illinois holocaust museum

This is an exhibit that EVERYONE should be required to see. Very well presented with detailed information of the horrors that these poor people went through. The pictures bring you into their world and are very haunting even after you leave. This is a heartbreaking reminder of how inhuman the world can be and a lesson for us when looking towards the future. I highly recommend this exhibit to everyone.

The only pace of its kind anywhere in the mid-west. They do a fabulous job of presenting one of the greatest tragedies in the 20th century. It is why there are always school buses in the parking lot. Their docents go through extensive training therefore they are extremely knowledgeable. They also have many special exhibits and programs which the general public can attend, but it is good to be a member to take advantage of lower rates and to help the Museum sustain itself.

Took the family to the opening of the museum. It's an amazing tribute to those that were lost to ignorance and violence. Skokie is a good place simply for the amount of survivors that resettled here. Having been to the camps in Auschwitz, it uses it's small space wisely and does a good job to try and give a feel for this tragic time in world history.

I had the opportunity to serve as a chaperone for an 8th grade day trip to the Holocaust Museum. It was amazing to see the kids start out looking bored and then become involved in the history they were observing. The exhibits were very educational and the train car that we able to go inside of truly brought the reality of the horrors from this dark period of history to life. The highlight of our visit though was hearing from Ida Kersz who is a Holocaust survivor, the kids and adults were spellbound listening to her speak. Highly recommend this site to school groups, educational and sobering.

Ranks with the holocaust museum in Washington for its educational displays about what led to this tragic moment in the history of man's inhumanity to man. Includes information about the survivors many of whom relocated to Skokie, IL. includes information about neo-Nazi confrontation.

I like history a lot, so when I went there I hoped to deeper my knowledge about Second World War and the holocaust. Unfortunately, the guide was so uneducated; I could not believe that I am in the museum... I don't need to be told that the holocaust was terrible, I know that already. I hoped to hear explanation why holocaust was horrible. Therefore, in my personal opinion, the tour for me and other eight adults in age +50 was actually for kids in age max 13. I think if someone is 14 or 15 he/she deserve better explanation and more sophisticated tour than we received. Meanwhile, I found out that maps of Europe are not precise and very chaotic. In one country, some cities are in English and other in Polish. One river was in English (Vistula) and other in Polish. It would be nice to be consistent with one language.The most shocking for me was unjust anti Church propaganda from the mouth of our guide! Once in a while, she said some lies about the priests and Church leaders, that they never said anything against NAZI party, which of course is not true. In various history books you will find enough evidences, that the Church was clearly against National Socialist German Workers' Party. By the way, can you imagine that our guide was so ignorant, that she did not know that NAZI party was a socialist party? Unbelievable... Moreover, she did not mention anything about Polish people who were dying side by side together with Jews. It's a shame... I recommend to read an excellent book "The Forgotten Holocaust" written by Lukas.Another thing, there was completely nothing about Birkenau Concentration Camp. After the tour I found out the this guide visited Auschwitz, so she knew that the distance by bus between Auschwitz Concentration camp and Birkenau Concentration Camp is about 10 minutes. So, I don't understand why she and the whole museum hide this information. Since there is nothing about Birkenau, I think that is very unjust toward hundreds of thousands Jews who died in Birkeau. In fact, Birkenau Camp was "a death factory for Jews". Auschwitz was made for Polish political prisoners, mainly Catholics, in which Jews were present as well. I know that the Auschwitz Concentration Camp was called Auschwitz I, and Birkenau Camp as Auschwitz II. I know also that the administration was the same but they were two different Camps build in two different years, one in 1940 and another 1941. I hope that the Illinois Holocaust Museum will correct these things. If the museum wants to be treated seriously they have to stick to the historical facts. These poor people who suffered real agony, these degraded human beings with the dignity taken by the "Aryan master race", who were bestially killed in inhuman conditions deserved the truth. We deserved the truth as well.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum is located in Skokie, IL where anti-semitic activities have reminded the local Jewish population of how important education of what happened with the Nazis is so important for preventing such things happening again. The exhibits tell the story of what happened from the beginnings in social and economic unrest after WW1 and continue through the stages that drove evil forward to the "final solution". The museum extends the concept of Genocide to other times and places and powerfully calls for awareness of how the evil occurs repeatedly in human history.I have been to the National Holocaust Museum and found the Illinois version to be just as compelling, although significantly smaller in physical size, the exhibits are just as well done and powerful. Both places are very moving and sobering. I was accompanied by one of our granddaughters, who is very interested in history to the point of thinking of a career as a History Professor, as just a junior in high school. Previously she had been with us in Washington DC where we visited the national museum (at her and a same age cousin's request). They saw the museum on a bus tour at the start our visit and, surprising for their young teen age, asked to return.The Illinois museum is an important place and shouldn't be missed by anyone having an opportunity to visit.

I went to see a special exhibit called Race, Are we so different? Which was very good. I didn't have enough time to go through the rest of the museum, but look forward to returning with more time.The gift shop was great. I plan to go back and do some holiday shopping there.

A must see for all generations and for all ethnicities. Each exhibit makes you think. They are both disturbing and moving. It is something for all of us to see and understand the atrocities that happened during the Holocaust. The current exhibit about race is something we should all be aware of also.

It is important to learn about and not forget this horrible part of history. I learned much about this in school, from my parents and from my own reading, however I had not been able to visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. I feel this museum is well worth visiting. It's not suitable for very young people, but it is easy to walk through if some parts are harder to view. The photos, letters etc were nicely displayed and easy to follow. There was also an exhibit on the lower level designed especially for younger children dealing with race and acceptance. I am so proud that my parents raised us to look beyond color, culture and religion and love humans for who we are.

I decided to check out the Holocaust Museum because I stayed at the Hampton Inn. It is very close to the museum. I think the $12 admission is a little too much for what you get to see. The old cattle car that was used to transport humans seemed to be the focal point and was interesting to see. Was fairly unimpressed by the rest. Most of the museum is video clips of interviews with survivors. I was surprised that there was very little mention of Dachau. Seemed heavily weighted toward Auschwitz and Bergen. There are some video clips of actual executions that was very disturbing, so be prepared for that! I took one picture while there and a guard quickly came out and scolded me. DID NOT like the fact that I was being watched the entire time I was there! The information I got when I entered indicated that there were some parts of the museum where pictures were allowed. I didn't think that one picture would have been a problem.

I have a degree in history so I had been wanting to go to the National Holocaust Museum but since we were in the area we took this opportunity. I was blown away. It gives a feeling of reverence and respect even from the outside. Walking through on the self guided tour (and listening in on a group tour), I was so deeply moved in a way I didn't think would happen. I know the history in detail (I have worked on researching nursing ethics in the Holocaust, focusing on Dachau) and didn't realize how I would be affected. And the whole tour, it was as if I was on my own, as if no one was with me. By the end of the tour, when we reached the reflective rooms, I was so moved I was in tears ... for the people who died, for those who lost family and friends, for those left with the scars, and the fact that humans could do this to others. It made my research real and made the people feel so close I felt I could touch them. The reflective rooms helped to sooth the nerves and feelings and we left much quieter than usual for a museum. I believe it's important for everyone to experience (when they are old enough). Thank you.

The whole museum is done is a drab grey, I suppose to try and simulate the desolate environment of the camps. It was tough not to be affected simply by being in an environment like that. The exhibits, mostly photographs, footage and artifacts, really helped to bring home the enormity of what happened. It was educational for both my kids and myself.

Very modern building and displays. Accurate and respectful, this museum does an excellent job teaching about the Holocaust through visually stimulating displays. The stunning exterior tells a part of the story as well, and the fountain outside should not be missed. Look carefully while you are there...there are many aspects that are powerful and might be missed if you rush. Highly recommend...

Intimacy is what I felt as I heard the survivors' stories, some in their own voices. I've been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., and I've been to Dachau. Both of those sites present the feel, the history, the reality, but the Illinois museum put me into the minds and hearts of those who experienced the horrors of the death camps and somehow survived. I admire the courage of people who were willing to finally talk about what they went through. I was particularly touched by a woman whose life as a wife and mother was such that normalcy reigned during the day, but the nightmares came at night. I came away with a feeling of hope, that knowing what happened may keep humanity from turning against itself again, but also fear, because knowledge has not stopped man's inhumanity to man. What can we do? What can I do? Take time to reflect.