Holocaust Memory and Public History: Examining Holocaust Museums from 1947-2001

Abstract

Holocaust museums and memorials are central features to Holocaust memory and education. The phrase “Never Again” continues to be a theme in Holocaust memory, which has led to the support for Holocaust education. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), and Jewish Museum Berlin (JMB) were established in different geographic locations and at different times since 1945. These museums are influenced by different factors, such as nationalism, religion, politics, and culture. Each museum teaches about the Holocaust similarly, but their unique exhibits are designed to evoke emotion and memory in different ways.