Holocaust Memorial
add photosThe Holocaust Museum is free admission. However, PASSES ARE REQUIRED for visiting the Permanent Exhibition — The Holocaust — March through August, during their busy season. These passes, which are free and issued for a specific time during the day, can be obtained at the Museum on a first-come first-served basis on the day of your visit. A limited number of passes are also available, while supplies last, for online purchase in advance of $1 each.
13 Reviews for Holocaust Memorial
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1 family found this helpful
"NOT for younger children"
To experience this museum fully, you must be able to give it your full attention, and that is not easy to do with small children. There is a lot of reading to be done and the feeling there is very solemn, neither of which is easily done with a small child in tow. Also, the museum takes several hours to traverse, and there are no exhibits within that will appeal to younger guests. That having been said, it is definitely a place that I am glad to have experienced. I learned many things that I was never aware of before and I have a greater appreciation for what the victims of the Holocaust, and the survivors thereof, experienced and endured. Not only does this museum honor the victims of the holocaust, it also calls to action all visitors to stop/prevent genocide where it still happens today. This is a very rewarding place to visit, and for older children who have studied WWII and the Holocaust, this is something you should experience. You will leave this building feeling solemn and sad, and I recommend that each parent really consider if their child is ready for this kind of experience. No holds are barred in the representation of the experience of the Holocaust and it may be too graphic for some visitors.
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0 families found this helpful
"Brought tears to my eyes"
This is probably my favorite place to visit in D.C. I have been here three times already and I never get tired of it. It is truly eye-opening. Everyone shoulf get a chance to visit this museum. It is a sad part in our history, but it should never be forgotten!
1 family found this helpful
"A must see for those old enough to understand"
I visited this museum with three teen boys. We purchased our tickets early in the day and were told to return at a specific time that afternoon. I feel this museum/memorial is appropriate for teens. However, there were some families with young children at the museum. My boys continue to discuss the Holocaust Memorial five years later.
0 families found this helpful
"Holocaust Museum"
This place was AMAZING! Of course, I've always been oddly fascinated by the holocaust, but standing there and looking at piles and piles of shoes from people who died is truly humbling. This place is very solemn, so maybe not the best for young kids, but for those who are old enough to get it, it's a great museum.
0 families found this helpful
"Not for the faint of heart...but necessary."
The Holocaust Museum deserves a day of it's own as it is literally like going to a funeral. It is best to prep your older kids ahead of time and allow for decompression and reflection time afterwards.
While scary in some parts, with very graphic depictions of the realities of what transpired, I felt like it was a vital piece of history which my children needed exposed to regardless of the discomfort level. Prepare children for graphic images of both adults and children. If your child is prone to nightmares, you might want to arrange this visit as part of a later trip.
My son has subsequently developed an avid interest in studying that period of history. His favorite book/movie is the Boy in the Striped Pajamas and we have endless discussions about what happened and how it can be prevented in the future.
Even as an adult it is very traumatic in parts and don't be surprised if you cry or see other people crying.
We did have to reserve a tour time but there are other things in the area to occupy your time while waiting for your call time. We went and got our ticket, went to the Mint, and then went to the Holocaust Museum for the afternoon when our call time arrived.
0 families found this helpful
"The most important museum in DC"
If you are the parent of teens and planning to go to DC, you MUST take time to visit this museum. Make sure you leave plenty of time. There is so much information to take in and so much to experience that you can't possibly budget too much time here. Also, consider going on a day when you don't have many other things planned because it will be a weighty experience. Obviously, this is not a good activity for young children and you will even want to prepare your teens for what they will see. Though a tough experience, the value is beyond words.
0 families found this helpful
"Must do once."
I've been through the museum twice. Each time it had the same effect. Definatley an attraction for the mature. It is heavy and sad. Plan on needing some time after the museum to decompress. It has a long lasting effect, yet it is important to be seen.
0 families found this helpful
"Good for adults/older children, not younger children"
This memorial is definitely not for younger children if you are looking for understanding. I have visited the memorial as an adult without children and was emotional walking through the memorial and I understood why it was here and what everything meant. I could see how older children would have a better appreciation of the memorial, but a lot of conversations and explanations would have to occur before visiting. Prepare for more questions while visiting.
1 family found this helpful
"Powerful experience for older kids"
The Holocaust Museum in DC is probably my favorite museum of all time. From the moment you approach on the sidewalk, everything about the museum speaks to the experience and steeps you in the terrible history of the Holocaust.
Upon entering, you pick up a passport with the identity of an individual that lived, or died, during the Holocaust. As you go through the museum, that person's story unravels for you, making each exhibit even more personal and meaningful. Exhibits and personal artifacts intermingle: a room full of shoes, photos and videos, names etched in glass, eyeglasses. Even if you don't stop to read the writing on the wall, you are bound to be forever touched by the experience.
A word of warning for those who are sensitive: There are exhibits with video screens surrounded by chest-high concrete walls...this is very deliberate, as the truth of medical experiments is brutal. Content on those videos is graphic and disturbing. Don't let your kids watch alone -- they'll probably need to process what they've seen -- and maybe even cry -- with you afterward.
Teachers should make a visit to the lower level for a packet of teaching materials and suggested lessons to bring home to your classes.
This museum is absolutely NOT for small children, but is a must see for kids in 7th grade and above. Plan to do something low-key and quiet afterwards.
2 families found this helpful
"Depressing and inspiring all at once"
This is a place that can't exactly be described as "fun" but if your kids are old enough, it should be on your itinerary. Even if your child knows what the holocaust is, you need to be sure that he or she is capable of coming face to face with the realities of genocide. It's a very emotional and moving experience that makes you ashamed of what one person can do to another, but also strong and hopeful knowing that people can survive against all odds. I had to stop after I had viewed each floor for time to reflect and prepare myself for the next section of the museum. There were certain exhibits that I could not make myself experience, such as entering a cattle car used to transport Jews to the work camps and extermination camps. I was also particularly moved by the exhibit of shoes and scissors and other personal belonging confiscated from the Jews as they entered the camps. And I was saddened and disgusted when I read the letter from the US government declining a request to bomb or liberate Auschwitz because it was not in the government's interest. Ultimately, you have to choose to leave hopeful, because to focus solely on the barbarity and inhumanity of the Holocaust makes the sacrifices and survival of the victims meaningless.
0 families found this helpful
"Everyone of appropriate age should visit"
This is such an important part of history and yes, it is disturbing. If you feel the main exhibit is too much for you and your family, you can visit the lobby and go thru an area specifically designed for children, as well as visit the hall of remembrance. I waited until my daughter was 12 to take her even though I had visited before and it raised many questions and she cried. To me, this was good, it opened up a dialogue and it helped us have a teachable moment that cruelty is not acceptable. Graphic and disturbing items throughout the main exhibit are clearly marked and are usually videos that can be walked past or avoided. Expect to spend a minimum of 2 hours in the main exhibit.
0 families found this helpful
"A very emotional visit"
My husband and I very much enjoyed out visit to the Holocaust Museum although it was a difficult experiance, I would do it all over again. They had a section where that entire wall on both sides (very tall walls) that were covered in people affected by the Holocaust. There was so much to learn there about what people had to experiance. You won't leave without shedding a tear.
1 family found this helpful
"Its a wonderful memorial but not for kids"
Located near the national mall you might be tempted to visit with older children but this is a difficult museum even for adults. Consider very carefully if you plan to take your teenagers. My husband visited without the rest of us and considers it an wonderful tribute to those lost if this terrible event. However, we we not prepared for the questions we got from our 6 yo who read the posters on the outside. This is definately not for younger children.
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