The New England Holocaust Memorial

The architecture and design of this memorial are truly remarkable. It features six stunning glass towers that stand 54 feet tall, symbolizing the 6 million Jews lost during the Holocaust. Each tower has a pit of fire at its base, which creates a haunting display of smoke rising into the chamber above. As you walk through, you'll notice countless ID numbers etched into the glass pillars. These numbers serve as a poignant reminder of the individuals and families who suffered, reflecting the tattoos that prisoners received during that dark time. This beautiful memorial was brought to life by a group of dedicated Holocaust survivors in the Boston area, and it was officially dedicated in October 1995. It provides a heartfelt space for reflection, emphasizing the importance of human rights and standing as a beacon of memory and hope for all.

Very nice memorial dedicated to those lost in the Holocaust; might be one of the best memorials we’ve seen.

Beautiful memorial... The energy of the area is heavy.

Even though the circumstances that created the need for the memorial were awful. This memorial was a beautiful tribute to the memory of what happened. The whole energy was very solemn and inspiring to prevent history from repeating itself. There were a lot of student groups going through so it was quite nice to see people still learning about this. The memorial was actually rather busy which is a good thing. This needs to be seen and people need to know what happened. I loved all the factual information that was also provided because it helped inform those who were visiting who may not know all the details.

While walking around Boston at night, we noticed the New England Holocaust Memorial. The design and structure really stood out—it was super impressive. As we got closer and started reading, we realized it’s a memorial for the Jewish people who were killed by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust. There are six glass towers, each one representing a million lives lost. Never again.

This is definitely worth a walk through. It'll catch your eye saying, "what's that?" (With the steam). Really interesting transcriptions. Definitely take a few mins and check it out.

✡️ Sobering, Moving - A Beautiful Tribute and a Harrowing Reminder ✡️ As you walk the Freedom Trail through Boston, you may pass a series of six, glass towers (54 feet high). Take the time to stop and experience this memorial, as it will leave you reflective, reminded, and changed. The architecture and symbolic design of this memorial cannot be overstated. It begins with six glass towers, representing the 6 million Jews killed during the Holocaust. Each tower is lined with a pit of fire, from which smoke emits into the chamber above. Memories of camp survivors are etched on the glass walls as you pass through, as are millions of numbers--each symbolic of an individual life. These numbers "tattoo" themselves on you as you walk by, and the light casts them as shadows over your skin. In the words of the memorial itself: "These six towers are emblems of faith, a covenant of trust that memorializes a collective evil." Stop. Remember. Reflect.

The New England Holocaust Memorial, a solemn masterpiece rising like a poignant sonnet in Boston's landscape. Its six glass towers, etched with numbers, stand as pillars of remembrance, summoning the shadows of history. The haunting beauty of the smoke-like structures intertwines with the resilience of the human spirit, creating a memorial where the echoes of the past resound with dignity. In this sacred space, visitors traverse a narrative etched in glass and stone, a testament to the enduring power of memory and the collective hope for a world free from such darkness. Never Forget!

A great resemblance of the holocaust, presenting the ugly and the beautiful. It is a magnificent representation, from the smoke like the gas chambers, to all of those quotes and facts. I can tell this was well-made, so thoughtfully put. Even if it just looks like a bunch of misty towers, I will assure you it's not. It is a art. It is a memorial. A holocaust memorial. A beautiful one, that is.

Another spot located near the North End and behind where we were staying. Warming stations, grassy are, memorials. Cool spot to check out a piece of our history.

I've seen quite a lot of Holocaust Memorials in my time traveling through Europe and the USA. I must admit - this is one of the more thoughtful and tastefully done I've seen. Clearly a lot of thought went into this memorial and there are QR codes to scan and self-guide you through the intent of the memorial as you walk through the six tall glass towers engraved with millions of the numbers assigned to the Jews tattooed on each of their arms. These numbers are for those who died there. Alarming when you see how many there are and how tall these go into the sky... Each glass tower represents one of the six major camps and has steam coming up through the grates like the gas chambers. It has quotes from survivors of the horror they endured. The entry and exit set the tone for the memorial with additional information and quotes regarding the extermination by the Nazis of 6 millions Jews. I stumbled upon this memorial while walking the Freedom Trail and think this New England Memorial is one of the best I've seen. Reverent and thoughtful.

Somber tribute to an international tragedy. 6 clear gas pillars. Representing 6 million Jews murdered, the 6 main death camps, and the 6 years the "final solution" took place. The pillars themselves stand like smokestacks, etched with numbers representing the victims, and when you walk through them the light tattoos these numbers onto you, filled with a constant flow of steam to show the killing gases and the smoke that came after.

This is a very nice public exhibit. The messaging is powerful and the display is beautiful. It's nice that this can be enjoyed by any who pass by

Powerful. That's the first word that comes to mind when I think about this Holocaust Memorial. I've seen my fair share of great Holocaust memorials, but I'd have to say that this was one of my favorites to visit. Not because it's grand or sophisticated... because it's not. This memorial is actually quite small and randomly located between a few streets in Downtown Boston. However, what makes this memorial truly stand out for me is the experience. This memorial features a replica of a small gas chamber and has water vapor that rises up from the ground to represent the "gas". When you walk through it, you're essentially walking through a gas chamber re-enactment. Of course, this is nothing like the torturous gas chambers that killed millions of Jewish families. But it's symbolic. Walking through the "gas chamber" while the "gas" is just floating up from the ground is so somber. What a horrible way to die. Nobody deserves to dies this way. Ever. On the inside of one of the "gas chambers" are the prisoner ID numbers and a few inspiring quotes from that time period. There are also a few placards listing informative statistics about the murders during the Holocaust. Although it's a pretty desolate experience, it's also very enlightening. This is the right way to commemorate the lives that were lost during such a dark time. Very moving and very powerful. Again, it's not the fanciest Holocaust memorial in the world but it evokes emotions and pays homage. It would behoove you to experience this amazing memorial whilst exploring all things Boston.

Moving and utterly heartbreaking. A reminder of the many Jewish souls lost during the Holocaust. This memorial in the middle of a bustling city causes you to stop in your tracks and reflect on this historic tragedy and examine the cruelty of mankind. Thank God that He has given them an everlasting name, as the inscription says on the stone. Strongly recommend a visit to this site.

Super sad but super beautiful. A must see historical memorial that is especially important to remember.

Stumbled upon this memorial while walking back to our hotel. Simple Memorial. Haunting . Reminder that evil does exist in this world.

Just take a moment to reflect... It's across the street from Union Oyster House It's short to walk thru but very moving and powerful.

Wow! What an amazing piece of history in the middle of the city. Short but so powerful and so meaningful. We will never forget the atrocities in WW II. I believe that a lot of time and a life of effort were put into this memorial. You might start to walk through and as I did -I had to take a break and think. I have been to many memorials all over the US in memory of the Jews (in particular) and I really can appreciate this one. Take a moment to reflect and not ever forget.

Amazing sight to see..The towers hold the serial numbers of those who were killed in the Nazi death camps. The steam is a representation of the gas used to murder those that were captives. Walking through the towers, you can see the written thoughts of those that experienced those dark days back then. A must see...

The New England Holocaust Memorial in downtown Boston is one of the most moving and awesome tributes to the victims of the Holocaust. The whole thing will only take you 10-15 minutes to walk through, but I was loved to tears by the end. There are 6 glass towers that contain all of the numbers of everyone who was in a concentration camp. There are quotes from actually survives or soldiers who helped liberate the camps on every pillar and on the ground in between. There is smoke coming out of the base of each to represent the gas chambers. It is a very moving tribute to the lives lost and most people end up walking right on by. This may not be well known in Boston, but I believe it is something everyone should take the time to see while here.

I've been to a few Holocaust memorials in my Yelp career and some are very evocative while some are not. This one in Boston is excellent. It's a really nice spot near the North End and Haymarket and they have done well at building something memorable and powerful. Never forget with the same in Hebrew on the ground as you walk through these glass towers that are emitting steam. Also carved into the walkway are the names of some of the more memorable concentration camps - Sobibor, Auschwitz and others. With the steam, it's easy to think about the six million Jews and the millions of others that were destroyed by the Nazis. Carved into the marble, "To remember their suffering is to recognize the danger and evil that are possible whenever one group persecutes another. As you walk this Freedom Trail, pause here to reflect on the consequences of a world in which there is no freedom--a world in which basic human rights are not protected. And know that wherever prejudice, discrimination and victimization are tolerated, evil like the Holocaust can happen again." Powerful words. Never forget.

One of my coworkers strongly recommended this particular Holocaust memorial because it was the most impactful memorial he has ever been to. The New England Holocaust Memorial is located right across from the Boston Public Market and the memorial is open 24/7. There are a total of six glass towers and each tower is inscribed with victim's ID numbers (2,280,960 counts of non-unique numbers that serve as a reminder of six million Jews that were sacrificed during the Holocaust). As I stood under each glass tower, the steam emitted from the bottom of each tower replicated the gas chambers used during the Holocaust and it gave me an eerie and unease feeling. It was a very short walk, but the experience was stunning and powerful.

The memorial is striking in so many ways. The six tall glass towers suggest smokestacks and represent the six major Nazi death camps. The mist rising from the sidewalk grates suggest gas fumes. The descriptive carved panels everywhere chronicle the darkest days of mankind. But to me, the realization that the glass towers are inscribed with millions of prisoner identification numbers just about brought me to tears. As a child growing up in NYC, I remember seeing lots of people walking around with similar numbers tatooed on their forearms. They were the survivors.

To read the memoirs on the monuments is very touching and emotional. They give you a glimpse of the horrors they had to endure back than. This is a beautiful monument in a beautiful city and its worth your time to check it out. It's not that big but it's packed with emotions. It won't take too much time out of your schedule so check it out. It's worth it.

It was only because I was walking the Freedom Trail that I even stumbled upon the New England Holocaust Memorial. And although it seems kind of parked in the spot it calls home right next to the street, from a contemporary art standpoint of something that catches your eye, leaves you awe struck, is mesmerizing and really gripping, this memorial is so incredibly well done and has left a visual imprint in my memory forever. Really beautifully done and a modern reminder as I walked the Freedom Trail as to what freedom means to me.

This is a nice little Holocaust memorial in the middle of the city. I stumbled upon it and wasn't sure if I could walk through it until I saw others doing it. It is nearby the Boston Public Market and Quincy Market. There are quotes on stone walls and four towers that have engravings of all the numbers that marked victims of the Holocaust. It's a nice and powerful, yet subtle, structure. I liked the quotes, the simplicity and the commemoration. You can visit anytime of the day. It is open to the public. I noticed that folks brought stones to leave at the entrances of the memorial. Each tower represents one of the death camps. Smoke comes from underneath each tower and there are little lights below your feet that look like stars. I think the smoke is supposed to resemble the smoke chambers. The heat is warm and is easy to miss if you don't purposely look down.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me. Never Forget.

While in a bit of a strange location (across from the Boston Public Market and multiple bars, this Holocaust Memorial was thoughtfully designed and well worth a visit. The memorial is composed of six luminous towers (for the six million Jews killed, the six main death camps, and the six most deadly years of the Holocaust). Smoke rises from the bottom of the towers (which you walk through). The outside walls of the panels are inscribed with seven-digit numbers (like the tattoos of some concentration camp survivors). The inside walls are inscribed with quotes from witnesses to the Holocaust. The project was initiated by a group of Holocaust survivors living in the Boston area. While not the fault of the memorial itself, its location made my visit to the memorial strange. It appeared that many people did not understand what the memorial was and were just walking through the towers as a way to get somewhere. People had drinks and were talking and children were running through the memorial. It certainly didn't have the somber feeling that other memorials I've seen or visited have had, and I think that made it hard to be moved by the experience of it. If I was to go again, I think I'd go in the early morning before the nearby bars are open and while fewer people are in the area. Still, a very thoughtful memorial to the victims of the Holocaust that I encourage people to visit.

The New England Memorial a very moving and reflective site. I stumbled across this as I was walking the Freedom Trail. The six pillar's simple design is very effective, and the quotations inscribed on the glass walls are very powerful. I noticed that each monument was engraved with millions of I.D. numbers of those who were executed during the Holocaust. The towers also have water vapors rising in the chambers, sorta like gas chambers. It's somberly impressive. When you factor in what it stands for it is even more powerful.

Gorgeous and touching memorial with powerful quotes as you make your way through. Right in the middle of everything in Boston so it's a convenient and well worthy stop.

Just so you know, this is not a building or establishment that you pay tickets for or anything. It is just a monument outside among a touristy outdoor marketplace area. The glass walls have quotes printed from previous Holocaust survivors, and they are incredibly touching (and educational). They have mist coming up from the floor to represent the gas chambers. If you are in the area, it is worth taking a quick look through while walking around on foot. My grandparents were Holocaust survivors, held in concentration camps for the majority of their teenage years, so it meant a lot to me to find this monument.

Beautiful Holocaust Memorial. So simple but so perfect. Huge glass towers that stretch this park area. Peoples bar codes etched in stone. Chills thinking about what these people went through. Very sad and humbling that something so beautiful was created for such a tragic event. Boston is full of historical sites, nice to see something dedicated to more recent history.

Very minimalistic but lots of symbolism going around. 6 pillars for 6 concentration camps, for 6 million Jews who died. Gas comes out from the floor symbolizing the last breath of many. The message from all Holocaust memorials are the same: it happened once, and it can happen again. Don't let it. The Holocaust is a big blown-up version of discrimination, discrimination against the Jews. Don't let it happen again, says all the Holocaust memorials. Yet, we see discrimination in the world every day. Why?

This memorial is so moving. The smoke coming up from the grates below provide a visual effect that unexpectedly moved me as I read the quotes on each of the glass panes. It was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once, and although it was the most somber note on our trip to Boston, it was definitely memorable. Hats off to the designer, this was truly beautiful.

This memorial is gorgeous, breath-taking, and awe-inspiring... I saw it again while in Boston last year but remembered it vividly from a trip to Boston as a middle schooler. This last trip, I had a chance to see the memorial at night time when it is even more beautiful than during the day... Tall glass structures are etched with names of people who were killed during the Holocaust. Steam rises from the holes below the ground. However, I should not even be describing this as I can not do it justice... please check it out yourself if you can!

Do you remember their names? Life is filled with joy and sorrow. Pushing forward and pulling back. I always feel this so profoundly whenever I visit a Holocaust Memorial. I've spent a fair bit of time reading about this time in our history, talking to survivors and have visited camps in Europe. When I spent several weeks in Munich last year it was certainly on my mind and I started reading modern literature about the current state of 'German guilt' and once again talked to people. It was just after the election of Obama and life felt full of possibilities. It was a joyous time to be out in the world. I wanted to visit this memorial while in Boston, but the time needed to be right. You see these places tend to wreck me emotionally. So it was a cold and rainy night. I was walking back to downtown from the North End and there they were, six columns illuminated in the mist. I was cold in my bones and the steam that rises from the grates at the base of the columns promised warmth and protection from the night. Each column represents one of the primary Nazi death camps. Do you remember their names? Majdanek Chelmno Sobibor Treblinka Belzec Auschwitz-Birkenau What was more disturbing than the six million numbers etched in the glass, were the pits beneath the columns. Coals at the bottom of each pit emit steam. Warmth is death. Some other memorials I've visited are more focused on moments of humanity that survived despite the circumstances. This memorial doesn't allow any room for beauty or humanity. It is what it is. A version of what was and will never be again. Do you remember their names?

(A Haiku in Six Parts) On the Freedom Trail, my mother, sister, and I come across this place. We are solemn and thoughtful as we look upward to glass columns inscribed with prison ID numbers. They fill the sky with a sense of loss. We then look downward at slabs of granite, where they bring us readers down to Earth-- savoring quotes of tolerance and hope. I also read a word on the ground that strikes a chord for its simple message/ \"Remember."

I really enjoyed this it was in between busy intersection in downtown minimal and vertical memorial with six glass towers containing the numbers of victims on the panes of glass, has steam rising from the ground represents the gas very moving with quotes from survivors and others along the path I was touched by the feeling when standing inside the tower looking upward at all the numbers while the steam flows over you a moving memorial

This was incredibly powerful and incredibly well done. The quotes chosen were incredibly appropriate and impactful. All parts of this memorial were really impactful and thoughtful. I'm not sure of the words to use for this but this was something I was glad we saw. Make sure to read the quotes on the sides between the pillars.

A moving memorial to such a tragic time in history. This glass and steel memorial is to the lives lost in the Holocaust. A series of glass and steel towers line the walk along the Freedom Trail. Upon closer inspection, the numbers of those lives lost are etched into the glass. Each number was painstakingly preserved in the panes of glass, serving as a reminder of the scale of the tragedy. It's amazing to see how many numbers are inscribed, going on, and on, and on. Over six million prisoner identification numbers are carved into the glass. The design of the memorial is reminiscent of the smoke stacks of the ovens in the concentration camps. As you walk through, grates below the memorial send up wisps of steam into the chilly Boston air. It serves as a poignant reminder to never allow anything like this to happen again. The memorial is right across the street from some historic pubs and taverns along the Freedom Trail, and is a great place to stop in and reflect. I was awestruck.

Beautiful and moving. We walked through it twice tonight, once on our way to dinner in the North End and once on the way back. Both times it was crowded, mostly with people respectfully taking it in but also with some disrespectful behavior, including a couple who were sitting in one of the "camps" checking their phones. I expected to see more police presence since the site tragically has been vandalized twice this summer.

Powerful, moving, impactful, painful...only a few of the many words to describe this important place to remember the horrors of a brutal leader. Please take a moment to pay tribute.

I didn't even know this memorial existed, but literally walked through it on the Freedom Trail along Congress Street. I was completely blown away with the amount of thought and detail that was put into this, especially once realizing that each and every one of the six million prisoner numbers is etched on all four sides of each of the six glass towers (each representing one of the death camps). There are also a number of quotations by the prisoners, survivors and family members. The steam drifting up through the grates is also a visual reminder of what so many people violently and unnecessarily endured during the those horrible years of the Holocaust. After walking from one end to the next, I don't know how anyone could not be moved with how professional, thoughtful and impressive this memorial is.

What do you say about a memorial like this? You wish to God it didn't have to exist, then you pray to God people actually learn from it. Simple, plain, and powerful. We didn't get to see much of it, but enough to be moved.

The first time I visited the New England Holocaust Memorial was unplanned. I had a meeting nearby, I arrived early and had a little bit of time to wait before my appointment. I was walking and came across the Memorial. As I got closer and realized what it was I was stunned. Profoundly. This Memorial is very affecting. Whoever designed it was genius at creating visual and emotional impact. The placement of the glass towers over steam vents creates a haunting evocative feeling and pulls you out of the surrounding city bustle. The numbers etched in the glass that seem to stretch endlessly toward the heavens...The numerous quotes...The names of the camps... I brought my wife here the same way, she wasn't planning a visit, didn't know it was there. It may sound mean but she really appreciated it. We brought my brother-in-law and our kids the same way. It just seems to have a very deep impact when suddenly there it is. The last time we were there with our children we met an older gentleman from Germany who was visiting New England. He told us about how when he was 9 he was taken from his home and put in the Hitler Youth. He was terrified but things fell apart shortly after he was drafted. We talked for a little while about humanity and how easily people can be convinced to hate.

This was our last stop on our trip in Boston. If you didn't know you would just walk by and say, gosh this a beautiful art installation, but in reality it is a holocaust memorial. It is done very well. The best part is that it is completely free and accessible 24/7. If you have time visit during the day AND at night. At night it is illuminated and during the day if it's cold they pump heat from below.

Aptly located near the Freedom Trail, this is stark and powerful, on par with the Vietnam Memorial in DC. Tall glass columns are etched with six million numbers (not names). When you're inside a column, the numbers are almost invisible, reminding us that the world ignored the Holocaust for much too long. The Memorial is also inscribed with facts. Example: "At the end of the War, 99% of Denmark's Jews were still alive." It's also etched with eloquent statements from witnesses and survivors. Example (Gerda Weissman Klein): "Ilse, a childhood friend of mine, once found a raspberry in the camp and carried it in her pocket all day to present to me that night on a leaf. Imagine a world in which your entire possession is one raspberry and you give it to your friend."

This is an absolute must-see for anyone who lives or visits the Boston area. It only takes about 20-30 minutes to walk-thru, even if you are reading and absorbing it all--which everyone should do! It's also located in a very T-accessible area (right next to Haymarket), so there is no reason why anyone should miss this. The quotes and information given at the Memorial do an excellent job at reminding us, and informing us, about this horrible mark in our world's history. A time that, although horrific, we should never forget. The numbers etched in the glass and the smoke rising through the columns always give me goosebumps. This is a Memorial that I encourage everyone to see!

The New England Holocaust Memorial is a beautifully done tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. The memorial, itself has a very simplistic design. However, the design also has a powerful impact. Walking through and looking at the numbers was a humbling experience. I am glad that I took the time to go and see it while I was in Boston.

It's a little odd to be reviewing a memorial. I guess it's more on FYI/tips. So the star rating is kind of not as relevant. I'd say it is worth visiting. It is either in the North End, or very close to it. I don't really know my way around. Just know that it is very close. The memorial was a good opportunity to remember this event in history and learn more about it without too many visuals. It was pretty eerie having the steam come up from the vents when you're standing in the glass towers. I tried to look it up after to see what the meaning of it is, and it seems possibly that it represents the gas chambers in the internment camps? I could be wrong, but that was pretty chilling.

Definitely worth a visit. The 10 minutes I spent here was enough to make me teary-eyed and somber. A beautiful presentation like none I've seen before to represent this aspect of the Holocaust.

The memorial was sort of a puzzler to me. I still can't figure out any particular ties between the Holocaust and Boston. I walked by not really knowing what it was, then came back to it. Upon closer inspection, the glass towers were apparently displays of victims. I suppose putting a memorial in the middle of a busy street and along the Freedom Trail gets a lot of people to see it, but the atmosphere was oddly noisy for a memorial (as a Washingtonian, I've seen a lot of memorials). The aesthetic was vaguely reminiscent of the Holocaust Museum in DC, and it was quite beautiful and chilling. All of this being said, every time I ask these "why" type of questions, something comes up in the news that reminds me that the world does indeed need an occasional reminder of what actually happened not so long ago.

Beautiful memorial. And people today complain about minuscule issues.... We haven't even the slightest clue what it's like to live a tough life like these people were forced to endure. And people cry about modern day racism?? Bah.. That's a children's story compared to what was endured back in the holocaust. Man up and bless all those who lost their lives to that madman.

This memorial always gives me the chills when I see it! Each of the tall glass chambers represents one of the gas chambers that took the lives of so many thousands of lives. All the numbers listed on the glass walls are the tattoo numbers of each of the people that lost their lives. And as you walk through the path of chambers of glass steam rises through the grates on the floor to represent the gas. Each time it gives me goose bumps. And on hot humid days the gas rising is more visible and it gives you this eerie feeling as you walk through. Along with a feeling of sadness for all the lives that were lost.

We happened to walk through here on the way to Quincy Market. We had no idea it was here, but were really taken aback by this site. I'm Jewish, so I have seen many memorials in my day, but the artistic nature of this, combined with the history presented was very impressive. This is certainly worth seeing if you are going to be near the market or in the area.

I was kind of surprised to happen upon a Holocaust Memorial in the middle of Boston, but on our walk, we happened upon this. It was quite striking and beautiful to see and walk through and I we were very glad to stumble upon this memorial.