. This includes students and older adults. The museum is one of many places worldwide where young Austrians can serve. They can participate in the Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service.
Images for kids
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Boxcar on display at Florida Holocaust Museum
