United States Holocaust United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumMemorial Museum

Why?Why?

““Bring to life the brutality of the Bring to life the brutality of the Holocaust and movingly illustrate the Holocaust and movingly illustrate the terrible fate of Jews in World War II terrible fate of Jews in World War II Nazi Germany.” Nazi Germany.”

GoalsGoals

““Document, study, and interpret the Document, study, and interpret the history of the Holocaust”history of the Holocaust”

Memorial to millions of Jews killed in Memorial to millions of Jews killed in HolocaustHolocaust

Committee on Conscience:Committee on Conscience:

genocide researchgenocide research

The beginning…The beginning…

October ’78 October ’78 President Carter – Holocaust President Carter – Holocaust

miniseriesminiseries Consults advisors Consults advisors

Result:Result:

60-member commission formed60-member commission formed

Chairman: Elie Wiesel, Chairman: Elie Wiesel,

Holocaust survivorHolocaust survivor

ControversyControversy

No need for memorial:No need for memorial: U.S. was not involved in the HolocaustU.S. was not involved in the Holocaust

vs.vs.

““There has to be a place that generates a There has to be a place that generates a pulse continuously about these kind of pulse continuously about these kind of issues [oppression].” issues [oppression].”

- Mark Talisman, founding - Mark Talisman, founding vice-chairman of museumvice-chairman of museum

Plans made…Plans made…

Congress approved project - 1981Congress approved project - 1981 Architect chosen: James Ingo FreedArchitect chosen: James Ingo Freed Freed witnessed Kristallnacht as young Freed witnessed Kristallnacht as young boy boy Moved to United StatesMoved to United States - Studied architecture - Studied architecture - Worked on many notable - Worked on many notable

architectural projectsarchitectural projects

Freed’s vision…Freed’s vision…

““The intent of the building is to The intent of the building is to be a resonator of your own be a resonator of your own imagery, of your own memory.”imagery, of your own memory.”

Freed’s designFreed’s design

Visited Auschwitz and designed the Visited Auschwitz and designed the museum with institutional concrete – museum with institutional concrete – glass, steel, stark, gray glass, steel, stark, gray

– – like a concentration camplike a concentration camp Hexagon shape – Hexagon shape –

like the Jewish starlike the Jewish star

Outside vs. InsideOutside vs. Inside

Exterior: clean lines, Exterior: clean lines,

like nearby buildingslike nearby buildings

Interior: sometimes Interior: sometimes

“ “claustrophobic,” sometimes claustrophobic,” sometimes “soaringly majestic” to elicit “soaringly majestic” to elicit emotional responseemotional response

Upon entering…Upon entering…

Each visitor receives a different card Each visitor receives a different card – each card shows a different Jewish – each card shows a different Jewish person involved in the Holocaustperson involved in the Holocaust

Four Floors Four Floors Trace history of Holocaust Trace history of Holocaust

44thth floor – beginning :1933-1940 floor – beginning :1933-1940

Early years of Nazi rule Early years of Nazi rule

Exclusion of Jews from society Exclusion of Jews from society

and buildup to World War IIand buildup to World War II

Third FloorThird Floor

““Final Solution” Final Solution” 1940 – 1945 1940 – 1945 Concentration camps, killing centers, Concentration camps, killing centers,

ghettos, transport boxcarghettos, transport boxcar

Second FloorSecond Floor

Hall of RemembranceHall of Remembrance

Post-war years:Post-war years:

resistance, rescue, liberationresistance, rescue, liberation

First FloorFirst Floor

Hall of Witness:Hall of Witness:

Testimony of Holocaust survivorsTestimony of Holocaust survivors

A reminder of WHYA reminder of WHY

“ “We must make sure that from now We must make sure that from now until the end of days all humankind until the end of days all humankind stares this evil in the face…and only stares this evil in the face…and only then can we be sure it will never then can we be sure it will never arise again.”arise again.”

- President Ronald Reagan: Remarks at the - President Ronald Reagan: Remarks at the site site of the future United States Holocaust of the future United States Holocaust Museum, Museum,

October 5, 1988October 5, 1988