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 that remembers the Jewish people who were killed by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust. It helps us learn about this sad time in history and why it's important to prevent such events from happening again.
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What is the New England Holocaust Memorial?
The New England Holocaust Memorial was created by Stephan Ross, who survived the Holocaust himself. It was built in 1995. The memorial has six tall glass towers that you can walk through.
What do the Glass Towers Represent?
Each of the six glass towers stands for important parts of the Holocaust:
- They represent the six main extermination camps where many people were killed: Majdanek, Chełmno, Sobibor, Treblinka, Bełżec, and Auschwitz-Birkenau.
- They also remind us of the six million Jewish people who were murdered. Each tower can be thought of as representing one million victims.
- The towers also symbolize the six years (1939-1945) when the mass killings happened.
- They are also like the candles of a menorah, a special Jewish candleholder.
What Can You See on the Towers?
On the outside of each glass tower, you'll see many numbers carved into the glass. These numbers stand for the six million Jews who were killed during the Holocaust. On the inside walls of the towers, there are powerful quotes from people who survived the camps.
Steam gently rises from the dark floor beneath the towers, and there are twinkling lights, making the memorial a very thoughtful and moving place.
How Many Numbers Are There?
Each tower is made of 24 glass panels. Twenty-two of these panels have long numbers carved into them, and two panels have special messages. In total, there are 132 panels with numbers. While the numbers repeat, each panel has 17,280 unique numbers. This creates a huge display of numbers, reminding us of the vast number of victims.
Digital Tour and Location
Since July 2021, you can use QR codes at the memorial to take a digital tour. This tour helps explain more about the history of the Holocaust and the meaning behind the monument.
The New England Holocaust Memorial is located very close to the Freedom Trail in Boston, which is a popular walking path for tourists. You can find it in Carmen Park, near Congress and Union Streets, not far from Faneuil Hall. Carmen Park was named after William Carmen, who helped make the memorial possible.
Messages of Remembrance
Some of the glass panels on the towers feature important messages. For example, the tower representing the Sobibor camp includes a powerful message that helps us remember the past. These messages are meant to teach us about the importance of standing up against hate and injustice.
See also
In Spanish: New England Holocaust Memorial para niños
