Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

Name: Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
Address: 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL, 60077, US
Telephone: +18479674800
Price range: $
Rating: 4.5

Home
United States
Skokie, IL
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

Remember the Past, Transform the Future. It is for them that we carry out our founding principle: Remember the Past, Transform the Future.
(1335)

In the wake of planned neo-Nazi marches in Skokie in the late 1970s, Chicagoland Holocaust Survivors joined together to form the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois. They purchased a small Skokie storefront and made it available to the public, focusing on combating hate with education. The 65,000-square-foot Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center that opened in 2009 is a culmination of

30 years of hard work by the Survivor community. Illinois Holocaust Museum not only honors the memory of the millions who were murdered during the Holocaust, but salutes the courage and resilience of Survivors. They are the people who rebuilt their lives and awoke the conscience of humanity, working tirelessly to tell their stories, so that none of us ever forget.

08/04/2026

Holocaust Survivor Max Epstein's story is one of extraordinary resilience, perseverance, and hope.

Born in Łódź, Poland, Max was just 14 years old when he and his family were forced into the Łódź Ghetto. After the ghetto's liquidation, he was deported to seven different concentration camps, including Auschwitz-Birkenau and Sachsenhausen, before being liberated in 1945.

Rather than allowing the Holocaust to define the rest of his life, Max rebuilt. He reunited with his mother, eventually immigrated to the United States, and went on to teach electrical engineering and computer science at Northwestern University for more than 40 years, inspiring generations of students.

When reflecting on his experiences, Max often shared a lesson that continues to resonate:

"Since it was very dark, the few acts of kindness did appear as very bright sparks. I chose to concentrate on the sparks."

His story reminds us that even in humanity's darkest moments, compassion can endure and that those small acts of kindness have the power to shape a lifetime.

To learn more about Survivor stories visit Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360: https://buff.ly/CWLVCRH

08/02/2026

Today we remember the Treblinka Uprising, one of the largest acts of Jewish armed resistance during the Holocaust.

On August 2, 1943, under unimaginable conditions, hundreds of Jewish prisoners at the Treblinka killing center in N**i-occupied Poland launched a revolt, seizing weapons, setting parts of the camp ablaze, and storming the main gates in a desperate fight for freedom.

While many were killed, including resistance leaders, more than 300 prisoners escaped, and approximately 100 survived the war.

The Treblinka Uprising is a powerful reminder of Jewish courage, resilience, and agency during the Holocaust. It also challenges the enduring myth, one rooted in N**i propaganda, that Jews did not fight back. Resistance took many forms, and the bravery shown at Treblinka remains one of history's most extraordinary examples.

Pictured is a Photo of Treblinka uprising from a distance by Polish train station worker Franciszek Ząbecki.

Learn more about Jewish resistance and Holocaust history at Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360: https://buff.ly/CWLVCRH

07/31/2026

On his 10th birthday, Ernst "Ernie" Heimann hoped for a bicycle. Instead, he received something far more profound: a chance to survive.

Just months after witnessing his synagogue and school destroyed during Kristallnacht, Ernie boarded a Kindertransport to the United Kingdom, saying goodbye to his parents at a train station in Germany. It was the last time he would ever see them.

After surviving a dangerous Atlantic crossing during World War II, Ernie eventually made his way to Chicago, where he built a new life, served in the U.S. Army, raised a family, and dedicated himself to sharing his story so future generations would never forget.

Today, we honor Ernie's extraordinary resilience and the legacy he left through his testimony, reminding us that even in humanity's darkest moments, hope can endure.

Learn more about Ernie's and other's stories by visiting Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360: https://buff.ly/CWLVCRH

Photo Credit of Ernie's Portrait: John Pregulman

07/30/2026

Last week, our staff had the opportunity to take a hard-hat tour of our newly renovated Skokie Museum, led by CEO Bernard Cherkasov. Seeing the transformation firsthand was both inspiring and deeply meaningful.

As our reimagined Museum takes shape, we're reminded that every new space has been thoughtfully designed to strengthen our mission to Remember the Past, Transform the Future, ensuring future generations can learn, reflect, and be inspired for years to come.

A special thank you to our partners at Pepper Construction for helping bring this vision to life. We can't wait to welcome visitors later this year.

07/29/2026

Become a new member by August 14 and receive a free tote bag! Members enjoy unlimited admission to both our Skokie and downtown locations and free or reduced admission to our programs.

When you become a member, you become a part of the Museum family and ensure that our critical work will continue for generations to come. Promotion applies to new members only. This offer is not valid on free or discounted memberships.

Sign up today: https://buff.ly/225ViHu

07/28/2026

"A completely immersive and moving experience." — TripAdvisor

At Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360, every story is told in a different way—from immersive virtual reality and interactive survivor holography to powerful artifacts and personal testimonies. Together, these experiences illuminate stories of survival, resilience, and hope that leave a lasting impression.

Reserve your tickets today and experience a journey that stays with you long after your visit: https://buff.ly/CWLVCRH

07/27/2026

Experience history like never before at Illinois Holocaust Museum presents Experience360 for FREE this Wednesday, 7/29. Our groundbreaking immersive exhibition brings powerful stories of survival, humanity, and hope to life through cutting-edge technology like VR, holograms, and first-person testimony, including a second-generation Survivor Speaker.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind, no-cost experience. Plan your visit: https://buff.ly/OJwxZj0

07/24/2026

Happy Birthday, Agnes! Born in Budapest, Hungary, Agnes Schwartz’s life changed forever when the Germans invaded Hungary in March 1944. When her parents were taken away by the N**is, the family’s former maid, Julia Balazs, took 11-year-old Agnes in as her “niece”. Agnes changed her last name, learned the Rosary and passed herself off as a Christian. During the months of Allied bombings, Agnes had to hide in an underground bunker.

Thanks to the bravery of Julia Balazs, Agnes survived the war and in January 1947, Agnes and her father reunited and left for Chicago. Today, we celebrate Agnes’ resilience, and we thank her for sharing her story and being an active volunteer with the Museum. Learn more about Agnes’ story: https://buff.ly/CddTJDd

Photo Credit of Agnes in current day by John Pregulman

07/23/2026

Did you know that our Museum shares stories of the Holocaust and other genocides?

Museum Education Associate, Emilia Herrera, walks you through our exhibition, Stories of Survival, which features more than 60 photographs and personal artifacts from people who survived the Holocaust and other genocides and highlights the everyday objects they carried with them when they were forced to flee.

Each object tells a powerful story. Some traveled across countries, survived unimaginable hardship, and became lasting reminders of home, family, love, and hope.

To see the exhibition for yourself, visit Illinois Holocaust Presents Experience360: https://buff.ly/fc5fBXA

07/22/2026

Visit Illinois Holocaust presents Experience360 FOR FREE on Wednesday 7/29. Besides free admission to the Museum, visitors can also join us for our Summer Survivor Speaker Series!

Visitors can hear from second-generation Survivor Michael Bier. Michael is a Museum docent and the son of Holocaust Survivors. Born in London to German Jewish refugees, Michael shares his mother's powerful story of escaping N**i Germany in 1939 and the devastating loss of much of her family during the Holocaust. Through his family's history, Michael honors their legacy and reminds us why these stories must never be forgotten.

We look forward to seeing you next Wednesday! Reserve your tickets now: https://buff.ly/fc5fBXA

Address

9603 Woods Drive
Skokie, IL
60077

Telephone

+18479674800

Website

http://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your museum to be the top-listed Museum in Skokie?