Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center is a fabulous museum that promotes peace and social justice. Not only does it have an amazing history with actual historical relics and stories and photos about the Jewish Holocaust but it also features traveling exhibits about other historical injustices to other peoples. for example, I have seen amazing exhibits slavery about the Japanese internment and even a joyful one about Jewish delis! the museum host many fine music programs, and lectures, including a fine lectures about Martin Luther King and Abraham Herschel. Susan

Very well designed museum that does an excellent job of educating visitors about the holocaust. This covers every aspect from the sociopolitical climate to the economic pressures that led to the Holocaust, as well as the providing a very detailed description of the events before and after the Holocaust as well. These are detailed using a variety of methods such as stories, videos, artifacts, and replicas that are thoughtfully assembled. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about the Holocaust in an excellently maintained museum.

My children are 11, and they did very well with seeing both the children's exhibit and the regular exhibit. The way it was planned out was very thoughtful and provided layers of information in a chronological way which allows my kids to ask many things.

I only did the general admission with no attachments and that was very informative and depressing. I would recommend this to people if they are willing to read and not just walk through the entire thing in 20 mins. You read about everything leading up to the Holocaust and people's stories. It's $18 for an adult. Ample amount of parking.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum is a treasure, and we are lucky to have it in our backyard. I went with a few friends and we were impressed at the immensity of the museum. When you enter, you pay for your admission, and then you will go through security before entering the exhibit areas. The permanent exhibit tells the story of the history of the Holocaust through stories and artifacts. The most historically significant piece is the real train car that was used during the holocaust. The second floor is dedicated to remembering the victims and reflection. On the lower level is a rotating exhibit space. The current exhibit is about Jewish delis. Also, on the lower level is a speaker/lecture area, VR experience, holograms of holocaust survivors, and classroom space. I highly recommend visiting the Illinois Holocaust Museum. It will be worth the time.

"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment - become the center of the universe."― Elie Wiesel Speechless. The Illinois Holocaust Museum is dedicated to document the atrocities that led to the Holocaust as well as other humanitarian crises in an attempt to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. It is still unbelievable how millions of men, women and children could be murdered as much of the world looked away during the Holocaust. It is even more unbelievable that almost a hundred years later that these crimes against humanity still occur throughout the world. Villages lost. Communities shattered. Families torn apart. Be prepared to be a witness to the events that document the 42,500 ghettos and concentration camps created by the Nazis throughout German-controlled areas of Europe from 1933 to 1945. Six million Jews were murdered. Millions of others that were not Jewish, Russians, Polish, Serbs, Ukrainians, were killed as well. Through oral histories, photographs, gates to lost synagogues, torahs and religious artifacts, the stories of shattered lives that were lost are remembered. Auschwitz-Birkenau-Bergen-Belson-Krakow-Treblinka-Stutthof-Warsaw The Survivor Stories Experience was incredible. Listen to the oral histories. How did they survive? What about their family? Did anyone help them? So many unanswered questions. We listened to the story of Eva Schloss and were able to ask questions in this interactive experience. On Eva's 15th birthday in 1944, the Dutch woman who had been hiding Eva's family in Amsterdam betrayed them. Eva was sent to Westerbork Concentration Camp and then to Birkenau where she and her mother survived. Her father and brother died during a Death March. Eva and her mother returned to Amsterdam after they were liberated from the concentration camp. Her mom reconnected with Otto Frank, the father of Anne Frank, and they were later married. Tears flowing for all of the children and families who were murdered. Lives tragically cut short. As you continue to explore the museum, you will find exhibits that rotate exploring themes like the Take a Stand and Make a Difference to foster positive change in our local and global communities. During our visit, we were lucky to see "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" which explored the American judicial system through the lens of the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Based upon the New York Times best-selling book, this exhibit offered a glimpse into RBG's life and work. So interesting to learn about RBG's remarkable career as she challenged the norms for women's education, raising a family, starting a career and then as she tried to apply Constitutional promises to all of the "We the People" through her briefs, writings and some of her famously searing dissents. Interesting to see connections between the Notorious RBG and rapper Notorious B.I.G., who were both born and bred in Brooklyn, New York. Each gallery section playfully alludes to a song or lyric from the late hip-hop artist. "Somebody has to stand when other people are sitting. Somebody has to speak when other people are silent." --Bryan Stevenson Think about what you saw. The next time you witness hatred. The next time you see injustice. The next time you hear about genocide.

Absolutely incredible. A definite must place to visit for all history enthusiast. Tons of historical information, with videos and documents. Reasonable entry fee. Generous discount for active and retired military. It can be crowded...plan visits accordingly. Be warned some scenery and information might be difficult or disturbing for some visitors.

Finally, after so many years, I made my way to the Holocaust museum; it's long overdue. I've wanted to visit for some time, and I was finally pushed to visit because of the temporary exhibit called The Green Book. The Green Book exhibit was a great one. It was poignant and in some small way educated the public on what it was like to be a Black traveler in the time of the Jim Crow south and under the banner of Plessy in the United States. I had heard of the Green Book but knew little about the places that welcomed Black travelers, or the very act of traveling as a non-white person in that time. It was interesting to learn that Esso stations (now ExxonMobile) would not turn away Black travelers. When a station in Joliet tried to do so, they director of public relations set them straight. This exhibit also pointed out how, with the establishment of the Civil Rights Act and the end of the separate but equal doctrine, many of those Black businesses fell into ruin while their white counterparts continued to flourish. It's food for thought. After the Green Book exhibit I made my way upstairs to the main, permanent exhibition on the main floor, focused on the Holocaust. It was extensive as you'd expect; upon entry there's a video to kind of set the scene of Germany after World War I, because the aftermath of The Great War set the scene for what would become the Holocaust and World War II. The exhibit introduces visitors to Jewish life and culture, and how the rise of the Nazi party started slowly and took many Jewish and non-Jewish Germans by surprise. There are relics from the era throughout the exhibit. Included amongst them is a train car, an authentic wooden car that was used to transport people to the concentration camps. It is in very good condition given its use and its age. You are permitted to enter a portion of the car but in order to keep it in as good condition as possible. I have to say, I had a strong emotional reaction when I stepped inside. Contemplating the purpose of the train car; that it was almost certainly packed to beyond what would be any reasonable capacity (if a freight car can have a capacity); and that many of the people who traveled in that car died a horrific death hit me in a way I hadn't expected. I wasn't able to enjoy as leisurely a visit as I may have hoped, so I will return at another time. There is a large parking lot across the street from the museum and the parking is free. The entrance is a little confusing (or maybe it's just me); you will go around to what seems like the back of the museum in order to enter. You'll need to empty your pockets and your things will pass through the metal detector before you can enter.

This is definitely a museum everyone should see. It's so creatively done with a virtual reality exhibit and a movie in hologram form where after you can ask the Holocaust survivor whose story it is questions. Just the sheer brilliance of the filmmaking is worth coming for, and it's wonderful to leave with a message of hope--asking that we all respect each other's differences and live together in peace.

An amazing exhibit. You need several hours to do it justice. I liked the VR. Very educational and informative. Staff are very friendly.

I have been wanting to see the holocaust museum for years but it kept getting postponed. Finally my church was going to see the Greenbook exhibit there so finally I had the perfect opportunity. True it is a somber place but not sad. There is so much information to read and understand and so much interactive learning. You'll walk through history and the sights and sounds of those events that changed everything. The Greenbook exhibit also, though smaller and not a permanent installation, was guided and full of artifacts and very recent details. The hologram hall actually has a survivor tell the first hand account of their strife and journey. It is important to know all of this no matter your background. Plenty of parking, there is an entry fee.

Skokie is of course famous nationwide (though I wouldn't have guessed it was a Chicago suburb) as the place where a legal debate over the right of Neo-Nazis to march in a parade was held. That is now considered a great moment of American history, and the ACLU took the side of free speech (imagine today's imposter of an ACLU doing that). The presence of this museum (as opposed to whatever the Neo-Nazis wanted) would appear to validate the mentality of free speech; the truth wins out in the end. The museum mentions these events only briefly at the end of the main exhibit, and is otherwise meant to be a linear history of the Holocaust. My point of comparison is the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, which is kind of an unfair standard. The museum here felt quite cramped to me, and various tour groups made it hard to move as you'd really have to barge through them or wait for the tour guide to finish. The highlight of the exhibition would seem to be an actual train car used in transporting Jews to death camps, which was imported from Germany, the wooden smell of which is unsettling. The museum also picks a few interesting points to dwell on; notably they're very focused on a group of refugees who somehow ended up in Shanghai (back then, apparently China was freer and safer than Germany). The exhibits are well-trod ground, but much of it will be new to some people, unfortunately, and even I picked up a few new things. The online system somehow sold me a ticket for free; I couldn't really tell why as I thought even getting in would cost money. I wasn't interested in the virtual reality/3D business. Maybe it has some value but it sounded really hokey and disrespectful to me. The place also has a meeting space, and a person identified as a Holocaust survivor was at a booth near the exit to take questions, though I didn't know what to ask. The gift shop and a few other places have some noxious references to contemporary political and social issues that don't fit very well. The parking lots were absurdly small. It wasn't the best museum ever, but for those that don't have the ability to travel to Auschwitz for the museum there, it's a place to start learning some history that remains all too relevant today.

Really good place to take in the history of the holocaust. They even have holograms of survivors of the holocaust who have been asked over 2,000 questions to answer your questions today! Also new is a virtual reality experience where a survivor takes you through his life, and the highlight is standing in a train car though they actually do have a holocaust train car in this place as well. Somber place, but good to visit for anyone into history, the holocaust, and humanity.

My daughter's school was unable to make their regularly scheduled field trip here due to Covid. I decided to bring her here because this museum's history should not be missed. The main floor exhibit is filled stories, photos, videos, and artifacts. I would absolutely recommend booking a ticket for the holographic story telling experience. The way you are able to ask questions afterward is very cool. We spent about 2 hrs at the museum and did not quite cover all the exhibits. We plan to visit again to see the rest. Thank you to all involved in preserving and sharing the stories from this time in history.

Everyone should visit here. Just listening to the survivors was heartbreaking. But their will to survive was outstanding and determined. There's also an exhibit on Nelson Mandela that is excellent. His story told by him, plus a mock of his cell of hell. The museum also touches on history of slavery, racism, and sexism. Another amazing thing is the architectural design of the space. Structure was designed by Stanley Tigerman. I found video footage of Mr Tigerman explaining the structures concept. Entering the dark and finding the light. Theres also a wonderful gift shop. Books, jewelry and so much more. We plan on revisiting soon. We feel like we didn't see everything.

While driving to Chicago we seen a sign that said Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. I had no idea that they actually had this in Illinois. Well on our way back to Wisconsin we had enough time to make a stop here, luckily they close late on Thursday's. It's a very informative place and very detailed I gotta say. You can see videos of survivors. A timeline of events of how everything started. There was this one frame they showed in the millions of how many Jewish people lived in Germany and what was left after WWII was over. They had pictures of many of the concentration camps, death squads killing of men, woman and children. It's horrible how they even had actual video of this, before you enter this particular room they do warn you about the graphic details you will see. There are some parts where they don't allow you to take pictures or video. This is definitely a place that should be visited, to learn some history and make sure it's never repeated again. We would return again especially since in the last 30 minutes we rushed through it.

Educational for adults and children, the museum offers programs, events and lectures. The upstairs of the museum has a children's area that educates and encourages children on being upstanders for justice. My 5 yr old nephew enjoyed the upstairs. There are many programs, the museum offers daily and there is also a walkthrough exhibit of WW2 events. There are also interactive exhibits, downstairs, like the hologram and 3D experience. I highly recommend a visit.

This museum is a deep and meaningful experience. The images are haunting and stories are heartbreaking but must be seen. There is a not to b missed exhibit of Holocaust Survivors who u can ask questions of, and they respond. This is done by an incredible process that brings the survivors to life. The exhibits change but are always moving and educational. There is a gift shop for books, jewelry etc.

This is a must see for ANYONE. As if anyone needs a reminder what racism can do, please visit this museum. Ever time I visit it I leave emotional.

Wonderful exhibits, knowledgeable docents and very friendly staff. Plenty of parking, beautiful setting. A true gem among the Chicago area museums.

I highly recommend spending some time here. The museum staff are very kind, helpful, and educational. They provided first hand insight into their own experiences during the Holocaust and the exhibits allowed us to reflect on both the atrocities in our history during WW2 but reminder of our current state of hate as well. It is definitely a sobering experience but one I think everyone should take the time to explore this museum.

What an incredible museum. I had been meaning to go for a long time, but it was worth the wait. Very high-tech: there's a great virtual reality exhibit; then I got to ask a hologram questions--and he answered! The permanent exhibit that chronicles everything from the rise of Hitler to what happened to people after the war is dense and filled with information and artifacts. (Allow plenty of time to go through this area.) There's also a really cool exhibit (as of Sept. '22) of the US's 'Ghost Army' in WWII, which I previously knew nothing about. This museum is not for young kids, but I'd say it's eye-opening for anyone from middle school on.

This was a required visit I had to do for my psychology class they offered me a student discount even though I was older than the age listed the museum posted This a modern and technology advanced museum design My favorite part was the inter-active Gallery were a a survivor of the the Holocaust recounts his story as being a young kid growing up in a concentration camp and being able to be free and come to America

To quote fellow Yelper Lamor G., "A place to keep the stories no one wants to tell." As we grow older each year, more and more Holocaust survivors die, and their memories and artifacts must be preserved for posterity. (May their memories be a blessing.) What a wonderful, awful, sobering place this is. P.S.: COVID prevention measures in place at the museum.

We were very disappointed we had questions the staff acted like they were too busy to help us. They were extremely rude.

This is probably the best museum I've ever been to--it's very well curated, designed, and explained. I live in Chicago and grew up in the suburbs (near Gurnee) and never knew this was so close, until the teenager I mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters suggested this as an outing. There was so much detail start to finish with real artifacts that were donated by local families, with plaques that explain them very well. There are also lots of videos to watch throughout (all are captioned, so sound isn't as issue). The whole experience was just incredible. It's something that we all know was beyond awful and tragic, but being fully engulfed in the museum was an entire experience. I teared up many times, felt angry, felt sympathy beyond my limits, but also felt inspired that my mentee wanted to learn everything about it, had questions I didn't want to answer. Her favorite part was towards the end, seeing photos and stories of survivors, right here in Chicagoland, making a new, better life for themselves. It was certainly a learning experience that I regret not experiencing sooner. I've been telling everyone i know to make the trip.

My 8th grade daughter was supposed to have a field trip but it was canceled due to Covid. She asked me to take her. It was an excellent experience. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. The exhibits are all done beautifully. We were there for about 4 hours. We took our time to get through the museum. The virtual reality and hologram exhibits are a must. We packed a lunch and sat downstairs in the café. They also had vending machines available. I would not recommend this museum for anyone under the age of 12. There are some sensitive topics, videos and pictures. We live over an hour away from the museum but it is completely worth the drive. I especially loved the theme that the entire museum is trying to convey which is to stand up for what is right. Overall great experience and I highly recommend.

Wow. Just wow. I've been to the Holocaust museum in MI as well, and this one just blew me away. It's $15 for adults and there are so many videos to watch. We only had a few hours, and we definitely could have used more time. They have an amazing interactive hologram, where you can actually ask a survivor questions and they answer. As of right now, it's the only holocaust museum with something like this in the US. It's fascinating. When the worker told us a little about him and introduced him, the hologram even nodded at the appropriate times. You felt like he was actually sitting in front of you. That alone was worth $15. I even got to meet a survivor and she was so lovely. She was in her nineties. I would definitely come back.

Impressive amount of history. Great resource for learning about survivals and their journey. The have an area featuring the amazing work that RGB has done and her history. Definitely a hidden gem for museum. Not crowded at all as COVID restrictions are enforced. Get your tickets online and plan ahead.

This is a really important historical museum to visit. As time goes on and more Holocaust survivors pass away, it is so important to hear and record their stories for future generations to listen to and learn from. This museum does exactly that. It combines the history of the events leading up to, during, and after the Holocaust and supplements the history with survivor stories. Unfortunately, the phase of the exhibit detailing the living conditions of Auschwitz and other concentration camps was under construction. The exhibit starts with an explanation of traditional Jewish culture, the rise of antisemitism, and how Hitler came to power. The museum proceeds chronologically and is easy to navigate. Each room consists of historical artifacts, photographs, and newspaper clippings from the time period. There is also a lot of multimedia footage with survivor interviews and documentary footage providing more information on each stage leading up to the Holocaust. The museum also details the Allied liberation of the camps, how the Nazis tried to destroy some of the camps beforehand, and how survivors tried to rebuild a new life for themselves without their families. There are also detailed maps comparing the number of Jews living in various European countries versus how many were killed during World War II. This is a somber, but important museum to visit because the theme of the museum is standing up whenever you see an injustice happening. The video at the end provides some highlights from other genocides since the Holocaust and reinforces the message of "never again." Lastly, there was a neat holographic presentation with an interview with a survivor. You can ask the survivor questions and the holograph answers, as if they are right there with you. There is also a gift shop featuring survivors' stories, children's books about tolerance and acceptance, and Judaica items.

I have been to a few Holocaust museums around the world. And, while I've not been to the one in Washington (which is hear is fabulous), I do think this one rivals any I've seen. Every time I go to one of these, I learn something new. For those of you who think this is just about Jews being slaughtered, you are wrong. While the museum is primarily focused on educating people about that horrific time, they do a great job of discussing racism in general and other genocides around the world. The phrase "never again" means so much more, and they do a great job of portraying it. What I really liked were the videos of survivors that were strategically set up around the building. You walk through time, starting with WWI, through the rise of the Nazis, the propaganda they used to portray Jews as the ones who brought down the German society; the disinformation they used to make the world think they were relocating Jews to special camps for their "safety" and the growth of the Nazi's "final solution." To me, the highlight (?) of the visit as the restored rail-car used to transport Jews from their homes to the camps. You can walk inside - there are rails so you can't touch it (it is fragile). But, when I entered the car I tried to imagine what it must have been like to be in a packed car full of human suffering for days on end. I closed my eyes for just a moment and completely went to pieces. This is not what I would call an uplifting experience. But, what an experience it was. They also have special exhibits in the museum. We got to see an exhibit on the growth racism over time. It was a real learning experience, that's all I have to say. If you live in or around Chicago, you must go here. If you plan to visit Chicago, this should be on your list of things to do. I will warn you, we spent four hours there and didn't get through the whole thing. But, we were so impressed we became members and are already planning a return trip. And, like any good museum, they do have a gift shop. Their library of books about racism, genocide, and atrocities as well as biographies of historical figures is really good. So, make sure you check it out.

Great place and great staff! I had a great time with my mom there even though she didn't know too much about the holocaust.

This is a difficult review to write, because this is not a happy place or fun place to go to. But it's a very important place to see. The museum is very well done. The exhibitions are very informative and it's easily navigated. And the hologram experience where you can ask questions to survivors gives you a chance to "interact" with someone who experienced the horror. Much more informative than reading a book or watching a documentary. Everyone should see experience this place.

This museum and education center is amazing from the layout, the attention to detail, the care and thoughtfulness in the design and the staff members are exceptional. The security people to the hosts to the docents leading the hologram exhibit are all very nice and delightful. I would plan on spending 3.5 hours to give yourself enough time to explore the museum as well as take advantage of any special exhibit they are featuring. The museum makes for a great educational experience during the cold winter months of Chicago to advance your knowledge of a human tragedy and ensure we don't forget as a human race.

We visited the museum this evening and it was VERY well worth visiting. It's open until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays and we took advantage of that - but if we'd known about the extensiveness of the core exhibit, we would have allowed much more time. We only had 1 1/2 hours and we had to somewhat rush through that exhibit, with no time to see the temporary exhibits. You need *at least* two hours to adequately tour the core exhibit and then extra time to see the temporary exhibits. Also, the book/gift shop closes at 5:00 p.m. - but we could see into it (through large glass windows) and it seems to have a very good selection of books & other items. The core exhibit has a humongous number of photos & things to read and also some videos, all of which were incredibly interesting and VERY powerful (and sometimes quite poignant). Lastly; all of the staff were very friendly (the guards and the people at the Information Desk).

Wonderful museum. Very important message in today's climate. Must see for everyone, young and old.

The years the museum has been open I've not only been a volunteer I've attended many of their programs I've been to EVERY Women's Leadership event...I have friends that are docents I can't get enough of what this all means to me..each program better than the next I will be getting more involved

I went here for the Yelp Gets Cultured event a couple weeks ago! I've been wanting to go the museum ever since it opened. I had a friend that lived right next to the Holocaust Museum and she was able to get tickets through her building for the inaugural ceremony. Two years ago when the museum opened, Bill Clinton spoke, Elie Wiesel spoke, overall it was a very memorable day. Ever since then, I've been wanting to go but just haven't found the time to go to Skokie and make a day of it. Thanks, Yelp for the opportunity!!! This museum is just amazingly well put together. Starting with the gorgeous fountain outside, to the creepy entrance and architecture throughout to the room of reflection. The building and everything around truly helps encapsulate what you should be feeling as you go through the exhibits. It is just fascinating to me how they got so many artifacts to display. I knew that they had the train car that was actually used, because I remember the controversy surrounding it when the museum first opened. As I approached that part of the museum, I just felt my nerves really hit me. I don't even have the words to describe the feeling being inside the car. This museum will make you feel things you may not have felt before. And I was constantly holding back tears through all the videos and stories. It really affected me. I highly recommend going to this museum with a prepared mind and heart for what you will experience.

This museum deserves 5 stars, but I'm only giving it 4/5 because of the limited exhibit space inside, given the drive from downtown Chicago. It's most worth visiting if another event or exhibit is going on. The outside of the building reminded me of walking outside a jail in a bleek deserted area--sad and maybe on purpose to bring a somber attitude to the topic. The entrance is tricky to find and not directly by the parking lot. I believe that a lot of this building is very symbolic; I recommend asking about the architecture. Hidden Child of the Holocaust: When I visited in July 2015, I saw Mrs. Sharon Pitluk Silver speak about her experience in Poland as an orphan, how she came to the U.S. with an uncle, how she told her family about her story, and how she got back in touch with her history. It was an incredible human story, and I wish that crowds and crowds people would attend such events to learn. She was kind enough to pass around some personal items for the audience and answer my questions one on one afterward. Inside: Remember to use your student discount if you can. Security is higher than at other museums. Anyhow, the main exhibit was very well presented in chronological order with items collected from a society of Holocaust survivors that predates the museum itself. Newspapers, passports, propaganda, videos, a train car, small-scale models, and so other mixed-media is used very well. A Spanish-language tour group was there as well on that Sunday afternoon. I really liked the museum, but I just wish they had a larger main exhibit; the building is large but in part due to the multiple auditoriums and exhibit space for art and other activities. I recommend for older kids. Remember to learn about our history.

The museum is opened since July 15th with strict health precautions and extended RBG exhibit through January 2, 2021 . Free Wednesday's are offered to the public . It is worth it .

A place to keep the stories no one wants to tell. Everyone must come here so we never repeat history as awful as World War 2. Never again. A beautiful well done job of keeping artifacts and the stories of all people impacted in this awful time in our history.

This is an amazing museum. My school took us here as kids on a field trip, and it really made the Holocaust hit me for the first time. Very well organized, very informative exhibits, and a powerful place. I think it's better than the one in DC. Highly recommend when you're visiting Chicago.

I have been to holocaust museums all over the world from Auschwitz to Jerusalem and I felt this was one of the best exhibitions that I have ever experienced. Great, well-preserved artifacts and the coinciding exhibitions on civil rights in America and the global refugee crisis was a unique breath of fresh air that showed you current injustices that also need to be acted on. Superb!

One of the best museums I've ever been to. We spent four hours here and I learned so much- and I'm a college educated liberal who pays attention to all the news and read numerous world war 2 and social justice books. This was so up close and personal and the stories are told through so many methods- films holograms artifacts letters audio an actual train car models- so much. It covers so much more than the camps- the resistance the culture the music the families. I was so moved. I hope to come back

It seems strange to say that I was "looking forward" to my visit to this museum, as I knew it would be rather somber. Thanks to Matthew S, I was alerted to a recent Groupon offering half-price tickets. My first knowledge of the Holocaust goes back to when I was about five and my mom worked for a gentleman (in every sense of the word) who was a doctor in Skokie. Many of his patients were Holocaust survivors and he never charged them for visits because he felt that they had already been through enough. He was a mensch through and through. Sometimes I would have to spend an occasional afternoon at the doctor's office if there was nobody to watch me after school. Most of the time I would just sit and color and keep to myself. One day, a man was in the waiting room and I noticed he had numbers on his arm. I didn't understand what they were and asked my mom. She explained that it was a tattoo that represented his time as a prisoner at Auschwitz, a concentration camp. My mom didn't elaborate too much as I was much too young to comprehend, but when I got older I began to ask more questions. I'd been to the Holocaust Memorial in DC and wondered how this museum would compare. It's no accident that it's in Skokie, which used to be home to the one of the largest Jewish populations of any US suburb (it's since much more diversified) as well the site of a Neo-Nazi group's attempt to march. Many Holocaust survivors eventually settled in Skokie after the war and raised families here. The museum closes at 4:00 on Sundays, and we arrived at 1:30, thinking that 2.5 hours would be plenty of time of see everything. As expected, security is very tight, but the guards are quite pleasant and nobody would dare have an issue with being asked to go through a metal detector. The exhibits are presented in a timeline and contain artifacts and archival footage of the atrocities suffered during the genocide. You will see haunting footage of survivor testimonials. As imagined, it's difficult (but necessary) to watch - only then do you get a firsthand account of the horror. It's still unfathomable that this event happened (and indeed, continues to happen) but I appreciate that this museum educates us to what our ancestors were faced with. It wasn't just Jews that were systematically executed, but the mentally ill and handicapped and anyone that didn't possess so-called Aryan features. Even if you aren't Jewish, chances are your ancestry was likely touched by the Holocaust. In the end, we had to rush through the last few exhibits as time was running out and the museum was about to close, so I will definitely need to go back so I don't miss anything. We left the museum in silence and looked awkwardly at each other as we got into our German car. The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center should be a requirement for everyone to attend at least once.

Very interesting place to visit. Took a tour with a docent named Doris, whose mother was a survivor. She was so knowledgeable and so thorough and provided so much information! The hologram exhibit was really something to see as well. Totally worth the visit!

4.5 Stars I've driven passed here countless times, and from the outside, just driving by, the building itself looks unassuming, small, and generic, especially situated right next to the Optima Condominiums. Its so close that it looks like they share visitor parking lots. But upon closer view, and actually visiting the museum, you'll see the fine and creative workmanship in its design. Starting from the fountain leading to the entrance. It was something that I didn't expected to see it. It which was a pleasant and welcoming surprise. which I bet is even more charming at night when it's lit up. I came here during the One Year Anniversary. And I can't really put into words how very humbled, privileged, and honored I was to not only experience the museum, but to do so for free. I came here twice in one day, and I still feel like I missed so much. The museum is way bigger than I had expected. I started at the Lower Level where they had the "Curious George" exhibit, chronicling the story of how Curious George saved its authors out of Paris. The room itself is very spacey, and I wish there could have been more of a display, but it was still fascinating and very informative. The Lower Level also shares the cafe and Youth Exhibit that, among other things, educates those on diversity awareness, speaking out against racism, intolerance, and discrimination. Its small but colorful and interactive area featuring multiple big screen Macs, game area, and theater screen. I made my way to the Permanent Exhibit, which again, is bigger than I expected in what seemed to be an ongoing maze of information, pictures and videos (some graphic), donated artifacts, and interactive displays leading to the Pritzker Theater, showing a short, but powerful summary film, narrated by Barbra Streisand, showing the connection between the Holocaust with other Genocides. The videos, which are everywhere, include documentaries and emotional testimonials I skimmed through the 3rd floor that included the Legacy of Absence Gallery. A gallery that showcases different works of art from all over the world include Korea, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Rawanda chronicling impact of the Holocaust, genocide and human rights abuses. The Room of Remembrance left me in awe as just look up at the high ceiling, trying to read all the names of those lost. I came here alone. I tried to bring my friends with me, but I was unsuccessful. Its too bad because I truly felt that missed out on something special. I would definitely come back here again. Everyone here was very friendly, asking me at every exhibit if I needed help or information what I was seeing. I would also recommend you bring your kids, organize a field trip, or just bring your family here. Learn something, and try to make a positive difference.

An important museum done extraordinarily well. We have been to a couple of the special programs that the museum has put on. Both were done exceptionally well. Neither program was directly about the holocaust but related to persecution of an ethnic group. The museum should be commended for bringing these programs in to the public awareness. I highly recommend getting on their mailing list or checking their website for programming,

Excellent, very well done, been to the national museum and this definitely rivals it.

I have wanted to go to this museum for a while. It's out of the range of my electric car and doesn't have a charger so I had to wait until my husband could take us in his gas car. It was worth the wait. Visiting this museum should be on everyone's list in the Chicago area. It's imperative that we learn from this awful period in history. It's important that we teach the younger generations. Hate can take over the world and if you don't believe it, come here and see when it did. It will strengthen your resolve to fight back today to hate, bigotry, bullying and prejudice. We can do better and this museum shows us how and why.