Museums usually celebrate the best that humanity can achieve, but this museum instead documents the worst. A permanent exhibition tells the stories of the millions of Jews, Gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses, homosexuals, political prisoners, the mentally ill, and others killed by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. The exhibitions are detailed and graphic; the experiences memorable and powerful.

Striving to give a you-are-there experience, the presentation is as extraordinary as the subject matter: upon arrival, you are issued an "identity card" containing biographical information on a real person from the Holocaust. As you move through the museum, you read sequential updates on your card.

Hitler's rise to power and the spread of European anti-semitism are thoroughly documented in the musuem's early exhibits, with films of Nazi rallies, posters, newspaper articles, and recordings of Hitler's speeches immersing you in the world that led to the Holocaust. You are confronted with the gruesome, appalling truths of the Holocaust in the deeply disturbing exhibit, "The Final Solution," which details the Nazis' execution of 6 million Jews. Exhibits include film footage of scientific experiments done on Jews, items such as a freight car like those used to transport Jews from Warsaw to the Treblinka death camp, and crematoria implements. There are films and audio recordings of Holocaust survivors telling their harrowing stories.

After this powerful experience, the adjacent Hall of Remembrance, filled with candles and hand-painted tiles dedicated to children who died in the Holocaust, provides a much-needed space for quiet reflection. Like the history it covers, the museum can be profoundly disturbing; it's not recommended for children under 11, although Daniel's Story, in a ground-floor exhibit not requiring tickets, is designed for children ages 8 and up.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum also has a multimedia learning center, a resource center for students and teachers, a registry of Holocaust survivors, and occasional special exhibitions. Timed-entry passes (distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the 14th Street entrance starting at 10 AM or available in advance through tickets.com) are necessary for the permanent exhibition. Allow extra time to enter the building in spring and summer, when long lines can form.

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