New England Holocaust Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New England Holocaust Memorial |
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The memorial as seen from the Boston City Hall Plaza stairs (2017)
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| General information | |
| Address | 98 Union St |
| Town or city | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Inaugurated | October 22, 1995 |
| Height | 16.5 m (54 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Stanley Saitowitz |
The New England Holocaust Memorial in Boston, Massachusetts, is a special place. It helps us remember the Jewish people who were killed by Nazi Germany during a terrible time called the Holocaust. This memorial helps us learn from history and work for a better future.
Contents
About the Memorial
The New England Holocaust Memorial was built in 1995. It was started by Stephan Ross, who survived the Holocaust. The memorial has six tall glass towers. Visitors can walk underneath these towers.
What the Towers Show
On the outside of each tower, you can see many numbers. These numbers stand for the six million Jews who were killed during the Holocaust. Inside the towers, there are powerful quotes. These quotes come from people who survived the terrible events.
Underneath the towers, you might see steam rising. It comes from metal grates on a dark floor. Small lights on the floor look like twinkling stars.
Symbolism of the Towers
Each of the six towers has a special meaning. They represent six major camps where many people were held and killed. These camps were Majdanek, Chełmno, Sobibor, Treblinka, Bełżec, and Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The six towers also remind us of the six candles on a menorah. A menorah is a special candleholder. Each tower also stands for one million of the six million Jews who were killed. Finally, the six towers represent the six years, from 1939 to 1945, when these terrible events mostly happened.
Details on the Glass Panels
Each glass tower is made of twenty-four separate glass panels. Most of these panels (twenty-two of them) have seven-digit numbers written on them. Two panels in each tower have important messages. In total, there are 132 panels with numbers. Each of these number panels looks the same. A single panel has 17,280 unique numbers. These numbers are repeated across the memorial.
Visiting the Memorial
Since July 2021, you can take a digital tour of the memorial. You can use QR codes to learn more about the Holocaust and the meaning behind the monument.
The New England Holocaust Memorial is very easy to find. It is just a few steps from the Freedom Trail, which is a popular walking path in Boston. This makes it a well-known place for visitors.
The memorial is located in Carmen Park. This park is near Congress Street and Union Street, close to Faneuil Hall. The Boston National Historic Park helps take care of the site. Carmen Park was named after William Carmen. He was important in creating the New England Holocaust Memorial.
Important Messages
Some of the glass panels on the towers have special messages. For example, the tower representing Sobibor includes a powerful message. These messages help visitors think about the past and learn important lessons.
See also
In Spanish: New England Holocaust Memorial para niños
