Virginia Holocaust Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1997 |
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| Location | 2000 East Cary Street, Richmond, Virginia |
| Type | Holocaust museum |
The Virginia Holocaust Museum (VHM) is a museum in Richmond, Virginia. It teaches people about the Holocaust. The Holocaust was a terrible time when millions of Jewish people and others were killed by the Nazis. The museum shares the personal stories of those who suffered. It helps us learn from the past.
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History of the Museum
The Virginia Holocaust Museum first opened its doors in 1997. It was started by Mark Fetter, Devorah Ben David, Jay Ipson, and Al Rosenbaum. Jay Ipson was a survivor of the Holocaust himself.
At first, the museum was in a smaller building. Many schools brought their students for field trips. Soon, the museum became very popular. It needed a bigger space for all its visitors and school groups.
The government of Virginia helped the museum find a new home. They offered an old tobacco warehouse. After a lot of work to fix it up, the new, larger museum opened in 2003. This happened on Yom HaShoah, a special day to remember the Holocaust.
Since 2003, the museum has grown a lot. Each year, over 42,000 people visit. It is still a very important place for school trips in Virginia. Students from over 100 schools visit every year.
In 2015, the museum started updating its main exhibits. Some parts had not changed since 2003. These updates add new facts and make the displays more modern. The museum hoped to finish these changes by 2020.
What the Museum Teaches
The Virginia Holocaust Museum was created to teach everyone about the sad events of the Holocaust. It helps us remember the terrible things that happened during World War II.
Through its exhibits and programs, the museum uses history to teach important lessons. It shows the dangers of prejudice (judging people unfairly) and indifference (not caring about others' suffering). The museum wants to make sure such terrible events never happen again.
Museum Exhibits
The museum has several important exhibits. They help visitors understand the history and impact of the Holocaust.
Main History Exhibit
This exhibit is on the first floor. It tells the story of the Holocaust from beginning to end. As you walk through, you learn how Jewish people in Europe were systematically targeted.
The exhibit includes about 300 real items from that time. You can also hear stories from local Holocaust survivors. These items and stories help you understand the real and personal effects of this event.
Authentic German Train Car
In 2004, the museum received a real "goods wagon." This is a type of freight car that was used during Nazi Germany. Alexander Lebenstein, a local Holocaust survivor, helped bring this important item to Richmond.
Visitors can go inside this train car. It helps them imagine the difficult conditions people faced when they were transported in these cars.
The Ipson Family Story
A special part of the museum's main exhibits is the story of the Ipson family. This exhibit is called the Ipson Saga. It shares the experiences of a family of local Holocaust survivors.
The Ipsons were held in the Kovno Ghetto. They later escaped to a farm in Lithuania. Their story shows the constant dangers Jewish people faced during the Holocaust.
Nuremberg Courtroom Exhibit
The Nuremberg trials were the first international trials for major Nazi war criminals. These trials helped gather many documents and stories about the Holocaust.
The Nuremberg Courtroom exhibit is a full copy of Room 600. This was the room in the Palace of Justice where the trials took place. It helps visitors feel the seriousness of these important trials. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine opened this exhibit in April 2008.
See also
Images for kids
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Virginia Holocaust Museum Logo
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Virginia Holocaust Museum
