United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a history museum and memorial site near the National Mall in Washington. The three floors hold photographs, personal belongings, and testimonies that document life before, during, and after the persecution.

The museum opened in 1993 after years of planning and debate about how to remember the genocide. Architect James Ingo Freed designed the building to reflect the rupture in history that the Holocaust represents.

The building's architecture uses materials and forms that recall the camps and the weight of memory, making the structure itself part of the message. Visitors walk through the main exhibition in a planned sequence, moving from persecution to liberation with few distractions.

The museum opens daily except for a few holidays and admission is free. Visitors need a free timed pass for the permanent exhibition from March through August, available online in advance or at the door on the same day.

The Hall of Remembrance offers a quiet room where visitors can light a candle and spend time alone with their thoughts. This space follows no exhibition logic but invites pause after walking through the other floors.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: April 22, 1993

Founders: Jack Tramiel

Architects: James Ingo Freed

Official opening: April 22, 1993

Fee: No

Address: 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024-2126

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 10:00-17:20

Phone: +12024880400

Website: http://ushmm.org

GPS coordinates: 38.88667,-77.03250

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:35