Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County facts for kids
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Front view of the former Welwyn mansion, now the site of the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County
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| Established | 1994 |
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| Location | 100 Crescent Beach Rd, Glen Cove, New York 11542 |
| Type | Holocaust museum |
| Founder | Boris Chartan |
The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC) is a special place in Glen Cove, New York. It is a memorial and museum that helps people learn about the Holocaust. It also teaches about being kind and understanding towards everyone.
The center is located in an old mansion called "Welwyn." This mansion is part of the Welwyn Preserve County Park. There is also a beautiful garden next to the mansion. This garden was designed by famous landscape architects.
The museum is open from Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, it is open from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
History of the Center
The Welwyn Mansion
The museum is inside the "Welwyn" mansion. This large house was built in 1906. It was designed by architects Delano & Aldrich. Welwyn was once the home of Harold Irving Pratt. He was a rich oil businessman and a generous person. He lived from 1877 to 1939.
After Harold died, his wife, Harriet, gave the Welwyn estate to Nassau County in 1969. For about 30 years, the mansion was not used much. For ten years, it was even used to train police staff.
Creating the HMTC
The idea for the Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center of Nassau County started in 1989. Thomas S. Gulotta, who was the Nassau County Executive, wanted to create a lasting memorial. He asked a special group, the Nassau County Holocaust Commission, to find a place for a museum and learning center.
Leaders from different religions worked together on this project. Rabbi Myron M. Fenster and Bishop John R. McGann were key leaders. Many other people from the community also helped. They wanted to create a place where people could learn about the Holocaust. They also wanted to teach about stopping hatred and prejudice.
Mr. Boris Chartan, who survived the Holocaust, became the first chairman of the center's committee in 1992. Mr. Irving Roth, another Holocaust survivor, helped dedicate the center in 1993. The center officially opened in 1994.
The people who created the center believed it was important to teach about the Holocaust. They wanted to show that suffering affects everyone, not just one group. Mr. Chartan wanted the museum to teach about all kinds of hatred and how to overcome it.
In 1996, the Louis Posner Memorial Library opened at the museum. This library has a large collection of books. These books are about the Holocaust, genocide, and fighting against discrimination and hate.
Harriet Pratt, who used to own the mansion, loved nature. She created the beautiful garden next to the mansion. After she died, the garden became overgrown. But after the museum opened, the garden was restored. In 2003, it was dedicated to the over one million children who were killed during the Holocaust.
