Holocaust Museum Houston Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Holocaust Museum Houston


Established	1996
Location	Houston, Texas
Type	Holocaust museum
Public transit access	Red Line Museum District

The Holocaust Museum Houston is a special place in Houston, Texas. It is found in the city's Museum District. This museum is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. It first opened its doors in 1996.

The museum teaches visitors about the Holocaust. This was a terrible time when about six million Jewish people were murdered. The museum also teaches about other genocides and human rights. It helps people understand the importance of standing up against hatred.

Learning and Education

The museum has many ways to help people learn. The Boniuk Center is home to the museum's education team. It has classrooms, offices, and a library.

Programs for Students and Teachers

The Engines of Change Student Ambassador Program helps high school students. They learn about the Holocaust and how to understand today's issues. This program helps them form their own ideas and speak up.

The Educator in Motion program is free for schools and communities. It offers lessons on the Holocaust, genocide, and being a good citizen. The museum also works with police to offer special training. This training helps officers understand social justice.

Another helpful tool is the Digital Curriculum Trunks. These are like virtual suitcases filled with learning materials. They help students explore history in a fun way.

Exploring the Museum

The museum has many exhibits and spaces to explore. Each area helps visitors learn about different parts of history.

First Floor Exhibits

The Morgan Family Welcome Center is where your visit begins. Here, you can watch an introduction film. There are also exhibits in both English and Spanish.

Bearing Witness: A Community Remembers

The main exhibit is called Bearing Witness: A Community Remembers. It shares the stories of Holocaust survivors who later lived in Houston. You can see real items donated by survivors and their families. The exhibit also shows how people resisted during the Holocaust. This includes the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and other acts of bravery.

World War II-era Railcar and Danish Rescue Boat

Inside the museum, you will see two very important items. One is a World War II-era railcar. This is like the trains that took Jewish people to concentration camps. Next to it is a fishing boat. This boat is similar to those used by brave Danish fishermen. They helped Jewish neighbors escape to safety. These items are now inside to keep them safe.

Dimensions in Testimony

In the Dimensions in Testimony exhibit, you can have a "virtual conversation." You can ask questions to a video of a Holocaust survivor. The survivor, like William J. "Bill" Morgan from Houston, will answer you. It feels like they are right there in the room with you. This is possible because of special technology.

Human Rights Gallery

The new Human Rights Gallery teaches about genocides recognized by the United Nations. It also honors leaders who fought for human rights. These include Malala Yousafzai and Martin Luther King Jr..

The Rhona and Bruce Caress Gallery – And Still I Write

This gallery is called And Still I Write: Young Diarists on War and Genocide. It shows diaries written by young people during wars and genocides. There are interactive stations where you can read their personal stories. This helps visitors understand the dangers of hatred. The gallery also has a special exhibit about Anne Frank.

Changing Galleries

The museum has two other galleries for special art and photo exhibits. The Central Gallery is in the middle of the museum. The Josef and Edith Mincberg Gallery is a larger space for bigger displays.

Lack Family Memorial Room

The Lack Family Memorial Room is a quiet place for reflection. It has beautiful artwork called the Wall of Remembrance, Wall of Tears, and Wall of Hope. Here, local Holocaust survivors can remember family members they lost.

Eric Alexander Garden of Hope

Outside the Memorial Room is a peaceful garden. It is called the Eric Alexander Garden of Hope. This garden is dedicated to the spirit of children. It remembers the 1.5 million children who died during the Holocaust.

Second Floor Highlights

The Jerold B. Katz Family Butterfly Loft

On the second floor, you will see a stunning sculpture. It is called the Butterfly Loft. It has 1,500 butterflies hanging as if they are flying. Each butterfly stands for 1,000 children. Together, they remember the 1.5 million children murdered in the Holocaust.

The Boniuk Center for the Future of Holocaust, Human Rights, and Genocide Studies

This center on the second floor is for research. Scholars study the Holocaust and human rights here. They work to find the best ways to teach people about these important topics.

Samuel Bak Gallery

The museum has the largest gallery of art by Samuel Bak. He is a Holocaust survivor and a painter. The gallery has over 130 of his works. His art helps people understand the Holocaust and how to respond to challenges in their own lives.

Third Floor Resources

The Boniuk Library

The Boniuk Library is on the third floor. It has more than 10,000 books and many other resources. You can do research here. The library also has 285 recorded stories from survivors. It is one of the biggest sources of information in the U.S. about communities destroyed during the Holocaust.

Museum's New Look

In 2019, the Holocaust Museum Houston became much bigger. It grew to be about 57,000 square feet. This made it the fourth-largest Holocaust museum in the country. The new museum is also fully bilingual, with information in English and Spanish. The expansion added new galleries, classrooms, a library, a café, and theaters.

Moral Courage Award

Since 1994, the museum has given out the Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award. This award honors people who show great bravery. They must stand up against unfairness, just like President Johnson did. For example, in 2009, U.S. Senator John McCain received this award. He was honored for his courage during the Vietnam War.