Oregon Holocaust Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oregon Holocaust Memorial |
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|---|---|
| Oregon | |
Everyday items like this suitcase symbolize life interrupted
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| For victims of Holocaust | |
| Unveiled | August 29, 2004 |
| Location | near |
The Oregon Holocaust Memorial is a special outdoor place. It remembers the many people who suffered during the Holocaust. You can find it in Portland, Oregon, inside Washington Park. It was officially opened on August 29, 2004.
The American Jewish Committee owns this memorial. The idea for it came from Alice Kern and a group of Holocaust survivors in Oregon. They started planning it in 1994. The memorial is open every day from morning until evening. You can visit it for free.
Contents
Exploring the Memorial's Design
The Oregon Holocaust Memorial has a thoughtful design. It helps visitors understand the history of the Holocaust.
Stone Bench and Cobblestone Circle
The memorial features a stone bench. Around it, there is a wrought iron gate. This gate surrounds a circular area made of cobblestone.
Symbolic Objects and Walkway
You will see bronze sculptures of everyday items. These include shoes, glasses, and a suitcase. They represent things left behind by people who were persecuted. A cobblestone walkway leads through the memorial. It has granite bars that look like railroad tracks. This path reminds us of the trains used during the Holocaust.
The History Wall
The walkway leads to a large wall. This wall shares a history of the Holocaust. It also includes powerful quotes from survivors. These words help us understand their experiences.
Soil Vault Panel
The memorial has a special "soil vault panel." This panel covers soil and ash from six extermination camps. These camps were Auschwitz-Birkenau, Bełżec, Chelmno, Majdanek, Treblinka, and Sobibor. Local residents brought these samples back to Oregon.
Names of Victims and Survivors
On the back of the wall, many names are carved. These are the names of people who died in the camps. It also lists the names of their surviving family members. These relatives live in Oregon and Southwest Washington. John Laursen designed the lettering for these names. Other artists and designers also helped create the memorial.
Building the Memorial
The memorial cost about $800,000 to build. This money came from grants and private donations. The main company that built it was Walsh Construction Company from Oregon. Coldspring Granite Company, from Minnesota, provided the granite stones.
