The new Holocaust Memorial Center has opened in Farmington Hills to educate people about the traumatic occurrences of World War II.
The new facility replaces the former Holocaust Memorial Center that was located in West Bloomfield since 1984.
Like the former museum, the new, larger center still demonstrates the memory of the Holocaust but is able to have a more interesting approach with the new technology located in the new facility.
From the outside, this gigantic building gives visitors the impression that they are approaching a concentration camp, with the look of barbed wire along the outside walls and dead shrubbery scattered around the outside. As you make your way inside, you are graciously greeted by a hostess who hands you a large map of the premises, as well as a booklet which is a glossary of names and terms used in the museum.
Visitors are encouraged the explore the museum on their own. The museum is set up so that you move through the different time periods starting from the very origin of Jewish culture. This is known as the “Introduction” area that has a wall size timeline dating from 2000BC to 2000. From the timeline you make your way to the “Heritage”. This area tells you all you ever needed to know about Jewish culture, giving an in-depth explanation of the Jewish faith and important figures.
Further inside through the museum are Holocaust displays depicting Adolf Hitler’s attempt to exterminate the Jewish population.
Along with the showcases of the various concentration camps there is a video presentation of different Holocaust survivors giving their stories of what happened to them while they were in concentration camps.
Toward the end of the tour is a black granite wall engraved with the stunning totals of casualties from the Holocaust. According to the wall, more than 6 million men, women and children died in the process.
The Holocaust Memorial Center is the perfect place to go and learn factual accounts of what happened to Jews through the ages and to people who lost their lives during World War II.
This is a profound place that reminds individuals of the horrific past, in order to prevent anything like that from ever happening again. If you go:
Museum Name:
Holocaust Memorial Center
Location:
28123 Orchard Lake Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Cost:
Free but donations are appreciated
Phone:
248-553-2400
Hours:
Sunday – Thursday
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Fridays 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Never open on Saturdays
Public Tours:
Tours are given every Wednesday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and include a session with a Holocaust survivor. No reservations are necessary.
Private Tours:
Only for groups of eight or more and by arrangement