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United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW(between S 15th St & S Jefferson Dr)
Washington, DC 20024
(202) 488-0400
- Nearest Transit:
-
Smithsonian Metro Station (Blue, Orange)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 5:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
225 reviews for United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Review Highlights
"It's completely free, and is a must-see for all people."
(in 23 reviews)
"Pictures, notes, films, artifacts, etc."
(in 20 reviews)
"Daniel's Story exhibit is a must see for kids of all ages..."
(in 10 reviews)
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225 reviews in English
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Review from Amber F.
Lakewood, CA
2/7/2012
How wonderful that this museum is free, so that no one has an excuse not to go here.
The only word to describe this place is powerful. You take an elevator to the top floor and wind your way down through the narrative of the events of the Holocaust. Things are haunting. The shoes, the bunks from Auschwitz, the personal belongings... it sends home the reminder that these were real human beings that this happened to.
Some of the content is graphic (because the events were graphic, it's not meant for cheap shock value) so as they say on TV, parental discretion is advised. The Daniel's Story exhibit is a great place to start if you have children with you... the bottom line is you know what your kid can or cannot handle.
We went the week before Christmas and spent about 90 minutes right before closing... the museum wasn't very crowded and we saw everything, but could have definitely spent more time. -
Review from Denise S.
Atlanta, GA
1/30/2012
Everyone needs to come here at least once in their lives. Everyone. This isn't just a museum, it's also a strong message to the people... Don't make the same mistake again!
The entire exhibit is very touching. In particular, the shoes and the small housing shacks let off an intense energy that cannot be ignored.
You start off on the top floor and work your way down gradually. There's plenty of seating areas to rest in between. The museum visitors all have a noticable attitude of sorrow, and that's not a bad thing.
Usually, my reviews have some humor in them to make it fun to read, but not here. This place should not be taken lightly.
Excellent. Excellent. -
Review from wendelin y.
San Jose, CA
1/16/2012
security upfront, easy to get in.
self guided tour, take a card and hop on the elevator. Start from the top to the bottom
or the lower level is another area.
truly amazing/touching. i ended up in tears, and coming here made me evaluate myself and put myself in check before i went back home.
its free too! -
Review from Kevin L.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been here twice now and the place still surprises me with how well-designed it is. Historical trauma is a hard beast to enshrine in a museum, so it's amazing how this museum turned out. So many of the exhibits give me goosebumps just walking through.
Yes, the place can get really crowded, so try to go on a weekday or during the winter. Gives you a chance to read quietly and move at your own pace.
You start the whole tour picking up a passport of sorts and then head over to a elevator that takes you the top floor. Brief video later, you enter facing a huge black wall. Once your eyes adjust, you'll see The Holocaust written in relief. Classy and it really sets the tone. I won't ruin more of the museum with spoilers, but there are excellent exhibits throughout. I like that the self-guided tour ends at the Hall of Remembrance.
There's an area for kids to enjoy called Daniel's Story. Kinda creepy for adults, though I guess it was because I was the only one in there and there was a kind of cheerfulness before the storm. -
Review from Jonny S.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was an East/Central European History Major in College with a Jewish Studies Minor and have visited concentration camps in Auschwitz and Terezin so I consider myself fairly well educated when it comes to the Shoah (Holocaust). That being said, a visit to the Holocaust Museum was well worth the trip. They did a wonderful job explaining the Holocaust both from the buildup, the implantation of "the Final Solution" and the immediate aftermath. There was plenty of explanatory text as well as great use of maps and artifacts. Particularly sobering was the large collection of confiscated shoes and an actual rail car and tracks used in transporting Jews to the death camps. I also appreciated them highlighting individuals who tried to save people from Hitler during the build-up to the War as well as pointing out the absolute inactivity of the Allied Governments to stop what they knew was going on (i.e. America would not increase its immigration quotas or to bomb the death camp facilities or rail lines). The museum also did a good job pointing out that while the majority of the Nazi energies were spent exterminating Jews...other minorities such as Homosexuals and Roma were also considered unworthy of existing.
Please bring your children here. It's important that we all remember how easily this event happened...and that genocide can still take place such as in the Balkans or Darfur...and to those who think that such a thing could never happen in America please remember the atrocities inflicted upon African Americans...that to this day politicians use Latino immigrants as scapegoats...or try to use homosexuals as a way to scare people into voting for them and deny them basic human rights...or how easily we were talked into denying citizens their constitutional rights after 9/11. Please visit this museum, collect yourself in the hall of remembrance and reflect on how we can best honor the dead...by making sure it never happens again. -
Review from Kim N.
Houston, TX
1/1/2012
We weren't planning on going to the Holocaust Museum during our DC trip, but we had some more time and we are so glad we did. This is a really good museum. I liked receiving a passport before going up into the exhibits about a person who went through those times and everything was just so much to take in. They have a lot to share and it ends up becoming overwhelming and very sad. Some of the things on display I wasn't sure I really wanted to look at but that just shows how real some of the information they are sharing with you is. I'm so glad we went and I'd recommend anyone going to DC to make a visit to this museum as well.
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Review from Chenney C.
Cincinnati, OH
11/17/2011
A self-guided tour that is a truly amazing, intimate and well portrayed of the Holocaust events. I walked out of there feeling incredibly sad, thankful and as well as informed. It is definitely something you don't want to go to after having ice-cream at your favorite parlor. No, that's not what I did.
I would only suggest to NOT going during the weekday in October as every school in the area seems to want to take a trip there in that season. So many talking junior high kids.
I would definitely bring my future kids here when they are at least 12 years of age so they can understand our history.
What's nice about this museum too is its all jam packed next to all the other amazing museums in that area. -
Review from Jessica K.
12/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
this museum is amazing.
the security is really strict to get in.
there are two entrances. (I don't think most people know this)
when you first come in, you get a passport then ride the elevator so start from the way top and work your way to the bottom
this is a must go museum -
Review from Becca C.
9/13/2011
I didn't realize just how lucky I was to grow up in the DC area with access to all these museums, until I started traveling to the West Coast. Nothing compares to the depth, power, and lasting impression of this particular museum. I'd imagine only standing in actual concentration camps in Europe would be more surreal. This museum makes it tangible....it's more than the sad images on the occasional Barnes'n'Noble hardback book...more than what a website could do.
In the beginning of your visit, you are given a passport of a real person that was affected by the Holocaust. You take the elevator to the 4th floor and work your way through the exhibits. The 4th focuses on the events leading upto Nazism and the rise of Hitler. Subsequent floors focus on the oppression of Jews and other races of people in Poland, Germany, and eventually all of Eastern Europe. With every floor, you turn the page to find out what happened to the person in the passport. It is even more moving because you identify with them as you move through the exhibits; you want to turn to the last page to find out their fate, but you wait patiently.
Finally, at the end of the entire experience is a dome shaped room that you may light a candle in remembrance and respect. Unfortunately, this is also where several middle schoolers on a field trip are winding down fro their field trip and acting loudly. One kid had the gall to blow out an ENTIRE row of lit candles. After experiencing everything, I asked that kid if they learned anything that day, and proceded to let their group teacher/sponsor that this behavior was unacceptable. I hope schools that take field trips here are more aware of their visitors' behavior.
So, come here for reflection, come here to never forget, and to identify the complex causes of the Holocaust, so they are never repeated. -
Review from Kristen S.
San Diego, CA
12/9/2011 1 photo
It seems a bit morbid to say, "Woo hoo! Halocaust Museum! 5 stars!". But in all seriousness, this museum is super interesting and informative. I learned so much. If you're going to only do one museum in DC, this should be it.
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Review from Cris F.
Englewood, CO
10/20/2011
One word sums this place up: INTENSE.
I had no idea that there was that much footage and information about the holocaust. I was in awe and bewilderment when I left. If you go through the whole museum reading everything it will take you a good 3 hours or so. But an intense 3 hours. Definitely worth it. One great feature that they have is when you go in to start the museum you can grab a card of a person who was in the holocaust and it gives you all the information on that person and what happened to them. When I come back to D.C. I will definitely visit it again.
P.S. The building itself is intense and gorgeous. -
Review from Miss E.
McLean, VA
8/25/2011
I don't think anything I can write here will do this place justice. It is a beautiful museum, and everyone who visits Washington should see it. The pictures, the captions, the videos, the artifacts, and the set-up make it one of the best museums I've ever visited.
What to expect when you visit: You can enter the first floor/lobby without a ticket, but you'll need one to see the main exhibit. You can order your timed tickets online for a small fee, or you can wait in line at the museum the day you visit. They reserve a certain number of tix at the outdoor box office each morning (first come, first served), so don't panic if they're sold out online. After you get through security and walk to the lobby, proceed to the elevators on the left, which take small groups of people to the top floor. You then wind through 3 floors of exhibits and end up back in the lobby. Be prepared to see some people get very upset while in the museum. I'd recommend bringing a tissue. It's easy to suddenly tear up here.
It may seem strange that I'm deducting a star, but I have a good reason. This museum gets obscenely crowded, to the point where you can't properly experience it. In fact, the first time I visited, we could barely get off the the elevator to begin the tour, let alone see anything. We actually left almost immediately. I think it's disrespectful for management to let it get so chaotic. I also don't think young children should be admitted. They've been huge distraction for me on more than one occassion. Not only can they not appreciate the exhibits, the museum can take hours to get through. I don't know many toddlers who can be quiet that long.
My advice: Order your tickets in advance, and try to get one of the first tours of the morning. I'd go during the week in the off-season, preferably when it's rainy or cold. Leave the kids at home. Take your time walking through. Read as much as you can. Soak it all in. I promise you won't be disappointed. -
Review from cherie T.
8/3/2011
As many yelpers have said, this museum is poweful in the sense of moving/ emotional. It's just heartbreaking to see all the pictures, videos of the Holocaust.
I highly recommend people to visit this museum - to relive what people had to go through during that time.Listed in: Washington DC
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Review from Aaron B.
9/30/2011
This should be a FIVE STAR review, because this is a truly impressive, breathtaking, somber and enlightening museum that everyone should visit.
Sadly, some tickets are issued for too late in the day and your visit gets cut short well before you are able to see everything. One would assume, as I did, that as the museum knows how long it takes to see its exhibit, it would not issue entrance tickets that don't afford you enough time to see the whole thing! At the very least, they could let those already inside finish at their leisure, rather than rushing us all out!
So, on our last day in Washington we ended up seeing not even half of the main exhibit, with no option to return the next day we vowed to return another time and do it right. Live and learn!
I would suggest not taking any starting time that is later than 1PM. -
Review from Lesley G.
Winston-Salem, NC
6/26/2011
I really loved this museum...you can't be opposed to learning about the subject. I did a private group tour with my work and it was a wonderful experience. However, I had issues when I went back today, because of the extreme crowds. I had no idea how early you had to get tickets, we went before it opened to have a chance at seeing the main exhibit. The experience is really cheapened by how many people talk and giggle. One lady let her daughter climb on the bunk beds...
I know this is not really the fault of the museum, but I wonder if the staff could do more to enforce quiet and respect. Or perhaps the tickets could be good for a window of time to disperse the guests more evenly. Other than that, its a gorgeous place that is manageable in content.Listed in: DC Visits
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Review from Ann V.
8/1/2011
Wow - such a touching museum w/ incredibly well done exhibits.
I grew up knowing the gist of what happened during the holocaust but there were always so many things that i was confused about and so many questions that i wanted to ask - how did hitler get many to follow his lead? Did the German citizens not know the "final solution" was going on? why didn't the jews escape to other countries, etc etc.
I left knowing so much more - tje details, the timeline of events, and even all about the Nazi propaganda.
It's sad to know that some people's actions can be so inhumane .
I think everyone should make this one of their stops when visiting DC.Listed in: DC/MD/VA
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Review from Victoria C.
Seattle, WA
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Incredible. Be prepared to tear up a few times. I spent three hours at the museum until closing and wished I spent the whole day there to really absorb every photograph, watch every film clip, read every story.
The layout of the exhibits is excellent. You start at the top floor and work your way down. From Hitler's rise to power, down to the "Final Solution" (aka the genocide), and finally to the Final Chapter (reconstruction and recovery). You get a sense of how propaganda fooled so many and brainwashed so many, yet you also get a reminder that many turned a blind eye, that many were responsible. You get smacked in the face with the reality that it is our duty as human beings to show not only sympathy to our fellow mankind, but to act.
Simply amazing. Best museum of the Smithsonians. -
Review from Caroline F.
Rowland Heights, CA
8/2/2011
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum serves as a powerful memory of both the events that led up to and occurred during the darkest years of WWII. The exhibits present an in-depth experience through governmental and personal accounts and artifacts instead of relying on the censored, textbook interpretation.
Personally, the part of the museum that I remember most is the hall of shoes: in itself, it's a simple exhibit, but it places the Holocaust into perspective. The idea behind it is almost intangible -- but I'll leave it to each individual's interpretation.
As stated countless times by other reviewers, everyone should visit this museum at least once in their lifetime.Listed in: Inedible Adventures
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Review from Rachel S.
8/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A must visit for everyone. Even the architecture of the structure is reminiscient of the concentration camps at Auscwitz in Poland during the Holocaust. So well organized. There is no confusion about which displays to look at first. Daniel's Story exhibit is a must see for kids of all ages (inluding adults)
I visited Auschwitz in Poland last year and still learned a lot from this Museum. -
Review from Juju K.
New York, NY
7/23/2011
Every citizen of Earth should see this place. I didn't really know what to expect. I learned about holocaust in school, read books on the topic, saw movies, etc., but museum brought a totally different experience.
I love how the space was planned out. You go through each floor from top to bottom to learn about the rise of Nazi all the way to liberation by the allied troops. In between, you'll see unbelievable images, and read about tragedies and atrocities of holocaust. The big bins of shoes of collected from people who were perished in the gas chambers were quite jarring. You could smell the leather. It made the history feel so real and so tangible.
I only had about 2.5 hours and that was not enough. I would say give yourself 4 hours or more to see all the exhibits without rushing.
The quote on the wall by Pastor Martin Niemoller as I exited the exhibits was quite powerful and thought provoking.
This is a must-see if you are visiting DC. -
Review from Stephanie K.
Washington, DC
11/21/2011
This museum is a must-see. Very informative and educational, but also very sad and haunting. Regardless of how you feel when you enter, by the time you are done with the two-plus hour self tour, you will have found the experience to be extremely emotional. For horrible subject matter,the exhibits are displayed respectfully,and the free admission is an added bonus. THIS IS NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH OR IMMATURE!! Children should be encouraged to visit, but only if they can conduct themselves in an appropriate manner.
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Review from Pam S.
5/11/2011
I have been remiss in my reviews of Museums and I've been to many. I was attending a conference in 06... I ditched the conference to visit this Museum. It's Free and it was cold (I was there in December) and it's not located near the rest of the Museums but TRUST me make your way over there. I am very familiar with the DC area I used to go about every 3 mos for 3 years when I was in a LDR many years ago and did not go to the Museums because I was not a tourist. This time I felt like it would be my last time in DC for a while so I wanted to see this Somber yet tributing Museum.
The experience begins with you going through Security this is NO JOKE Security (like many places in DC) you are given a card of someone -an actual person that lived through or died during the Holocaust... you ride a elevator that looks like the train cars that used to take the people to the camps. They cover the History of the Nazi party and how this devastation came to be. It's one thing to read a book and put the book down and walk away from it... it is ENTIRELY something else to walk through it see the images and sit in a room that is beautifully built as a HUGE rotunda with natural light coming from over top with THOUSANDS of names of people that were killed - this is a room of silence.
I can honestly say I was horrified at some of the things that I learned and saw... being African American I am not a stranger at being the object of HATE =[ but the hopelessness that reverberated through this place nearly knocked me to my knees. If you are a empathetic person such as I it will move you, disturb you, make you angry and at the end all you can do is weep for the Children (a specific exhibit) that were also victims to this genocide.
Recommend a visit as a MUST if you are in DC. I left there with more of a understanding and appreciation for the sentiment of "We will NEVER forget" it was done with sensitivity, good use of lights, images of the various regions and countries that were occupied and also there was a exhibit in reference to the many case of Genocide that we are living through today... and NOT paying attention to.
Respectfully Reviewed -
Review from Zack H.
7/6/2011
This is quite a humbling museum memorializing the Holocaust. It's completely free, and is a must-see for all people. I went with three Jewish people (I'm not Jewish myself), and we were all stunned by how horrific the exhibits were. Considering what happened, it can get quite graphic - perhaps too graphic for most people. A lot of the workers here are also Holocaust survivors, from what I've heard. It chronicled the history of anti-Semitism and its predominance in many denominations of Christianity, how anti-Semitism in Europe was in the 20th century prior to the war, and the events that caused anti-Semitism to escalate to where it got. It even revealed little known facts, such as how Mussolini placed Jews in concentration camps but refused to kill them upon Nazi request.
If anybody denies the Holocaust after visiting this museum, I will lose all respect for them as a human being. It is a great way to honor all those who died, whether they were Jewish, gay, Roma (Gypsy), Catholic, or anybody else who perished. -
Review from Stephanie C.
Honolulu, HI
7/7/2011
As soon as you step out of the elevator onto the 4th floor beginning of the permanent exhibit, there is a solemn hush that follows you until the end.
I was deeply touched by this museum, and glad that I decided to travel solo to give myself ample time to read and study over all the displays. I wanted to walk away with a better understanding of the subject matter.
This museum is fascinating. From the uniforms to the propaganda to the stories that survivors shared via interview.
I always wondered how such an atrocious human act came to exist.
"Aren't people smarter than that?" I wondered. "How can people support such a horrendous cause?" The way that the museum is chronologically ordered helps to explain how this didn't happen overnight. It paints the picture of a war-torn continent reluctant to become involved and a politically fragile country susceptible to the ideology of a dictator.
It also has an entire section dedicated to America's response, which deeply saddened me.
If you're one of those people who needs visuals, this museum certainly has them. If you want to walk away truly humbled from the information presented to you, make sure to take your time. I recommend going alone or with another person who shares your pace at a museum. This isn't the kind you wanna skip through.
A bonus: If you're a military or government employee, you get an immediate access pass. Comes in handy when you don't want to wait around for a couple hours for admittance to the permanent exhibit. -
Review from Quinncee P.
Alexandria, VA
7/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went to this museum when my parents visited and it was such a great thing to do. It wasn't very crowded when we got there around 10am, and when we got inside the building, we got tickets to tour the permanent exhibit for 12:15. Til then, we explored the other exhibits and movie clips they had. An interesting one was about the propaganda the Nazis and Hitler used. It was amazing to see the posters in original and translated form.
We walked through the permanent exhibit and the only thing that mildly resembles a complaint is that it was so crowded by noon, and there was sensory overload with all of the pieces of information available to read and watch. The crowds made you want to just skim along, but I really wanted to read any and everything on the walls and displays. The setup was awesome though, and some of the emotional parts of the exhibit really hit their mark. I won't go into much detail because it's just something you have to experience, but I learned a lot and I'm extremely glad I went! -
Review from Angie P.
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I hate to give this museum just 4 stars, but I was really disappointed in the navigation & enormous amount of people trying to maneuver through the hallways & read through all the displays.
The good thing is the museum is free, but due to the nature of the museum, security is tight, so the minimum you bring with you (purses, bags, etc.) the better.
I agree with the others, there's SO much to read & look at, it's a bit overwhelming, especially with the crowds of people. It's very sad that this is part of our world's history, but it's definitely worth the visit to explore. Again, plan accordingly - this is not a quick in & out visit.
The ID card they give you upon entering is really neat & is a good keepsake.
The architecture of the building is gorgeous & the Remembrance room is very touching & intimate.
I was very moved by the pictures, video & exhibits. Be prepared to be touched by this visit. It's a very somber experience; but so honored that Washington has this museum. -
Review from Erika G.
4/8/2011
It has taken me over a year of thinking about this review to write it. I'm still no closer to say anything profound or meaningful.
So I'll just say this: Do NOT miss this museum. I don't think I've ever been moved more by a museum . . . and I've been to a LOT of museums.
Incredibly well done exhibits. I wish a museum of this sort would never have been necessary. But it is necessary. And informative and educational. And incredibly sad for anyone who actually possesses a heart.
And sadly, man's inhumanity to man (and woman) shows no sign of abating. -
Review from Martin B.
College Park, MD
3/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
What can be said really? The exhibit is incredibly well put-together, and I've learned some new things both times I've gone. It's an incredibly heavy subject and it definitely rattles some people, but I didn't leave feeling depressed or anything like that. There's something here for everyone regardless of knowledge about the holocaust, and if you ask me it ought to be mandatory for anyone visiting (or living in) DC.
One staff member was a bit of a jerk to me for eating (not in the exhibit mind you), but other than that the people who work here are nice. The bathrooms are small and kinda icky, so I'd suggest taking care of that business beforehand. -
Review from Marlon T.
4/11/2011
Definitely one of those places to visit when you're in DC. There is no reason not to come see this history given its importance.
A few tips:
Come early to get tickets for the main exhibit because they can run out quick. I say don't bother coming after 2:00PM if you don't already have a tickets. You might as well come another day since this place is so popular.
Also if you are active duty military or wok for the government you can get in immediately without worrying about the ticket situation -
Review from Casandra G.
Charlotte, NC
9/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is an outstanding museum and in general a must-see. The permanent exhibit is a powerful experience, describing the circumstances leading to the rise of Hitler and all that followed. We came while a fascinating smaller exhibit was also happening that focused on the use of propaganda in all forms to perpetuate the Big Lie - it's kind of harrowing, seeing how the print, radio and film media misled - downright completely lied - to the German public, convincing them of a terrible and descending enemy in the Jews and "Jew-sympathetic" Europe. Over three hours went by before we felt like leaving, and I don't think we even went as deep as we could.
To echo others, go early, go off season, and don't bring anyone younger than a VERY mature third grader (I would say an average 5th-6th grader could do it too). The subject matter and focus required to take in the museum requires a dedicated attention span. -
Review from Alena B.
4/27/2011
Best, most moving museum in DC. Now the smithsonian is great...everything in DC is great (and mostly FREE!) but this museum was my favorite. I had been waiting years to visit and I was really moved by how the exhibits were set up. I liked how you got to follow one person's story through the course of the war....both of our people lived which made me happy but probably wasn't norm.
I have studied the Holocaust in many classes in high school and college, so this museum didn't really teach me anything that I didn't know, but it was amazing. I highly recommend it if you are in the DC area.
IF YOU ONLY HAVE TIME TO GO TO ONE MUSEUM IN DC...THIS IS THE ONE -
Review from Lauren G.
4/8/2011
I don't know how to begin this. I went to this museum in 7th grade, and then again earlier this year. I've read the other reviews. Of course, it's a beautiful museum. There's a lot of text, a lot of pictures, and a lot of people. If you don't enjoy sharing space with loud middle school kids on a field trip, I would avoid this place, but while you're at it, go ahead and avoid every other museum in the world.
There is a lot to take in. Video, text, pictures. Some notable things are the pile of shoes. The replica sign from Auschwitz. A train car that transported people. Uniforms. Ovens. Medican devices. The special exhibit I saw earlier this year was about propoganda, which honestly interests me a great deal.
As someone who has been learning about the Holocaust her whole life (hey, my family is Jewish), I didn't find this museum to be boring. Of course you will learn more from taking a class or reading a book, but that does not lessen the experience of this museum. If you haven't been here, I urge you to go. If you've studied the Holocaust your whole life, go. Even if you leave thinking "What a waste of time" (and if you do, really? I mean, REALLY?) at least you can say you went. -
Review from Heather H.
Portland, OR
5/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This place is unbelievable! Everyone should visit this museum. It's no wonder that there were so many class trips visiting the museum.
MAJOR TIP: Get there early or the daily passes (which are free) will be gone. I'd suggest you get there no later than noon. I had to go back twice. -
Review from Deeva C.
Lansing, MI
10/12/2011
I have a TON of Jewish Friends. I owe the Jewish community ALOT. The Jewish community is alot like the Indian community-except it's alot healthier and Jews tend to help other Jews while Indians spend their time exploiting each other and gossiping. I went to this musuem in DC on a weekend expecting to come out with knowledge. This museum touched me so much that it changed my life. It made me more thankful for what I have, to value every day freedoms, being an American, etc. Not only do I admire the Jewish community's work ethic- I believe in their values. They tend to be in high places and they often give back to their communities. If you have never been to this musuem you should DEF. go. It will make you cry, smile, and make you angry that there was once a regime that actually believed an entire race should be wiped out. RIDICULOUS! It's one of my fav. spots in DC.
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Review from Jess L.
12/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is a great, one-of-a-kind museum - a must see for students and adults alike. Their collection is vast and unique, and the stories are really well interwoven into all the exhibits.
I also love the architecture. Each corner and turn of the building was made purposefully to reflect something about the Holocaust and victims' experiences.
A powerful experience! -
Review from Beth L.
Vista, San Diego, CA
9/30/2011
This is one of the best museums I've ever been to ever. The times I have been here it wasn't that busy and you could actually take time to look at the exhibits.
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Review from Thomas S.
Phoenix, AZ
10/12/2010
You are given a teeny tiny little four page "book" . Each book has a victim of the Holocaust with their background, capture and outcome. Either survivor or victim. If you flip to the back immediately you learn about their possible murder or survival. They suggest you flip a page as you descend the four floor museum. I did. I followed the story of Polty.
The images, of course, are haunting. The energy of the adults and older children in the museum is solemn. But I have to say the smaller children running around and really not absorbing is inappropriate and distracting. I mean isn't there a Chuck E Cheese Museum for them?
The journey is from the rise of the Nazis to the end of the war. There is SO much information and I was pleasantly pleased with myself that I knew a good 78% of the history. It took a personal turn for me when I saw victim 23518. He was gay. And I forgot how "homosexuals" (ugh I hate that word!) were persecuted as well, forced to carry large boulders up and down huge hills until they collapsed and died.
For my friend, she didn't know about the medical experiments. Performed mostly on retarded children and adults. I saw such sadness in her eyes as we watched actual footage. Yep. They actually taped these horrendous acts...*written with lump in throat*.
The four stories of unending photographs of victims before the Holocaust. Family members. Friends. Parents. Smiling. Smiling. Smiling. Chilling.
The shoes. Oh the shoes. Piles of actual victims' shoes. Heaps and piles...much like the mounds of corpses the Nazi stacked of their victims.
Polty? Well. Sadly he was a victim who perished and did not survive. He was grabbed exiting his cheese store in Bulgaria. Upon entry to Auschwitz, he was immediately gassed.
Go. See. Experience. Feel. Cry. Digest. Digest. Be quiet. Talk. Listen. Feel. Feel freedom. Smile. And love.Listed in: D.C.? District of Culinary?…
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Review from Derrick D.
Orange, TX
5/19/2011
This place was fantastic. It told the story beautifully, and was designed to make you connect with every person who experienced the Holocaust.
Unfortunately - and the only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars - is because of the kids. Many school field trips were taking place, and the kids were distracting.
Don't misunderstand - I do not have a problem with kids, but for an 'adult' venue, many of them were running around playing with their friends or making jokes about the exhibit.
The museum is free for all the right reasons, but for someone like me who would like to take a little time and appreciate what I'm seeing, all the kids were distracting. At times, it felt like a heard of cattle moving through the exhibit because it was so crowded.
I would certainly recommend the Holocaust Museum to anyone going to DC, but be prepared. -
Review from Sharon V.
10/4/2010
Visiting the holocaust museum is heavy. It's both powerful and heartbreaking to go through and no matter what you hear or learn about the holocaust prior to coming here, it doesn't prepare you for the emotional impact of it all. The train car got me and I had to fight to hold back tears. We left and probably didn't say much for a few hours trying to digest it all internally.
Even though one will never really understand the thinking behind this genocide, it's something everyone should visit. Unless you've lived through this horrific time in history, you'll never truly understand what these people had to endure -- but at the Holocaust Museum, you get a window of what hell on earth is like.
I think the museum also did a great job mentioning the many acts of courage, kindness and compassion during the Holocaust as well.
A must see when visiting D.C.Listed in: Places to visit
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Review from Eyal D.
Los Angeles, CA
10/10/2010 2 Check-ins Here
A compelling museum for the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, as well as those saved and lived to tell the horrors they went through, and the recognition for the bold and brave people who saved others. The museum also offers exhibits on other atrocities around the world.
We came in and spent nearly 5 hours in the Holocaust museum and still didn't finish seeing everything. Not for the faint of heart, but a must visit to never forget the Holocaust and the devil within humans that brought these unimaginable atrocities. Never forget.
