Reviews of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. (Museum) in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania).

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

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399 Comments

Museum

History museum

100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW, Washington, DC 20024, United States

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Information of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Museum in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)

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Reviews of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Elizabeth

What an amazing and moving memorial and museum. I thought I knew a lot about the Holocaust prior but I learned so much more and the photos and names and preserved items were such incredibly respectful tributes to those people lost. I felt it was very very in depth, but depends on how much you process Ave available. Many school groups were just filing through rather rapidly. Especially important was how quickly(LESS than 6 months and Hilter had complete control) the Nazis took over everything. We actually could have stayed longer than the 5-6 hours we were there but had reservations to be elsewhere. I tend to look, watch and read as much as is offered since this may be my first and only visit to DC. I wish we had planned at least a full day here. It's bigger than it looks. We found a very good selection on books for purchase in the store. Helpful staff.

Cass Nissi

Posting one picture of what my son and I look like outside of the museum. As soon as I opened the doors, even prior to security...the feeling overtook me. I cried immediately and through the entire tour. You must come and experience the shoes. I am not posting alot of pics especially of the shoes out of respect. You must come visit the shoes before you pass.

Alan Varghese

A must visit exhibit if in DC. A harrowing experience that teaches you like never before the consequences of overlooking and allowing hate to spread in the world and politicians using fear as a tool. It starts with them giving you a leaflet of a person who went through the Holocaust. It is the world's second largest holocaust exhibit after the one in Israel. It starts with the history of Hitler's rise, his initial actions that led to the Holocaust and his other crimes such as killing the disabled and challenged. The exhibit also showcases the brave who risked it all to save those suffering and the people who tried to suppress them. There was a also an exhibit about the current torture of Rohingya Muslims in Burma.

angela sandhu

You have to reserve tickets in advance. Tickets are free. It still saddens and shocks me. I didn't feel right posting any pictures with us in the photo. Cried the whole time. No words can explain the sheer terror, hunger and helplessness they went through every single minute. Not one moment of rest. No Hope! The war ended only 78 years ago. Heartbreaking.

The Maldonado’s

The Holocaust is one of those historic atrocities we shouldn’t forget. It is clear that this memorial was well thought out, planned and kept. With time to spare, because there is lot to see, you like I will learn real intricate details about those horrendous times in our human history, and hopefully help everyone recognize the pitfall if they ever arise again. We explored in depth, and don't regret it. Tip; Find your passport before you hop in the elevator. Then start your journey as a Jewish prisoner.

John M

An absolute must while in DC. The museum does a great job telling the story of the events in Germany that led to the Nazi party and eventually Adolf Hitler coming to power. The experience is powerful, emotional, and unforgettable.

Joe Hughes

The Holocaust 1933-1945 was one of the worst events in history. In 89 years it's seems that we have started to repeat history in some of the same places, such as what's happening now in Ukraine. I didn't post any graphic photo's and as a matter of fact, my wife was so emotionally upset half way thru that I stopped taking any photo's until the end. This is a must see but as a warning some of the photos in this museum are very graphic. When you complete the tour most people don't realize that down stairs following left there is one more exhibit to see. Don't miss it and Never Forget!

D. Majesty

I'm not a fan of a museum that requires a lot of reading. I'm a slow reader. I get the story through picture, but I do love to visit this kind of museum just to be thankful and to be grateful for the freedom that I have now. The past always makes me appreciate the now.. very massive, huge museum . Worth the trip. Come out and explore it for yourself. Live your life ❤️

Aaron Miller

Excellent. Must see if you go to DC and do the museums. GO EARLY!! The line was zero around 9-10am, we walked past it later in the day and the line was crazy crazy long. I would plan this one to be the longest museum you go to. You can easily stay for 3+ hours if you like to read and watch everything. Well worth it though. Cheers.

Ruben Misrahi

Not as many artifacts, but the explanations, the chronology give you a good way to understand what and how it happened. The testimonies give you a close up, first row view to the hell the victims went through

Mellissa Schulman

Everyone in the country should visit this place at least once. Too many people don't believe or don't remember. Unfortunately, that's how history can repeat itself. This was a horrible time in the history of our world. Just looking at the pile of shoes. Hundreds and hundreds of shoes. And that was just a small selection. But it speaks volumes.

Deanne Jones

Powerful! Gut wrenching and so well done! Don't miss it!

Allen Langley

It is incomprehensible the evil humans are capable of doing. It's just unbelievable. I do not believe there is anything you could do to prepare for what you are going to experience.

Jesenia Cruz

We were impressed by the visit to the museum. Very well organized, and explained, and very interesting to know that there was a survivor.

Irene Williams

Free, but you must reserve a time in advance online (for which there is a $1 transaction fee). A wonderful and thorough museum, incredibly heart-wrenching but important material. The most graphic footage is somewhat concealed so you do not have to view it if you don't want to. When I went in Jan 2023 there was also an excellent exhibit on genocide in Burma. Additionally, there is a kid's exhibit which describes the Holocaust from the point of view of a child in a way that is appropriate for children.

CHANELL LOWERY

Very well done. The children's (big kids too) patisptory exhibit, Daniel's Story, is a really perfectly done.

Sherilyn Newswanger

A very well presented piece of heartbreaking history. Be sure to check out the Daniel's story part if you have kids.

Misty P

No review can do it justice.. just go there and plan to spend a minimum of half a day.. Reservations were down the day we went and the people out front guiding visitors talked in circles instead of saying, go ahead in..it gets better once you get to the elevators...so haunting, educating, and disturbing.. but EVERYONE should visit at least one time in life..

Heather Mahaffey

The Holocaust Museum is a must with a visit to DC. You must reserve tickets in advance (way in advance) or you can reserve same day tickets when they are released at 7am but be quick, they go within minutes!

Michael Berna

Educational and free. Touching museum. People from the Holocaust tell the story for those who can't. Serves as a reminder of the history not to repeat. It's important to note that the U.S. also had it's own form of racially segregated concentration camps in California although not nearly as bad, still a travesty.

Dylan Fulton

So sad. Shows the true colors of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. This is why when we say "Never Again," we truly means "Never Again."

Michael Copley

I loved how you enter the main exhibits as if you were an American soldier discovering the concentration camp. You are given a pamphlet of a real life story of someone who died. After the initial shock of seeing the results of the camps, as you advance through the museum, a chronological history is exposed to explain what you initially see. The museum winds everyone through the same singular path through the museum. Very unique and engaging, emotional, shocking, and educational. As someone who has seen many documentaries etc, this museum made the experience nearly first person. I learned much and appreciated the depth of coverage. There is something here for any age or level of education on the subject. Museum was free.

M S

I don't even know how to review a place like this, it's very emotional stuff. I like how the museum was lay out, in a chronological order. The identification card that every visitor receives at the beginning of the your is a way of connecting with the story in a more personal level.

Anny A

I was humbled by the exhibits in this museum. We have visited the DC area several times in the past few years and had no luck in the past getting tickets. We finally did this time, and I am grateful that I could share this experience with my kids. I learned a lot from here, I was heartbroken, sad, and even mad at what happened as I learned more. As I walked out of there, I wanted to make sure my children understood that every life is precious, and selfish agendas can be destructive, especially when people choose to be silent. The wall with all the pictures was breathtaking and hard to swallow at the same time. I can never forget what I saw. Now I understand why somany people choose to see this museum. Thanks to the organizers for this eye-opening and discussion worthy museum.

Dan Burnett

I’ll rate this as a well done museum focusing on the whole history prior to, during, and post war. Highlighted the economic, personal, and group struggles of various peoples affected by German party policies. Most people followed the rules of no phones, and others were disruptive and inconsiderate in taking calls, texts, and calls. Go in ready for the topic, and be open to reading the full history.

Joe Jordan

I don't take pictures out of respect. For me its one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Having been to the 911 Memorial and Bergen-Belsen in Germany its makes u realize your problems and life issues are nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Dave Cluff

If you are in DC this is a must see. It is important to remember not just what happened during the Holocaust, but also how the world got to the point that it happened; the dehumanization of our neighbors. Give yourself a minimum of an hour and a half for this experience.

Mary Anctil

What an emotional tour. The museum is laid out to take you through the experience. It really puts into perspective what truly happened

Cindy North

So much history to see in the Nation's capital but this is a must see. You NEED to get your tickets in advance or you will probably not get in. Humbling and important to REMEMBER

Amy Bird

The museum does a great job of educating people about the horrific events of the Holocaust. Everyone should experience the opportunity at least once, especially if you’re unable to visit one of the camps in person. Be prepared to do some reading while you’re there, but it’ll be worthwhile, and likely eye opening. If you have been to the camp(s), you may not learn as much from the museum, but it’s still worth a visit, though it may be quicker than someone getting up to speed on what happened. I wouldn’t say I learned a lot from the museum that I hadn’t learned on the tour I took of Dachau, but seeing the American perspective was interesting and there were a few powerful exhibits. Nothing can take the place of walking the path of the prisoners, but the museum certainly does their best!

Sahil Singh

I had to travel all the way to USA (from India) to realize how easy it is to divide people. How false propaganda turns people into monsters in the name of psuedo nationalism. To realize how unfortunate my people back home are to still have the seeds of division still deeply rooted. How sad it is to see a society divided on religious and communal lines. It's important to remember the past so that we may not repeat the mistakes. This is the aim of this memorial is to tell aloud the atrocities that were mete to these people. The people who perished (millions died), and the ones who were damaged beyond repair. This is a reminder of the time men like you and me turned against his own brethren. Reminder of a man who in the name of taking the country forward pushed the world back to a primitive time, when barbarism was common, and cruelty was the way of life. We want a better society, but at what cost? I see xenophobic leaders gaining popularity around the world, and it fills my heart with despair. A note on permanent exhibition. The museum has 2 parts - the permanent exhibition, and rest of the museum. The former requires tickets. The tickets are limited and get over soon. You can either book in advance or can get same day tickets. For same day tickets you'll either have to visit their website at 6 in the morning, or be at the museum at 9.45 am. For booking online, their website redirects to a third party website. I started trying to book right at 6, but the website started showing tickets as available more towards 6.10. The tickets if collected at the museum are free, if booking online, you'll have to pay 1$ per head. There are certain people who are exempt from needing to buy tickets - veterans, etc. Also, when in permanent exhibit keep in mind that it spans across 3 floors, I did the mistake that I spent most of the time on the first level itself, and didn't get time for other levels, as museum's closing time approached. There's a lot of stuff to read, so it's easy to lose track of time. In the very first level, there is a 14 minute video shown, which I liked. You may want to see that. Hope your heart feels something when you leave this place, and you move, even if only the slightest bit, away from the notions that divide people.

Anthony Scott

An amazing museum to see, and very eye opening. So many facts, and so many things I have never seen or heard before. You can enter for free, but just get there early enough to get tickets to see the whole exhibit. The museum allows military, police, and fireman in anytime to attend the entire museum, even if all the tickets were given out. A definite must see while in DC.

Curtis Tucker

Beautiful museum. Just felt a little rushed because it was very busy. Wish I could of spent more time viewing each and every part of the self guided tour without feeling like I was "hogging it" from people behind me. But I loved it otherwise. It was a heartbreaking and enjoyable educational experience at the same time.

Joshua A

This is an amazing experience. This is a very emotional museum experience and one that should not be missed. If you have young children, be prepared to do a lot of explaining. Some of the images and items in the permanent exhibit may be disturbing for younger children and will definitely prompt questions - so be prepared with answers!

Jeff Breitenbuecher

Visited the Holocaust museum today. It was a very emotional and saddening experience. I highly recommend you to go there and bring your family and friends. Talk with your children. It is important to realize that it happened not long ago and that we still letting inhumane things happen all over the world. It shows you the power of inactivity associated with the spread of fake news. It is incredible hurtful knowing that all of that happened and millions of men, women, and children were brutally and sadistic tortured to death. Worst of all, people still this is a made up story. 😭

Stephanie Dunker

This could easily be an all day event for adults. I highly recommend that you not take small or sensitive children. This is a somber and reflective museum that covers a very serious subject. You will never forget this deeply moving experience. Reserve your time slot in advance for the permanent exhibit during the summer months and get there early.

James Werner

Go when you are prepared to have your life changed. If a school group is making noise while you are there, bring earplugs so you can better appreciate the importance of what you are seeing. This is the most important museum to see in DC or anywhere. Contemplate the lessons taught here relevant to our own time and the solemn obligations of a citizen in a democracy.

Karol Dabrowski

As I'm Polish this was must to see museum. I was very pleased with the layout and information. You don't feel good once leaving this place but that's what you should feel... Holocaust is a fact that should make us thinking!

Heather B

Finally came back after 23 years, to finish the rest of the museum I didn't get to see during my 8th grade school trip. Absolutely incredible and heartbreaking.

Chell Broadhead

This museum is one that should be seen. The artifacts, stories, images, and messages that are shared are profound and will change the way you live and treat others. Thought provoking and humbling experience. I highly recommend you get this into your visit when in Washington DC if you visit in spring-fall you need to get reservations which will need to be made at least 4 days in advance. If you fail to do that before you visit wake up at 6am and get on the website to reserve same day time slots, but be fast they go quickly. Plan ahead and while you are over there get tickets to see the US treasury!

luqman oloko

Amazing place!! great piece of history that should never be forgotten but learnt from. I strongly recommend anyone in DC should visit. I know it's free but to make the most of it you might want to reserve your full pass tickets online for $1 if you won't be getting to the doors early enough or you could get it at the doors for the following day. Without the full pass you don't get to see and learn the true history of the Holocaust and it's not really worth the visit

Tuval Barnea

Very impressive presentation at the Holocaust museum. We loved the little Daniel story and how it described so well what happened during the Holocaust. As a Jewish man I was looking for more of the Jewish point of view and there suffering during the Holocaust, however most of the museum focuses on the American part (or not taking part) of the Holocaust. I really loved the fact that it was the fullest museum we visited in DC and most of all I love that Louie, a Holocaust survivor, was there to speak to people and tell his story.

ivana gobbo

Excellent experience to reflect about the horror that humankind is capable of. Daniel’ Story is very moving and its exhibition is very very well designed. The main exhibit is absolutely stunning. How they captured every single detail to give you the perspective of the Holocaust. Being able to see all the facts in chronological order it’s very impressive. Everyone should visit this museum. At the end of the main tour you’ll see a “memorial room” where you can have your prayers for all the innocent victims.

Amit Pawar

Very informative place to understand the unfolding events leading to holocaust. You need good amount of time as it has lot of reading and few videos that unravel the stories pertaining to WWII. The museum is informative and emotional. It’s very disturbing to see hardship and painful sufferings faced by people during that timeframe.

Sally Cabrera

This is definitely one of the most important museums that anyone in DC should go to. Admission to see general exhibitions is free, but what you really want to go for is the Permanent Exhibit. I can't even go on to explain how impactful that exhibition was. Make sure to buy Permanent Exhibit tickets before they sell out for the day!

Zak Winduss

Very moving. Anyone would benefit from a visit to this museum. The museum is brief but respectful in its recognition of the minority victims of the holocaust and very moving in its reccounting of the plight of the Jewish people under Nazi Rule. Set aside at least 4 hours to see the museum, more if you wish to be thorough. It would easily take several visits to read evey item, however for the main highlights one could do it in 3 hours at a push.

Jason Clise

Check this one off my bucket list. This place is so nice and the architecture is gorgeous. It is so overwhelming because of the amount of exhibits and the shear amount of information to process. It is a very solemn place with all the pictures and faces. Such a waste of human life. To think of the cruelty upon another human is tragic. This is a must see when you get to DC.

crystal pelcarsky

This museum was extremely informative with great attention to details. Security at the door were detailed oriented and made you feel safe entering. Not recommended for young children. I appreciated nothing was sugar coated! I LOVE how they have survivors for people to talk to!!! Just make sure to set aside at least a couple hours if you want to truly learn.

Keegan McBride

This museum is my favorite i have ever been to. This is a museum that will make you sad for the rest of the day, but explains and shows you this period of time greatly. I recommend this to everyone age 13 and up. not appropriate for 12 and under.

Kara Hunter

A wonderful museum but truly heart breaking. It is so horrendous to think that something, especially to this scale, has happened in modern times. Everyone should visit here and see what the Jewish people went through. I couldn't imagine anyone through the museum and realizing how strong bad thoughts and the horrible propaganda we see today can be and why it is so important that we never get to that point again.

Jon Matyi

This an amazing tribute museum. A must see for sure but be prepared to spend several hours here. Great for middle school age and up. Younger children will like be bored as most of the museum requires lots of reading.

Basdeo Thomas

Let's all bare witness so we can be proactive the next time. Very elaborate museum

Yeanne Liau

Very informative and educational. Having taken history as a subject in secondary school, the exhibitions available shone a different light and held a different perspective for me. Spent more time there than expected. I was really tearing up at afew of the exhibits and had to manage myself afew times. This is a must see for kids - teens especially and it is definitely somewhere I will bring my own kids in time to come. Be prepared to spend at least 3 hours if you want to read, see, watch and experience it all!

Rachel

I enjoyed the museum. I was a bit disappointed to realize that tickets were needed for some exhibits and the next slot wasn’t for a few hours, but I should have done better research beforehand. There is an exhibit about children in the holocaust (no ticket required), which was quite moving Update—went to the exhibit and it was so worth it

Michael Valdivielso

First off, many of the bad reviews have been written by people who had no clue what they were doing. The Main Exhibit, which is two and a half floors of displays and artifacts, requires a ticket for timed entry during the busy months. The rest of the exhibits are free but make up a very small part of the whole. The Main Exhibit takes, at least, three to four hours just to skim through. I have met people who have gone back three days in a row to see it from start to finish. During the summer months, when tickets are used, it IS very crowded. They also have reserved groups from schools and clubs and tour groups that can make the Main Exhibit VERY crowded. It wasn't built to handle large numbers of visitors and the first hallway can become jammed. The tickets were put in place to try to stop that but there are always VIPs and Membership card holders who can bypass the system by their very importance. So there are always more people in the Main Exhibit than there should be. This is not a half-hour visit. IF you were smart enough to get a ticket plan to spend most of the day. And have patience. Now for the bad - security is not known for being polite and patient (even when I worked there). And for some reason visitors are never ready to go through security even though they have had to go through security in many of the other museums. The security here is like airport security. Just put everything into a BAG. And many of the Visitor Service staff who pass out tickets, work the desks, and such were not hired for their knowledge of history - they are there to help run the museum. You want to learn? Get ready to read for many, many, many hours. Most of us who had degrees in history left, or were fired, many years ago. The Manage treated their employees like the security guards treated the visitors. And the good guards have found better jobs with the Smithsonian. The museum cafe is a museum cafe in another building on 15th Street. If you want real food I suggest going to the Museum of Native Americans or maybe the National Gallery of Art. Otherwise all the museum cafes have museum cafe food. To complain about museum food just shows how many of the reviewers never leave the house. There are bathrooms on each floor BUT the ground floor and there are gift shops and, unless being worked on, a checkroom. And you will find lots of children, people using their phones and cameras, and being entitled. The folks who respected it, who came to learn about the Holocaust, visited shortly after it opened so many years ago. NOW most of the visitors you will run into are there to take a photo with the few remaining survivors, grab a postcard, and say they visited the museum. In other words people who are just passing through. People who are trying to visit as many places as they can in one day for selfies for their Facebook. And to the museum they are numbers, so many voters that pass through each day, so they can get a yearly allowance from Congress. IF you don't want that - visit one of the art museums. Few people go to those and there are no kids and very few people talking on their phones or using their cameras with flash. In short - great museum where even the building was built to be part of the exhibits (like the American Indian and the African American Museums later were) but badly thought out when it came to crowd control and safety and the handling of security.

Kara Damm

Our family left emotionally drained. The museum is something everyone should experience. I knew it would be emotional and so glad we could attend. We must never let history repeat itself.

Jeff Toback

The history in this museum was absolutely amazing, going here should be a reminder of learning from your mistakes

Kortni Painter

This kind of experience will bring you to your knees. I loved that they had a children's section that explained what they were about to see.

Jason Tussing

This is a must see museum for anyone living near or visiting DC. The exhibits are extremely powerful, especially the piles of shoes and the model of the gas chamber. Give yourself all day to see everything. There are several videos and a lot to read.

Toshua Brooks

You will want to visit this museum! Eye opening and sad. It's free but you will want to get the day pass so you can see the permanent exhibit. A great place to teach the child about history so the doesnt repeat itself.

Mark Thornton

Wow. Such a well designed museum. It starts off lighthearted and intriguing, and gradually tells an incredible story of rise to power, failures, successes, and eventually goes into the atrocities which occurred during this time. The story is so well told using mediums of all kinds —artifacts, video, still images, recordings, letters and much more. Very well thought out and delivered. Must see.

Jason Chu

Fantastic memorial & museum. Lots to read, so be prepared. A lot of WWII history is provided at the beginning of the permanent exhibition, to help contextualize/remind us of what we see in the last two-thirds. Staff were engaging and helpful. Permanent exhibition was very thorough. Some content is set up in a way that allows parents to easily censor it from their young ones. The permanent exhibition is free but there is timed-entrance during the spring & summer high-tourist months. It’s $1 to book a free ticket online. The only issue I had was that the air conditioning was on way too high!

Brittany Ledger

Apart from all the normal Smithsonian Museums which celebrate history, visiting the Holocaust Museum is just as important as the others. Being one of the newer museums, the exhibits feels very immersive, creating an all around experience. We went this past weekend, which was the anniversary of Kristallnacht. While my friend and I couldn’t spend as much time as we would’ve liked on the third floor (the first phase of the three parts of the museum). Where you begin the tour becomes quickly congested since the museum directs visitors here, it becomes extremely claustrophobic as both sides of the hallway are filled wall to wall with people. Along with powerful exhibits, the architecture of the buildings are aesthetically pleasing.

Kyle Hansen

What a sobering experience. It was heart breaking to walk through and see the horrible treatment of many people during the Holocaust. I'm glad we made time for it during our visit to Washington DC. It is quite crowded, but I just didn't let other people push me along and faster than I wanted to go. It's emotionally heavy, so be prepared for that. It also takes about 2-3 hours to really enjoy the museum. Getting tickets isn't bad as long as you plan ahead. They also have same day tickets that go on sale first thing in the morning (like 6 AM) if you forget to get them ahead of time.

Adan E De Dios

How to explain... it was a bittersweet experience. - bitter for the fact that the Holocaust is a tragedy. -sweet because it gives a slight feeling of what it was like. Also, the displays were very nice.

Steve Derrick

Daniel's Story: walk through his house/life (with a couple video) as his world is turned upside down by the Holocaust. Hard to fathom 6 million people being killed that way. A couple actual survivors volunteer their time to visit and take pictures.

Andrew L

The museum needs updated just a little bit. I felt like I had to read everything there. To understand what I'm looking at. The whole place just felt like a walking book.

Candelaria Brown

United States Holocaust Museum I visited the museum in May. This museum has been in my list for some time. The structure itself is simply magnificent and breathtaking. The museum is well designed and divided in different sections by floors. I visited on a Thursday and the lines were not long at all. When you first enter, you can request a map and this facilitate the touring of the museum. The official website can give you all the information related to operations. I am not Jew or strict religious person. However, I am a world traveler and love and embrace the diversity of people and tongue. Living in Europe, where I studied WWII and visited some former concentration camps, I knew the Holocaust being a real experience that killed many human beings, just like you and I. And this is very important that you keep in mind as you visit the museum. I plead that you walk in with an open heart. The museum is striking. And it is also a solemn place. Sit in the main hall where the Scriptures speak of heartache, hope and yes the liberation of the human spirit. Stroll throughout the bottom floor where the cards design by children remind us the importance to guard life in its diversity and beauty. Walk through the first floor exhibit and put yourself in the position of the Jews. They too sat in tables; eat food, and slept in beds like we do today. I am humbled by this visit and hope you will go. My hope is that you, as a traveler would open your heart to what unites us as human beings, the need to love and be loved. I think that one of the objectives of the Museum is to allow the heart and mind to confront a very harsh part of the History of mankind. It worked. In a world in which people want to emphasize divisions, the message of hope and love overcomes prevails throughout. Enjoy the tour. It is worth it. And do not forget to visit the basement. Besides the children exhibit, you can see the efforts the museum has overtaken to try to stop genocides in varies part of the world. Do your part and share. Maybe you too would open someone else mind to the splendor found in all ethnicities, and the importance to protect and guard Life – Happy travels.

Heather Matthews

It was well put together and had many artifacts. I loved the room with all the shoes because it showed an amount of people who were killed but didn't even scratch the surface of how many it actually was. Super sobering! Loved the remembrance room where you can light candles. Give yourself plenty of time it's a lot to take in.

Ping Hogan Wang

At first I thought I couldn't relate to the history but the exhibition was presented in the way that you can relate on the level of basic human experience. I think that's what makes it so powerful. After seeing Daniel's Story, I left the exhibition sobbing. On holidays or weekends it gets really crowded and that makes experience less enjoyable.

Dawn Lim

Amazing. Evocative and Thought-Provoking. I'm so so glad I went. The exhibits, while mostly comprising photos with descriptions, did an excellent job of portraying the holocaust. The experience was surreal and haunting while also sobering. The curation is amazing. Really well-done. This is a popular museum so tickets for the permanent exhibition run out quickly. I only managed to get a 4.30pm timed pass on the same day. You can avoid disappointments by checking online (same day tickets) first. The pre-booked tickets cost $1. The special exhibits which do not require tickets are super impressive too. In fact, I think I got more emotionally roused from that. Really an awesome museum, even for a non-museum person.

Lauren Hovde

Extremely moving and well done. I do not recommend bringing young children here. There are many graphic pictures and videos. There is a more child friendly section of the museum that is more appropriate.

Chris Gullett

Incredibly humbling, terrifying, informative, and interesting. Go straight to help desk and allow them to show you how to begin the tour. Be prepared to set aside at least 4 hours or more to fully take in all the info, graphic photos, videos, tours, etc. Definitely recommend!

Kaitlyn Catalano

I guess I'm a bit biased as I am interested in the subject and psychology behind the Holocaust, but if you are naive or interested in the subject, this is the place for you. You begin your journey on the first floor and grab an identification card and hop into the elevator to the 4th floor where the journey begins. it gives you a bit of a preface and then you're on your way. As you make your way down the exhibits, you learn much ore than you ever thought. This is something you will never forget, not just another place with artifacts

Carlos Wicks

This Museum was absolutely amazing I learned so much that I did not know. If you have sensitive children or a sensitive person the third floor can be a little difficult. And all I am so glad I was able to experience this and I look at different nationalities a lot differently now. Thank you

Sandra Wiles

Incredible museum (although heart-wrenching) I cried from the minute I saw the 1st picture as we stepped off the elevator. We must never forget such atrocities, lest they begin again. That was the most horrible (but necessary) thing I learned there, something hugely tragic can start from many little ugly things that are allowed or overlooked.

Ryan Nichols

Had to visit twice to take it all in. Extremely well done and quite informative.

Etsa Mee

Beautifully honors those who died. Never forget. Lots to read, plan on quite some time being spent there. Not suitable for small children. Has a recommended age of 11. I'd even say 12..

A.C.

Admission is FREE, and would urge everyone to visit USHMM at some point in their life. Prior to my visit to DC my mind was set on stopping here for their FREE ticketed (spots do fill up, so please order in advance or check in early) exhibition. The exhibition is a self-guided tour between floors 2nd-4th, and occupies 1-3 hours (there is no rush, moving at your own pace is key). Upon entering the exhibition, you are given an identification card detailing a real person’s account of the Holocaust, adding an emotional attachment that will carry you through the end. There are many artifacts that coincide with each point in the story line, and everything is presented in chronological order. The exhibition was very captivating on multiple levels, leaving me to assess my civil duty in this world. I HIGHLY recommend this to everyone, it is essential light is shed on the horrific actions of mankind in hopes that history doesn’t repeat itself.

Emily Muckey

Such a powerful message and there were 2 survivors there when we went and we were able to talk with them a little bit truly amazing and so thankful for the opportunity to learn.

Christopher Recabal

It was a breath taking experience. Went in with some knowledge of the Holocaust, came out wanting to know more about the topic. It shows almost everything that occured at the time. Loved it!

Andrew Smith (andrewthesmith)

Very impressive museum, very engaging experience and design..I think it's one of the most important of the Smithsonian museums

Sin Aguayo

A very heavy and emotional place to visit. Entrance is free. However; between March and August there are only a limited amount of tickets that the public can purchase just a heads up. Like any other museum in D.C. expect security to be tight. This is a very big museum that circles around itself. The exhibits consists of various items and artifacts recovered from WWII as well small films in mini theaters showcasing all the events that led to the war. Very educational. As you walk deeper into the exhibits, pictures of holocaust victims are displayed with short stories about their lives. I was very heartbroken at the level of cruelty these human beings had gone through. Towards the end of the museum, there us a temple of remembrance. The fires within this temple are always lit. Highly recommended for the whole family. Follow me and my adventures ig: @Sin_Aguayo fb: sin Aguayo

Vincent Lee

This is four levels of thought-provoking exhibit that will trigger a flood of emotions if you would let the well-documented events of the Holocaust take you on that journey. You start with an elevator ride to the 4th floor and into the year 1933 when Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany. With a combination of wall-to-ceiling photos, videos, audio, and artifacts, you will slowly be weaved into the fabric of a society deemed by Hilter as "racially inferior". The bright and airy transitional spaces of bridges, rooms and stairs between the permanent exhibits seem to help "regulate" the waves of emotion I was feeling as I descended to the final floor. I thought such an architectural feature (ie. transistional spaces) is interesting. It did not take away from the apparent horror of genocide but provided a moment for reflection... of what I have just learned and what I know of the world at the present. Arm yourself with a good pair of walking shoes and take at least 2 to 3 hours of your day to explore this musuem yourself.

Jorge Carrera

An incredibly moving journey through a tragic and heart wrenching era in history. The United States Holocaust Museum does a masterful job of guiding you through the rise and fall of Nazi Germany and the atrocities they committed along the way. The museum is structured in a way that helps attendees grasp not only the overall overarching story behind WW2 but countless individual stories that complete the experience and hold the true emotional impact . The museum is multi level and anyone seeking to really enjoy it should accommodate to spend a large portion of their day here. Beside posters of information on the wall, there are numerous historical relics and video/audio booths that run for 5-15 min with the next showing starting exactly 1 min after the previous one ends. Thankfully, my girlfriend and I visited on Jan. 24, which happened to be the March for Life, so we encountered little to no foot traffic until about 2 pm. With that said, we arrived at the museum at 12 and even with those 2 hours practically alone we still spent nearly 5 hours in the museum in order to read and enjoy everything they had to offer at our own pace. The museum security were very thorough and quick. Admission was free and during the month of January there is no need to book a time slot online beforehand. Possibly because it isn't as busy. An absolute must visit museum. Don't forget your tissues because tears are almost a certainty.

Stephanie P.

Great conveyance of information necessary for understanding and remembering the horror and lasting impact of the holocaust. Great exhibit of young boys life before and after WWII made it easy for our 8 and 10 year old boys to understand the history of holocaust victims in a more personal level.

Shaplr

The museum is awesome, it moved me! But it was way too crowded, thus couldn’t follow the story to its fullest

Cory Bernazzoli

This museum was my wife's favorite thing about our trip to DC. I haven't been here since my 6th grade field trip (currently 29 years old) so its been a while. Staff was very pleasant, very clean and well kept and inside is HUGE. Beautiful architecture , we were able to secure tickets to the permanent exhibit, the main attraction even though they were limited. Had a great time walking around the exhibit and seeing everything, it was fascinating. Definately a must stop if you go to DC just get there early, like 10 am so you can get tickets. They cost nothing and its worth it.

Tiffany Brandell

The most gut-wrenching experience, but the displays are full of such an incredible amount of history. You don't have a choice but to learn something, and we all should learn something from this place. Highly recommend visiting at least once, and you should definitely try to reserve tickets ahead of your visit.

Crystal Guevara

I arrived too late in the day to experience the whole museum. I did get through the smaller exhibit, still very powerful. I will return to see the rest in the spring. The staff is very friendly and helpful.

Amanda Pelkowski

Everyone needs to come here. Moving. Harrowing. Gut wrenching. So important. I am so grateful they did not censor out the violence (the brutal stuff is out of reach of children, so well thought our). It needs to be seen and known. Thank you for building this. Lest we forget.

Katie

Very surreal and informative of the happenings during the Holocaust. Almost every part of the museum had descriptions and information about things that were showcased, and everything there was authentic from this time.

Tenchy Jefferson

Great museum. Really gets you thinking about how terrible humans are to each other. It's definitely a must see for many people.

Esi Aidoo

An amazing place which gives detail about the holocaust and what happened before, during and after. It's a place to go to! This is amazing history which connects us to our ancestors. It is an insightful place!

Roberto Delgado

Impactful, informative, and it can certainly give you an overwhelming sense of empathy. Staff were helpful and everything was super clean.

Tessa Elizabeth

The history is wonderful. It is very time consuming. They say 2 hours but if you're into the history and you take your time to read everything (which is a lot) it's closer to 3 1/2 hours, maybe 4. Definitely worth it.

Moira Bundschuh

Amazing. I have been three times previously but brought my daughters (9 & 11) for the first time. We sat and spoke with two holocaust survivors which was very moving. We spent four hours on two floors. My daughters were riveted and read and watched everything. They wanted to stay longer but had become very hungry. We went to the cafe and had lunch. It was affordable compared to DC prices and we liked the soup, couscous, macaroni and cheese and sandwich options. We opted to not finish the rest of the museum (after liberation and children’s portion) since they were at their max with the emotional weight of the museum. I will definitely bring them back so they can finish the museum next time we visit. It is such a powerful place.

Eugene T

Well curated museum and memorial. Haunting. Main tip: be sure to spend at least 2 hours here as you start from the 4th floor and make your way down along a guided path.

mks9554

Learned a lot of history... shocking... depressed in awe.... I also watched the movie Schindler's list... the movie is so realistic...

Jess M

Absolutely amazing. It gets cold in there so bring a sweater. First floor is free to go in and view however 2nd and up they will charge an entrance fee. It’s a wonderful place to visit to learn about the harsh realities that happened - if you’re into that kind of stuff. It may be a bit hard to view for some.

Radovan Hosek

Must to see. As I am from the Czech Republic, and i was born closely to Lidice, it touched me very deeply. Count at least with 2 hours, rather 3.

Isaac Zuniga

Go in knowing it will be a tough experience. From the moment you get off the elevator you are engulfed with a huge amount of sadness and realization of the atrocities committed against the Jewish people.

Nicole Weigand

Thought-provoking and heart-wrenching. Will require more than one visit to appreciate all the exhibits. I could only complete two levels before I needed to leave. I was simply overwhelmed- not only for what humans did to others, but also the potential of what the future lost. My favorite museum thus far. I believe it is truly a must-see for all.

Douglas Tate

We were not sure our 10y/o could handle it, but she did. Very moving experience...well done museum Lots to see...you need 2.5 to 3 hours

Ray Stevens

The museum handles the content very well, providing relevant background and not shying away from the harsh realities. It's not easy to experience but is critically important for all generations to be aware of in order to avoid anything remotely approximating this ever occurring again.

Wendine Bolon

The museum provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the circumstances that led up to the Holocaust, the conditions faced by the Jews and other persecuted non-Aryans, and the impact of action and inaction.

Lindsay Toll

Extremely well laid out ... very emotional ... would love to go back and spend more time

Christa Wessel

Super educational. To get tickets you MUST get in line early. We got there at 8 am and 50 people were already in line.

Richard Mewhinney

We learned so much more than has been revealed before. A must see to learn from the past and prevent it from ever happening again.

Caleb Sieving

To see the main part of the museum you have to buy a ticket and when we showed up the weren't selling anymore, tho others were still getting in to see the museum, if your going to visit make sure you can get a ticket ahead of time! Otherwise there is the self guided tour in the basement but it's not as good.

L D

The architecture of this museum is phenomenal, but NOT A MUST see in my opinion, I have a great appreciation for other cultures and their hardships but if you CHOOSE this over another museum you are going to be sadly disappointed. But they do have a FREE COAT and BAG CHECK!!!

Criswell Farms

We listened to an 80 year old survivor and toured the museum. One of my favorite places in DC. They have done a great job with this one!

Haylie

Long lines to read exhibits, it's well done inside! Particularly like the acknowledgement of Roma as well as the new exhibit on Burma. But I wish there were more artifacts or if the exhibit walk through was more immersice like the WW2 museum in NOLA.

Yuri Mena

This iconic place should is full of appreciation for lifetime and remembrance staff is always amazing. It’s a life story and treasure

Edel Lopez

Is a great place, really well organized and all the rooms are thought to make us think about the past, the present and what not to do in the future. After the visit you will want to take a break and just relax because is an strong experience.

mechrorobotocon

Come pay your respects and learn something. My sister accompanied me, and has also visited the Holocaust museum in Israel. It’s heavy, but this shall not be ignored.

Michael Ziemelis

Amazing museum showing elements of the Holocaust in an extremely impactful way. You start by taking a biography and then going up an elevator. From there the museum walks through the chronology of this horrific event in a way that will be hard to forget. Very well done.

Terri Hohl

I was not sure if I wanted to experience this, but it was very informative and designed to make you experience the mass crowds of people with long crowed halls (weekend) that lead to the next Exhibit. Not very graphic- which I was glad.Learned a lot I did not know.

Reagan Toal

Very well done exhibit. Very very sobering and informative. However, it takes at least four hours to go through if you actually want to read everything. We gave it two hours because they said online to give an hour and a half, however when we were half way through the second floor they said that they'd be closing in 40 minutes!! Go early early early. And learn a lot.

Angel Alexander

Be prepared to spend a few hours walking the exhibit. A must see on your D.C. tour.

Brandon Lake

This museum is very humbling, somber, and sobering. Still you have to go an expiernce this museum my words will never do it justice.

mandi jones

This was okay, alot of what it you learned about in history class at high school. The exhibits are pretty good. Some of the photos are very sad...I was emotional over the hospital that would do the killing of children. There is one exhibit that is a little shocking, the shoes of the victims that were executed. See my pic.

Traeden Overly

This was a very powerful experience, so much amazing information. I recommend dedicating 2-3 hours to viewing, I felt like I still couldn’t get to everything but I got to most everything.

Gabriel Mayr

Comprehensive museum, with information about pre, during and post war times. An important visit to learn, pay respect and make sure that we don't let it happen ever again.

Adi Pratama

Amazing experience. Another must visit museum in DC. The experience provided by the museum arrangement sunk you to the story and reflection about one of the most terrible humanity tragedy in history.

Chrissy

It was very well designed. Overall, it was very educational but also sad to see the pictures displayed. It was a bit crowded walking to each exhibit but I went on a Sunday so maybe that’s the case.

Dawn Barnes

This was a great educational experience. I visited as a child years ago and got to visit again as an adult and really absorb the information. I didn't need tickets to go and the line wasn't too long. My only wish is that when crowded, they didn't allow too many in at a time. I felt rushed by others who were trying to go through quickly. Other than that, I highly recommend this museum.

Brendan Crawford

Extremely informational. Tells a lot about the history in the suffering that the Jews Hindu word and suffered. May be a bit graphic for younger children. Viewer discretion advised.

Rob Mundt

Very surreal and moving visit, feeling like you were there during the occupation. The memorial is a testament for its time.

Matt Peppes

This place is amazing, by far my favorite museum/memorial in all DC! The permanent exhibit was an incredible, but emotional, experience. Make sure you obtain your tickets well before visiting as the time slots can sell out.

Phil

Cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable horror that was perpetrated by one man on so many millions. One must visit this museum and hope that everyone who visits will pledge to do ones part to never again let this happen ever.

Heidi Benson

This was my dream: to pay my respects "in person" to millions of people who might have made our world better. I will always question WHY? did this happen? HOW? The museum is informative and laid out in a sensitive fashion. I keep reading books in an attempt to understand, but I'm not sure I ever will. Thank you, Washington D.C., for making this available to the world, and at no cost. It's a beautiful tribute to beautiful lives so needlessly lost.

Ryan Kirkham

Unbelievably, gut wrenching. Hard to see all that transpired but food to understand. This is a cant miss DC stop. You won’t regret it.

Michael Sinensky

moving. whether you are Jewish or not, it's a must do in DC so that we all can witness to humans at their worst and on the flip side surviving and hope. super important to learn why this happened - Never again

Charlie Choe

Amazing and powerful exhibits. Oftentimes the volunteers are survivors themselves. Parking is extremely limited so try to metro if possible. Tickets are available online (recommended during summer months). It's definitely a heavy topic so try to schedule something lighthearted afterward!

Sherri Barham

This museum is very well done. It is very emotionally moving. Even a ride in the elevator had impact. Daniel's Story is an excellent presentation that is easy for children to interact and understand the series of events. It leaves a lasting impression. I highly recommend.

Karl Hjembo

There was a good mix of static displays in addition to photographs depicting the Holocaust. I learned a few things I didn't know before, such as how Jewish tombstones were used to make a walkway. Also, stories of European Jews joining or starting resistance movements added a few more details to what I know about the Holocaust. Additionally, all displays are done in chronological order and add context that helps you gain a fuller appreciation for how tragic this period of history was. It's well worth seeing either for an introduction to the Holocaust, for a refresher or for a more detailed understanding of this important period of history. Many displays can be real tear jerkers, so be prepared for that as well.

Tisha Devine

This museum does a great job portraying the history and the holocaust. It does so much more than you can read in any textbook. I enjoyed my visit and plan to return to explore the other exhibits I did not get a chance to visit.

Lori McAfee

Such a powerful and humbling experience. I have so much respect for the success of presenting this difficult history in a balanced way. Tastefully done (can this topic even approach something 'tasteful'?) and I believe palatable enough amd necessary for many ages.

Brandi Yu

Tips: Don’t go on a weekend if you can help it. Go early to avoid a line even in winter. There’s a line a much SHORTER line in the back side of the museum. Bring tissues man.

Robert Wagner

A story that must be told. Devastatingly real. MAYBE A TICKET HACK: I could not get daily tickets that became available at 7 AM. The program kept telling me that they were not available for the day. I noticed the program kept mentioning somthing about purchasing tickets previously. So I went in a purchased them in advanced for a dollar a piece then I went back to the tickets that were available for the day at 7 AM and the program let me buy the tickets for that day. I guess since I had already purchased tickets previously the program had me in the system. I hope this helps anyone trying to get tickets at 7 AM.

Pearce Dowden

This is a great Holocost Museum. Recently, i have traveled in Eastern Europe a lot, and this is equivalent to those in Riga, Budapest, Prague. My favorite part is the hall of Heroes near the end. It has uplifting stories of individuals who out themselves at risk to save and shelter neighbors and strangers.

Louis Hellinger

An amazing experience. Kind of hard to look at such a dark time and the horrors of the holocaust, but this is such an important museum to visit if you are in DC.

Joshua Hartman

Such a powerful exhibit. Felt very drained by the end. Everyone should see this.

Tim Lethbridge

This is a must visit every time we are in DC. Very somber. They have done a good job placing exhibits that could be too strong for young children in ways that give the parents control over what their children see. Highly recommended.

J Michael

This is a must see museum. It’s hard to face the evil behind the holocaust but it must be faced to prevent it from happening again. The museum is beautiful and it is designed to be a timeline, starting from the rise of Hitler to the liberation of the camps. Will be visiting this again!

C W

Amazing and informational experience. I spent a good two-and-a-half hours here and skipped some of the reading and did not go to the kids section. This museum gives the points of view of almost every country involved in the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust. There was lots of information here that I learned that was skipped or glossed over in my normal history class. The curators were very brave in depicting several countries complicity in this tragedy, including the United States. The only downside was the museum was insanely crowded, especially at the front. Plan to get there early and miss these crowds.

Rosa Arévalo León

One of the most emotional and educational experiences. The only bad thing it that the AC was too high that made you feel unconfortable.

Weizhe Lim

Absolutely harrowing and memorable. I have been to concentration camps in Germany and watched dozens of documentaries, but the exhibits shook me to the core. I actually saw a tourist crying. Spare yourself >2.5hours and an open mind. Slowly make your way through the museum; it's a sad, experiential walk.

Lee Atkin

I spent 2 days here and still did not see and read everything. You definitely want to plan to spend a lot of time here or be prepared to skip a lot of the reading. In the past I needed to get there in the morning to get entry tickets for later but that was not necessary these two days.

Kate

One of the most powerful, well-done museums I have ever been to. It takes you through the whole story--winding you through the Holocaust start to finish, with every detail illustrated with videos, artifacts, photos, etc.

LadyJenn Cailleach

On my first visit you were not required to have passes to the permanent exhibit. Make sure you call ahead for the passes. Those are the exhibitions you WANT to see. Very moving. Bring your tissues.

Thomas Fletcher

Wow! Every human being on earth should visit this tribute to the Holocaust. It's an eye and soul opener. Not to be missed or forgotten.

Miranda Wilson

Great museum with very thought provoking displays. However, it is hard to see it all and read all the signs in two hours (the permanent collection). Things are packed close together, so, you barely move. Very overwhelming because you want to read everything but with all the people and time constraints you just keep moving. Side note: be considerate of those around you and don't get right on the glass. Leave room for others to view it as well.

Ricky Penella

This was a must see! My wife came back from it a year ago and was determined to have us experience it as a family. I am ever-changed in the details and documentation from survivors and artifacts. History cannot be changed but it is up to us to determine and write the future! Knowledge and awareness of the past will make a brighter future for all to live harmoniously.

Nathan Sellers

This is a somber place. Emotionally it is heavy. They do a good job of having you ask yourself many questions. They also show that genocide is still happening today and we need to be informed and find ways to act.

Serran Lewis

This museum really breaks down the history of the Holocaust. It describes what lead to WWI, WWII, D-Day, and the Final solution. Even if someone who doesn't know anything about the Holocaust came you will leave heavily informed. It's great for children to be exposed to and have an understanding of the effects of Holocaust, propaganda, and political rhetoric that can lead to these grotesque events.

Kaitlin Kelly

They say people spend 1hr and a half here on average. I was there 4 hrs and still did not have enough time. It's a lot to take in even if you already know your history. I suggest breaking it up to a couple days. New exhibition downstairs of Americans reactions was pretty powerful, unfortunately I was out if time and had to leave. Will be back, a truly remarkable museum. Also most days they have a desk with a survivor sitting there will to share there story and answer questions. So go sooner than later, the number of survivors left are dwindling each day.

Lindsay Ray Nielsen

A well curated museum. Don't forget to check out the lower level to get the US perspective on the Holocaust.

Julie Lechner

If you're in DC this is a must to see. Make sure to go early and get tickets because by the end of the day there is a chance they might not have any left. Tickets are free so there is no excuse to not go and learn a vital part of history. There are many exhibits and dedicate a good chunk of time to really be able to take in all of the information that they have to offer.

Jay Borenstein

An important museum that everyone should visit. Very well curated with a strong emphasis on the history and evoking a true feeling of sadness and loss.

Jeannie Power

Timed ticket system worked well. I appreciated the warning on particularly graphic displays.

Grace R-L

This museum is so powerful and worth a visit for anyone coming to DC. Thank you.

lillian paige

It is very emotional. It was a good learning experience. I would wait until kids are older to bring them though. It is a very mature topic and there is some graphic pics and videos

Jason K

Very powerful. One of the best museum I've ever been to. You must go. Spend a few hours. Walk in the door, you will get the id card of someone from that time, take the elevator up and start there. Follow your person through the years. This place brings visitors to tears.

Dawn Nichols

This is so sobering to the reality of what really happened... it’s a bit difficult but simply because your brain has to process so much. The magnitude of what the Holocaust victims endured and the large amount of reading you have to do through the museum. It is quite common to see people weeping.. if it doesn’t really get to you before the room of shoes, that exhibit probably will. Get your tickets in advance in line to make sure you’re able to get in because they do sell out. It’s free at the door and only $1.00 online so it’s worth having the guarantee that you will get in that day. And don’t worry if you’re looking ahead and there are no tickets available check back online the day you plan to go early in the morning they release day of tickets.

Collin Bowser

Truly an experience that cannot be put into words. The museum offers various displays, artifacts, and media that offer a mere glimpse into what went on during the Holocaust. The layout is easy to follow and I'd expect to spend at least 3 hours there. I would like to say that the museum is great for all ages, but I feel that it's really something that you need to truly appreciate and it's difficult to do if you're young. Something important to note: with COVID you'll need to reserve a timed entry pass online ahead of time. I recommend booking at least one month in advance, but if you're lucky you can snag one of the passes that they make available at 7am each day. I highly highly recommend visiting!

Gary Chicko

One of the best educational museums I've been to.

Heather Strange

One of the best, most impactful museums you will ever visit in your life. I was in tears. Changed my life.

Jamie Rodriguez

Very quiet and morbid ambiance, respectful atomsphere, educational. It gives you alot of insight of what the Roma's, Jews, and other victims of the Holocaust had to go through, id highly recommend going if you get the chance.

Sarah Lawson

If anyone has questions about the Holocaust, they will he answered here. You can almost feel like you are actually there. It's heartbreaking.

natashacheyenne

This was an amazing and overwhelming experience. When you arrive, you select an ID, which tells the story of someone who was alive during the Holocaust. The museum is arranged chronogically, starting with the rise of the Nazi's and ends in 1945. The experience is difficult to describe because the museum does a wonderful job of showing the depth and gravity of the Holocaust to the current world. There is a haunting room of shoes, a wall of rescuers, a train cart, a door to a gas chamber and many other things that really drive home the tragedy and importance of knowing, understanding and remembering what happened there. I will absolutely visit again and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Roberto J. Fajardo

This is a must stop in DC. Powerful, somber. Tragic. But we must remind ourselves every now and then do that we use our voices and actions to stop evil before it gains power. It only cost $1 to get in. Excellent organization. Permanent exhibit is informative and has a lot of "artefacts" to support the message.

Sidney Walker

Very informative and educational, any time admittance for military and law enforcement even if sold out, free tickets

Brett Baltazar

A very humbling experience and eye-opening. It was one thing to learn the history from a text book in school, but to read actual stories and see real videos and photos of the various events that led up to the holocaust and what the people went through is astounding. Get your ticket online for $1. It beats having to wait in line for an opening!

Michael Buchanan

I love history, so this is definitely a five stars for me. If you have history, then this is definitely a treat.

Melanie Garbaini

Tickets are free but get them in advanced since they go fast and you need a ticket for entry. The museum was very large and detailed. We sadly had tickets for the day we were leaving and did not get to see everything (special exhibits). Took about 3 hours to "quickly" do the main part. The history and story told was heart breaking but very informative. It told me the history my family tried so hard to hide due to historical trauma.

Lyn Dale

So informative, so emotional, something every young person should learn about thoroughly.

Jo Reason

Amazing experience. I ran out of time the first day so went back for a 2nd day. I had planned to visit at least one Smithsonian but didn't get to it on my last day in DC. No regrets. Highly recommended!

Mz. Bailey

This is a very nice museum. I 've been twice once with my family and with my job. Both times I learned so much about how jews (&minorities) were treated during the Holocaust. Very humbling experience filled with videos, exhibits, and a beautiful building.

Alex Yeh

If you are a person who likes history. This place you must won't miss when you come to visit D.C. If you don't want to pay for the permanent exhibition, don't worry, most of exhibitions are free but the quality are still excellent.

Cassandra Lutjen

Get ready to have emotions rocked. This museum goes through history from the rise of the Nazi party to their fall. The strife of the Jews, disabled, homosexuals, gypsies, and so many others becomes more than just words on paper. More, there is a small exhibit on the atrocities occurring today in Syria. It's eye opening to see just how history really does repeat itself on many levels. I highly recommend this museum.

Joy McGhee

Very moving, sombering exhibits. They tell the story in a very detailed eye opening, heart wrenching, moralistic, soul stirring way.

Cortney JB

The Holocaust Museum is designed to be an experience, rather than just exhibits. I saw and learned things I had never known from this atrocious time in the world's history. Many of the other reviews share the deep meaning and experiences that are available here, so I'd like to focus on a few tidbits of advice I can offer for your trip here. First, if you're thinking of bringing your children or a group of high school students here, please DON'T. The videos and pictures are real and authentic and important, but imho should not be seen by young eyes who can't understand the full context of the holocaust. Big groups are a major distraction in the small spaces. If you are leading a tour of teenagers, please break up into small groups for this museum with adults who can enforce the somberness required of this one visit. Second, to purchase same day tickets, get online at precisely 6 AM to make your purchase. I was able to get the time slot I wanted (for $1 each). At 6:20, I looked again and all the same day passes had sold out. This was for a Saturday, which may be different than weekdays. Once you arrive, be patient with the security line, and be prepared to take a sip of your water while security watches to ensure it truly is water. Finally, allow yourself to be humbled to have an experience with as few of your preconceptions as possible. I realized while I was there that so many of my ideas about the Holocaust were wrapped in American History ideals and curriculum - and were at the very least incomplete. All in all, this was an amazing experience and I'm glad we didn't miss it.

Jocelyn Kinchelow

Words cannot describe how heartbreaking the exhibits in this museum are. A friend and I came to this museum out of curiosity and my God am I glad we did. Bring tissue and be ready to delve into a dark place, while at the same time admiring the strength of those that survived.

Jesse Larson

A must see when you visit Washington DC! The museum has more information, photos, and videos than I ever thought possible. And each one captures your attention, provides more understanding, and leaves you heartbreakingly breathless.

Erica Bell

Excellent place. Fairly close to parking building. Free admission.

Don Woodring

Reviewing the Holocaust Museum is difficult because Google requires the positive reviewer to be "love". We found the visit to be extremely important, intense, shocking, interesting and incredible. Sadly, it was intense and horrible learning the information from people who either personally suffered, they witnesses or researched how terrible humans are capable of treating each other. But, it is one of the most important museums in the world because of the importance of never allowing such a terrible thing to happen again. If you go, don't plan on spending only an hour or two. We spent over 4 hours there and we could've spent more. My soul ached during the entire visit. I am certain that I was 10 times more exhausted emotionally than physically. I recommend visiting this museum for everyone including high school students who are studying US History, WW2 , Psychology ,Sociology, or Human Behavior as long as the teacher requires some kind of written assignment that asks student for feedback. The feedback needs to include more than facts.

Dani Choi

Before visiting here, I thought the Holocaust would have nothing to with my country and myself because I just thought it is the Holocaust happened in Germany which is far away from me in distance-wise. However, the museum told me this is global and whole world is involved with this Holocaust. I was so sad and depressed because Holocaust is still going on somewhere in the world such as Syria. Why??? I was so impressed by this question. Humans beings are all equal regardless of ethinity, color, appearance, gender, and extras.... We are all EQUAL. Why did people hate Jews and how could they kill 600 million Jews......... How could they do that? The thing makes me more sad is that there are still discriminations in terms of Race, Gender, Social status, and so on..... in the world. Why do we hate each other? Why can’t we love each other regardless of them? Is it a nature of Human being to have hatred? Those kinds of questions keep ringing... I think this is the power of the museum. When you come to DC, NEVER miss this museum.

CMB Caspanello

Be aware of your surroundings because this exhibit is the most thought out museum that I have visited in DC, actually anywhere. Whomever but the thought and effort to the pathway and story this historical event tells deserves an award or recognition. Bravo!

Gabby Stormont

Very mind opening. Very very sad. At the end of the tour you read Davids story and it almost made me cry when you actually get to walk through it.

Huyennga Cao

This Holocaust Memorial Museum was really horrific. Adolf Hitler was very brutal. It was sad to see how many lives he had killed innocently.

Anthony Frye

A powerfully moving experience everyone needs to go here... Remember your history or your doomed to relive it

Debisree Ray

It's a must go place in DC if you are a history lover, specially if you are interested in WWII. It would take at least half a day, or more if you decide to give a serious attention. Lot of photographs and rare video and audio clips. The interior is very cold, might need a light jacket.

Paul C

The subject matter is well known but the museum treats it with the utmost respect and presents its material in thought provoking ways. Definitely the first museum you should go to when visiting Washington.

Drew Kenyon

I would share pictures but I never took the time to take them because I was busy taking in the sheer horror that was the Holocaust. This museum has footage that will shake your very soul to pieces and instill a new resolve to fight tyranny and eradicate evil, prejudice, and hatred. Everyone should visit the Holocaust museum and see for yourselves how bad it was not only for the Jews but also the homosexuals, Jehovah witnesses, gypsy’s and many other groups. The Jews definitely had it on the largest scale. This place starts you off in roughly 1933 Germany and as you progress through the exhibit, the years progress with you and atrocities unfold before your eyes. Take a towel, because tissues won’t be enough. (Tickets booked online are the way to go and cost $1. )

Jillian Bohach

Such a moving experience. Words cant describe how powerful this museum is. Although a sad experience I highly recommend coming here.

Kathy Austin

Full of interesting history. Very sad and emotional but so worth going to

Thomas Verret

I brought an 8th grade group for a field trip to DC and the was one of our stops. It was the favorite for a majority of our students. They were blown away. We had learned about the Holocaust throughout the year. They had two men that were born in concentration camps and they were at a table talking to students. The students were able to ask them questions and the men were very open and honest for the students. They couldn't believe that they were talking to two men from that event. It was incredible. I wish we had more time to be able to watch the movie that they were showing but we had barely over an hour and the movie was 38 minutes so we decided to go through other parts of the museum. Other students from our group decided to watch the movie and couldn't stop raving about it.

Hannah Walton (Clara)

Love this place. The main exhibit is life altering. Tickets are passed out in the mornings around 9:45 and they're free. Unfortunately this year when we went they ran out so we didn't get to see it, but there are other exhibits to see.

Margarita Llanas

I had a very thoughtful and emotional experience. A really large museum. Free admission but tickets are limited FYI. I am glad I was able to make it and explore the museum.

harmandeep baryar

Visiting this museum was worth every second .

Jasmine Farahat

This museum does a great job in bringing to life a terrible tragedy in human history. I especially enjoyed their children's exhibit which takes you through the life of a young Jewish child before and after the Holocaust. As well as the area of voices in which you sit and listen to recordings of survivors sharing their experiences of living in concentration camps.

Aubri Wentz

If you’re coming to DC, you really should tour this museum. It is a lot to process, so prepare yourself. But it is worth it. The permanent exhibit goes in time order of Hitler rising to power, the Holocaust, until after the war. Tour is free, but as of Dec 2021 you must reserve timed tickets on their site. If you want to get the most out of it, plan to spend at least 3-4 hours here so you can read everything.

Andy Kreul

Words cannot describe the feelings of walking through here, simply amazing.

Rasheedat Zakare-Fagbamila

A must see for any human being...if we don't learn about the mistakes of the past then we are doomed to repeat them. On a less serious note, wear comfortable shoes, it's a lot of walking.

Christopher Cummins

When I was a kid I went to Dauchau in Germany, so I knew what to expect at the United States Holocaust Museum. Try and find time to see this museum, it's worth the trip. The lines are long because it's a popular Museum. One of the more popular museums in Washington DC. Some of the images can be quite traumatic, be prepared to wipe away tears.

Kim Reynolds

The holocaust was real and we can never forget. I went with a coworker who had no idea what it was really about. He is 25. Everyone should visit this museum and see what really happened.

Madeline Hart

Wow. This place truly leaves me speechless everytime I go through it. The way this museum captures the hardships that Jews faced during the Holocaust in unreal. It is a true gem in D.C!

Tyrell Williamson

A very moving experience. I was at a loss for words and filled with emotion walking through this museum.

Nicole Otero

Such a moving experience. Chronologically organized to express well and lesser known events that led up to the Holocaust. Was also inclusive of other victims, the Roma and LGBTQ people.

Phuoc Ho

A great learning experience. Centrally located next to all the other museums and monuments. Parking is hard around there. Free. Can't have any open bottles or food.

Stephen King

so crowded couldn't see half the exhibits. You have to get tickets and it still unbearable in there. Prepare yourself for an emotional experience

Bec Haley

My daughter requested a trip to DC and the Holocaust museum for her 16th birthday. A girl after my own heart. A must go...a shocking horrific reality that will leave a lasting scar on your heart and hopefully compassion toward those who suffer much worse than ourselves.

Allyson Gailey

Amazing and haunting place to be. Fulfills its mission in making you reflect on the event. So much information that it takes hours to truly read and understand everything. Very effective.

Tabitha Furlong

Loved it. Provides great detail on how the Holocaust came about , what happened, and the aftermath (which isn't mentioned as much). The shoe room was very moving, as well as people's own personal objects on display too. Smooth chronological flow making it a better experience. Enjoyed the gift shop too - great to see Jewish objects on sale with their meaning- but I hoped for a restaurant. Why? It'd be a perfect opportunity to try the food and culture of those killed- e.g. goulash, challah, bagels, etc. Still, fantastic museum

Hemanth Nirujogi

Must visit, really amazing place. Highly recommend to go with your family or Friends.

Wendy S

What a great learning experience. So much detail to history. My 10 year old was not loving it because he doesn't appreciate the value of history yet, but for those that do you will absolu6love it. Such pain to see what humanity is capable of.

Cyan Montoya

You need to go. I've visited Dachau, and that's a sobering experience. I think this museum is sobering as well, but has a mission beyond that. Go, and be reminded of what evil man is capable of. Soak it in.

Scott Wade

It was a little underwhelming as far as museums or memorials go. Nice, clean facility, somber experience, but had very little in terms of things or artifacts to look at. Four floors of plaques, movies, and plenty of pictures. Lots of "this is an impression of..." types of exhibits. By the end of it, yeah you left feeling kind of sad and cynical, but it also felt disingenuous. I may be missing the point, but I was hoping to see more from the holocaust than read about it.

Brett Ogden

A somber place but a great detailed exhibit. I would recommend at least two hours but plan for longer if you are a person who will want to read every word of every display.

Ryan Saucier

Very well done. A treasure of a museum. May we never forget

Alexis Bascourt

This is my 2nd visit to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial. My 1st visit was after visting the Dachau Concentration Camp, Munich Germany. The Memorial complemented well my visit to the Camp. There is so much to see and learn. My heart always breaks as I see the pictures, read or hear the testimonies. I'm glad that visited "Syria; I don't forget about us" exhibit, today people are being submitted to the same treatments as the Jews and others during WWII. Please don't forget this exhibit. As you know parking in this area of town is difficult, the best way to move is by using Metro or a Lift (taxis) service.There is no café or place to eat at the Memorial so bring food, water is the ONLY liquid allowed. Enjoy! Was this helpful?

Mary Ermi Drake

Visiting the holocaust museum is a bittersweet experience. It made me appreciate and be more grateful of the freedom we have today and mourn for the loss of lives of the horrific WW2 Nazi regime. The visit is more meaningful having been able to talk to a holocaust survivor. The museum is worth a visit.

a p

Great museum if you like history highly recommended

Marcus Forelius

Poignant, profoundly moving, and a place that forces us all to reflect on our actions and inactions.

Nicole in New York

Lots of very strong images, videos, story details. Is a nice place if you're into history and it's free.

JungJim 1776

Of all the museums this one should be seen by all ADULTS. It was very saddening and real. Mostly silent throughout the exhibit because of the subject matter "mass genocide." Go see and never forget!!! Warning I would not recommend bring young children the subject can be disturbing.

Bryan Springborn

This is more than a museum it is an experience. All of your senses are touched. This was an experience that changed my life.

Alejandra Mora

A very interesting and knowledgeable experience. It explains all the phases and motives of the war and the accounts of victims and witnesses. Very moving. A must visit.

Han Tran

Good place to go if you like history! Rooms are dark, and a lot of artifacts and videos displayed in the rooms. Space can be crowded. There is a security check when you walk in. Also bathrooms are close by.

J S

Words cannot describe the experience. The museum put a lot of thought in the layout of the museum, which made it meaningful, poignant, raw, and intense. Highly recommend!

J Biggar

This is a good museum. You could spend a whole day there. If you know any amount of history of WWII, then I suggest skipping most of the first floor. Also, might need a bit of revamping once WWII is completely out of living memory.

Deeksha Ramesh

An amazing showcase of hitlers impact on the world. The museum has 3 floors and takes about 1.5 hours to view. A lot of detailed articles, photos and objects displayed depicting Hitlers rule and concentration camp.

John Atchley

This museum is truely historic and sad at the same time. When you enter the Holocaust museum you are given a picture and name of a victim of the German Government. At the end of the tour you’ll find out what happened to the person you have been holding.

Susan W

Amazing as I knew it would be! Go online for tickets ahead of time. They only offer very limited same-day tickets online and they go fast. Take your time, read the stories. It took us 4 hours and could have easily taken longer.

sydney

absolutely unforgettable. so many amazing pictures, videos, and pieces of history. I learned so much and will always remember this experience.

Derrick Rieke

Very incredible place to visit. You have to do this!

Mike Marquis

A sobering experience to understand the level of hate required to commit genocide against so many people from all across Europe. Hard to wrap my mind around it even with countless horrific reels of film documentation by several countries. Everyone should see this to truly understand real hate speech and hate crimes.

Ashon Woodbury

Very well done museum that does a good job of adding a deep, personable historical experience to those who lost their lives. Hours of content here. Highly recommended

Gonell R.

Visiting here was very emotional. Great staff.

William Henry “Harrison” England

If you visit DC, this should be on the top of your list. History is the key to never again, and knowing the details of the politics that lead up to the holocaust give each of us the ammunition to make sure that we never let hatred lead any nation down the path of genocide again.

Stephanie Buxton

It was eerily inspiring. Me and my daughter learned alot. We discussed some of the events taking place in the world today and hoped that the holocaust would never happen again.

Madeline Coats

This is a place where you can have an experience through body and soul. Take time to go. Be sure to reserve your ticket online for $1 before you show up - we did it the night before and it worked out very well.

Ronald Thornhill

We spent 4 hrs on our visit, and will go back again

Matt B

I want to be like this place is awesome. It is for the historical side. With the amount of information it has. But so said what happened during that time in history.

Morten Andersen

Just go, this is a MUST in Washington D.C. You might not feel light hearted when you leave but this museum is next to Auschwitz itself the closest you get to the darkest moments in European history.

John Zingale

Every single person should visit this incredible and humbling place. It was my second time there, and I still left speechless.

Scott McDonald

Good place. Pretty sad and creepy. I wish there were more relics and not quite as much reading, but that’s typical for a self guided tour.

Avery Rose

Beautiful experience. Planning to go again in the future.

Lena RIVAS

Got to meet this amazing lady Sonia Kaplan, few survivors of the Holcost. A must visit museum so sad that the United states didn't help sooner and many lives could have been saved if others would have stepped in and helped but no one wanted to get involved such sham.

Lazer Farkas

Was an absolute experience seeing and living what they went through. Never forget.

Jennifer Phelan

A great museum. Beautifully represented a terrible time in history.

Prabhakar Chintalapati

Must visit place to know about Nazi's atrocities on Jews and Polis. I can't control my tears.

Marcus Vega

Depressing and smells like dead bodies. Pretty rough.

Aletta Grace Smith

Very interesting. It is big, set aside at least 5 hours, wear flat and comfortable shoes and have water to stay hydrated.

Santiago Ojeda

It’s a powerful experience that you need to experience, a lot of information and facts. It’s a really moving experience

Daniela Roa

It was a eye-opening experience. I definitely left with a better understanding about the crude reality of what happened. Bring jacket, it gets cold.

Rockville Sister Cities Corporation

A very important reminder of both depths of man's inhumanity and the grandeur of his resilience. Never forget.

E Holl

Very good , well done and lots of info. Be prepared to watch children’s eyes, lots of graphic images... very informative and lots of emotional stories.

Brad Hawkins

All, should spend time here. Unreal tragedy of Tom Foolery on such innocent people

john iheme

What a museum.. please go see and never forget!...John Iheme

Mark Andersen

Tough museum as all holocaust museums are. Not as unique as I had hoped when compared with others. What i hadn’t seen before is live footage of Germans shooting prisoners at point blank and burying them. The pictures videos and stories are numbing. It’s difficult and no words can do justice to the horrors then or the deniers now. Would have liked to see more on why few were held accountable and Soviet culpability both in murdering in eastern Poland and starting World War II. Also should we call out the liars (even in Congress) who claim the holocaust hasn’t happened or make trivializing comparisons? There is also an exhibit on Burma which obviously raises issues about how America turns a blind eye today. Plan on 2-3 hours. A lot of reading. Very few spaces to sit. Get tickets in advance or you won’t be visiting here.

Mike Sperry

Extremely crowded but I enjoy history.

Stephan Castellio

I thank you, USHMM, and your great staff, and still remember the important Public Program of the USHMM on October 5, 2006, (photo) important for the "forgotten victim"-group, important for the survivors and their friends who were present at the event. One photo shows many people waiting outside the USHMM building to become soon part of the audience, and the other shows a survivor from Austria together with German historian who was interviewed at that occasion.

jessica rivera

Don’t have the correct words to describe what you feel when you enter the place. My recommendation before you go is do some research about what is the holocaust and then you can understand the feeling when you are inside the place.

Frank Carbone

This museum was very nice, clean and informational. We really enjoyed it! Recommend going if you have a good amount of time. It’s a lot of reading. Only reason it didn’t get five stars is because it was so crowded that people were grouped up banging into each other trying to see everything. Wish it had better line/crowd control. Security was great at the front door and very organized but not so much in where the exhibits were. Every time we tried to read something another person would just walk right in front of us so we did what we could. Glad it was free because if we paid to get in I’d be pretty annoyed. They did an excellent job with this museum and I did learn a lot so definitely check it out!

Richer Janaker

It was the quietest public place I have ever been. Very moving.

PolarKohler

I learned about different things that happened during that time.

Jess Pollock

Great museum. Loved the children's exhibit for my 7 year old. I've visited a concentration camp in Germany and this museum does justice to the experience.

Heather Barron-Dunn

One of the most moving museums I’ve ever been to. My heart was wrecked 💔 …

Juan Gandara

This museum was so humbling its incredible that there was individuals that were capable of doing horrific things to humans. Incredible experience.

J.R. Fuertes

Tough visit, but if you don't your history......

Hunter Cole

Sobering museum. Go early to get your pass for the full offerings. The times I have been here I was able to meet people involved in the Holocaust - survivor and WWII veteran.

C S

Speechless. Such a powerful expierence. I can't say much without spoiling anything but I left in tears. If you go bring tissues, and prepare to read. There is a lot of info.

Tara Meade

My favorite museum in DC. So moving. Very well done. Highly recommend.

Iris Jones

I experience anger, and sadness. Also amazement seeing how these people resilience have help them to accomplish so much. The building is beautiful. The format used to display the material is excellent.

Jason Pawlak

So well done. The main exhibit is a treasure of stories and information. The museum has done such a great job preserving more than just the facts but also the stories. The layout is tough when crowded with quite a few choke points when everyone is going at their own pace. Daniel's story is a great exhibit for middle to older kids. Don't be daunted by a line outside the building, it moves quickly to get through security. Also, the cafe is not I side the museum. Would have loved to put on a headset and take a curated audio tour through the museum.

Jen R

I was very impressed with the amount of work it must have taken to put this museum together. It's a must see for anyone visiting D.C.

Rachel Ratliff

An amazing and moving experience that everyone going to DC should go lest we forget what happen.

Michal Krasowski

History woth knowing and a reminder for the future to come. The story is told interestingly and interactively. Not suitable for small kids.

Travis Moore

This was an amazing experience. We had a 2:30 - 4:30 ticket and we went in right at 2:30. I would recommend waiting until the first rush of people gets through, as the beginning was really crowded. We spent about 2 hours walking through the exhibits. I don’t feel like I came even close to reading/experiencing all of the stories and information. This museum is not for the faint of heart. The stories are raw and the pictures and accounts spare no detail. They did a great job keeping sensitive photos or stories shielded from younger eyes, which I’m sure was appreciated.- but it is definitely a museum/historical event that I will never forget.

Nautical Miles

Emotional journey through recent history that is already repeating itself. The pictures here mirror the abortion Holocaust.

Bethany Matos

Such a moving experience. It is a very somber experience but definitely something you should visit while in the area Make sure to get tickets in advance. They are free but fill up quickly. I took early college aged students and the experience brought about some excellent discussion. I would not recommend it for children that are too young to understand as there are some graphic moments.

Rosefire Myst

Very powerful museum. Well laid out, keeps the flow of the crowd moving at a nice pace. So much to read and videos to watch. You are not rushed along and can take your time. We only spent a few hours, but could have spent several more. If You want to really see and read all, I would say dedicate at least 4 hours.

Sabrina

We were so amazed and humbled by our experience and trip here. My husband and I could have stayed there all day exploring and reading all the exhibit material displayed there. Was a little bit difficult for my mother who has a harder time walking and standing up for too long and my younger daughter who couldn't grasp the full magnitude of the experience. But this is a excellent museum to visit and explore.

Michael Palomares

I could probably write a dissertation on how eye-opening my visit to this memorial was, but I'll keep it short as a review of the location. The facility was incredibly clean and well maintained (could use a few more do not touch signs though). The staff was kind and informative. I didn't have an issue with clumping of groups as mentioned in other reviews. Beware that you have to reserve tickets ahead of time: if you are military (active or veteran) you can get tickets at the door and be expedited inside.

Vachy Vachy

A very educational and moving experience. Great museum!

Cassie Tucker

Phenomenal. Free, but limited tickets are given out for each time slot to ensure that the permanent exhibit is not too crowded. The permanent exhibit is 3 stories of information and it's huge. It is kept cool, but I hardly noticed. A lot of the very graphic material is shown on monitors that are covered so that smaller children can't see it. There is a children's exhibit, Daniel's Story, which the adults in our group enjoyed as well. There are other exhibits as well. We spent about 2.5 hours in the museum, but I could have easily doubled that.

Jared Hare

A powerful and moving place. Our students engaged incredibly with the exhibits and the discussions after focused on problems of now and then. It's difficult to describe; an excellent museum and memorial to the darkest days in human history. The exhibits are carefully constructed to evoke emotions and the Hall of Remembrance ensures that visitors will not forget. An important experience.

Herrod Public Record

Free? Wow! Very heavyhearted visit but extremely well done and a fantastic museum.

C. IZZARD

Very unique museum where you will experience emotions unlike any other. The displays are very detailed. Lots of history. Lots of learning, lots of reading. Keep an open mind about what you will embark. Depending on the time you go, you will have the opportunity to take on the character of someone from that time. Put yourself in that person's shoes for the time you are there. Definitely a place to visit.

Tania Isabel Ocampo Núñez

Great experience, so much to see and reflect. The next time you witness hatred think about what you saw ...

Michal DeAngelo

No words can explain. Just go and please take your kids!

Nicole Albrecht

A must see museum when visiting D.C. I cried the while way through, bring tissues

J. Garty

No words. So eye opening, thought-provoking, and incredibly informational. You can easily spend hours upon hours reading the many stories, but the impact of the museum will be everlasting. The museum itself is very well laid out, and the staff is helpful and informative.

Lorinda Hoffmann

Good to know history, but very sad to see

Joyce Newsome

This museum is such a moving experience. It makes you feel like you are there while it is happening! It is excellently done. We discovered while we were there that you could get passes without waiting in the outside line if you are a veteran or active military. When you go in you are able to get passes to the upper level exhibits even if all passes had been given out because they reserve some for this purpose.

Chase Wolinski

Such a humbling and surreal experience. Could spend days reading every little piece of information. Would love to go again

Sofia Estrella

It is a heart touching museum. You should reserve for tickets online because they run out fast in the morning and you CAN NOT buy them in the museum.

marieandannette moukoury

It's so amazing and makes you think about a lot of people

Jessica Newcomb

Everyone should go at least once in their life. This museum is more then just sad memories, they did a very good job teaching the history to help you understand what was going on during that time. I came out feeling more angry at the injustice then sad. The staff is extremely nice and helpful! Even though the museum is free you do need a ticket to see the main portion of the museum. When you get your ticket you will get a time slot to enter the main exhibit. Tickets go fast so if you don't get your tickets online, make this your first stop of the day. Pick your time slot, get your tickets, see some of DC and then come back at the time you selected. Give yourself at least 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours to go through the museum. Trust me it's worth it to take your time and not be rushed through!

Kevin Keller

This place is an amazing testament to the horror and courage in the face of despair that humankind is capable of. The main exhibit is probably the cleanest and most well designed of all the museums near the national Mall. Beware this experience can take 3 hours and be emotionally draining, it's likely best to go in the morning and give yourself the rest of the day to process the experience and reflect. Be sure to visit the memorial/prayer room at the end of the main tour, it's a beautiful place of peace and a great way to wind down from the emotional and intellectual journey you're sure to experience here. Go ahead, change your life.

Matt Hamilton

Beautifully done. I also highly recommend watching the 14-minute video on the rise of Hitler at the start of the tour.

Chelsey A

This museum is a heartbreaking and beautiful documentation of the Holocaust. It is set up to carry you through the events as they happened. When we went it was very crowded so we weren't able to take the time to read all the signs that we by each area but everything is easy to see without having to stand right next to it. All of the exhibit areas are composed so well and you'll definitely want to take the time to reflect on things as you see them.

Larissa Mackay

This is a must see museum!! Well put together, with so much respect towards the victims. Thank you.

Brian S.

Wow. A must see, but a hard one. I couldn't stop crying. You can bring the kids, but be prepared to answer hard questions. As museums go, it's everything you could want. Well organized and detailed exhibits. Short movies explain various topics as you move chronologically through the museum. There aren't any interactive items, but I don't see how that would be practical. It can take two to four hours to complete the circuit. When I went there was a much shorter one geared towards younger children called Daniel's Story. The horrors were toned down, but I still cried. There are plenty of restrooms spread around and even a coat check.

Rickey Jewkes

Best museum experience I’ve ever had. I’d recommend giving yourself at least three to four hours there though, as there are many exhibits that take awhile to experience. You need a ticket to get in too. The best way to do this is to go get one as soon as they open around 9:00am. You can also reserve tickets online, but this costs $1.00 a ticket and they run out quicker.

Mickayla S

Very powerful. Before scheduling a time to visit, check out their busy times. We went the day after the march for life, and it was so packed you could barely move at times, and an some exhibits it was hard to read the information. Definitely a must-see! Theres also an exhibit for children, where they have a "PG" version that talks about a little boys experience.

Howell's Hollow

This is a must to teach our children. They have a children's section about a boy named Daniel....it's still very sad but told the story the way a child could understand.

Katie T.

Anyone who visits DC needs to make sure to put this museum on their itinerary. If you plan on getting the timed passes for the permanent exhibition, I’d recommend giving yourself at least 2 hours to go through the whole exhibit. It’s a self guided tour that takes your through the timeline of the holocaust from beginning to end. It spans several rooms across different floors. It looks small initially until you get passed the first bridge. It was such a moving experience, highly recommend. There are other exhibits in the museum that don’t require the times passes that I’ll have to check out next time!

Angelina Mazzeo

This place really touched me. The message was so powerful and even brought some to tears. Great place to go if you have a good 2-3 hours so you can really read everything and have the full experience. The one thing I might say is that this may not be the best place to go for younger children; some of the information, pictures, and videos shown can be considered frightening or graphic. Make sure you arrive early so you can get tickets to the permanent exhibit if you do not have them already. Anyone that has worked in the military or is a federal worker can get tickets for them and their family without waiting in the morning. Just go in through the medal detectors and go to the information desk and tell them you work for the government or are a soldier. If you can’t get a ticket, the rotating exhibits are amazing too, some being more interactive than others. The Daniel’s Story exhibit (rotating) is great, especially for the younger children. All together a great, educational place to visit.

Felix

Really interesting and moving museum. Particularly appreciated the child friendly exhibit 'Daniel's house'. Some of the exhibits were very tactile and with cobbled paths and life size traincarriages to walk through. Book ahead for the special exhibits and arrive 15 minutes before it starts to avoid waiting. Can be busy at times. The layout and architecture of the building are well designed.

Jack Hawkins

Very somber exhibit. A must see.

Marcus Welbey

One of the best museums to visit.

JD Odom

This museum is a must if you are visiting the DC area. The museum is very well laid out, and takes you through a well orchestrated timeline of events. This museum is a very emotional ride so prepare yourself. I have been here on four occasions, and every time I learn a lesson on tragedy, triumph and human perseverance. In addition, the museum also features Holocaust survivors from time to time. It is amazing (and sometimes heartbreaking) to hear their first hand accounts of the war and the concentration camps. This museum is a life changing experience.

John Mach

A very eye opening experience. Extremely well done. A must see for young and old. They state it is an hour or so. You can easily spend 2+ hours doing this tour. Highly recommend. If in Washington dc. Also recommend getting a timed ticket in advance.....

Sooner Keith (8timchamps)

One of the best museums in DC! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the sheer number of people they let in makes it really, really hard to take your time and really take in the museum. I had been the year it opened but was going to be back in DC and decided to so see it again. I was happy when I went to their website and noticed that they recommended getting tickets prior to your visit (they are free, unless you order online, then they are $1 each). I figured they finally realized the popularity of the museum and by requiring tickets, everyone would be able to get through the museum and see it all. That's not the case. It was still horribly crowded and that made it hard to see everything. That aside, the museum itself is incredible and worth the visit. If you are looking for one or two things to see while in DC, don't miss this one! It's very powerful and important and you feel that throughout the museum.

Christina Adams

This place is very interesting. Note: from March though September you need a ticket to enter the permanent exhibit. The permanent exhibit is very powerful. Visit the website for current ticket information. We reserved out ticket at 6AM for same day. There are other options. Our time slot was beginning at 2pm and had to rush at the end because the museum closed at 5:30. Not everyone spend that much time there. It can be emotionally overwhelming.

Ken Rodriguez

This place has been a life transforming experience for me on a personal level. Very professional and organized staff. They ensure that you have an amazing and unforgettable experience. For the permanent display, make sure to book tickets in advance and be there in time!!! Five levels of museum exhibits so make sure you have set aside a day for this place.

Vinyl Powell

I started crying while going through this hauntingly beautiful museum. I definitely do believe that it is a place everyone must see at least once in their life. The trip is well worth it, especially with the original train car used to transport victims to Auschwitz. I simply could not give this museum enough praise.

Kathryn Morbid

Very beautiful! Very emotional and heartbreaking. Informative and well taken care of.

Waverly Renee

It was my 1st visit. There's plenty of on street parking around the museum. It took about an hour and a 1/2 to 2 hours to visit all the exhibits and watch 1/2 the videos. There's a bathroom on every floor. Of course it's extremely sad. The employees are very helpful. It was very crowded when I went during the week because schools were visiting. Most important tip: Get your tickets weeks in advance.

michelle

I piece of history everyone should know about. Very well designed and clean. Allow for plenty of time to get through. I was there for 3 hours. Not a good place for kids unless they are good readers and interested in history. FYI, no food/drink is allowed on the exhibit floors. Tough to not have water at the very least. Parking nearby was expensive but it is DC. It was $20 on a Sunday.

Cara S

I would recommend going right when they open to pick up tickets. The Memorial Museum is free but they issue tickets to control crowds. We picked up tickets around 10am and had to come back at 3:15 because they had already given out earlier ticket times. Plan on designating at least 1 1/2-2 hours to see all of the exhibits. Definitely one of the most important pieces of history and museums to experience while in DC.

Jason Patrick

I really enjoyed this museum, despite it's very emotional subject matter. The detail and descriptions were outstanding and the emotions they trigger were intense (viewing the railcar, smelling the shoes, etc). No trip to DC isn't complete without spending a couple of hours walking through this place. I highly recommend it.

Amy

This place is fantastically amazing. My family and I spent 5 hours here and there was SO much to see. I can't wait to go back and take my children. This museum has done a wonderful job of capturing the historical context and horror of what happened to Jews and other 'outcasts' during WW11. Highly recommend.

Steven Waganfeald

Going to the memorial was like getting lost for nearly 4 hours, in the best way. The way the museum is set up it makes you feel like the outside world has fallen away and the only thing left is you and the memorial. It was an incredibly moving experience unlike anything I have seen in a museum setting. I learned a lot, felt a lot and came away more committed to being a good person and helping my fellow man. This is a place everyone needs to visit if they come to DC.

Vishal Kummetha

Excellent place to get your history straight. Great atmosphere and free entrance. Can you really ask for more? Might be a bit boring towards the beginning, but gets better as you get lower. Make sure to wear something comfortable as you will be standing for a bit. They even have live stories from an individual who knows a lot of history. Excellent place to visit.

Katie Evans

This museum was so well done. Incredibly thought-out with the flow and design of the entire museum. On a Friday in August we could go right in without reserving tickets in advance. The only thing I wish I’d known is to allot at least two hours, if you’re planning on really appreciating it.

William Purcell

This is a must see at some point in your life. You need a few hours to go through it. Tip: We arrived about 15 minutes before opening, got in with the first wave, and because you go through the museum in order, you had the exhibits to yourself throughout. I highly recommend getting there at opening as it was a much better experience.

Liberty Cosworth

Excellent, sobering experience. You absolutely need to see the main (permanent) exhibition. The memorial, etc. are only a very small portion of this museum. You will need to register for tickets (typically online) to ensure that you can go through the permanent exhibition - this is to prevent the museum from exceeding it's capacity, and allow visitors to safely and comfortably experience this well done exhibition. Depending on how busy it is, tickets may be immediately available to military, police, and ems personnel, and their group. It would seem like one of the previous reviewers did not know about the tickets, and never went through the museum's primary, centerpiece exhibit. They mentioned only seeing Daniel's story, the memorial, and the Syria exhibits. It would appear that they missed the permanent exhibition which constitutes the vast majority of this museum.

Katie Kleinert

This memorial is informative as well as a touching tribute. It is well curated and designed. Be sure you have enough time to really absorb the experience. The self-guided tour is about 90 minutes. The regular exhibition is not suited for very young children, but there is a children-friendly exhibit as well.

Richard Kingswell

A must see for all ages above 10 years old, need tickets or wait for agges.

Laytora Weatherly

It was very educational, emotional, and very crowded i think they should send in small groups at a time, because allowing everyone to go in at the same time gets very congested. People are trying to read every picture and every one is on top of every one and some are trying to move along but sometimes it was difficult to do so. But i got to say over all i really enjoyed my experience. This is my second time here and it has definitely been updated and i loved it.

Dannie Coleman

Very somber, sad this ever happened. This is a must see for anyone

Janet Allmon

Powerful and sad. It was hard to go through all the exhibits, because of the sensitive content. The displays are put in such an order that you naturally flow from one exhibit to another. Plenty of seating along the way. Interactive exhibits throughout.

yokngki logic

It was really an amazing experience, and also heartbreaking as well. I learned so much from the museum.

Questioning the Magic Donkey

Our family enjoyed our visit to the museum. It was incredibly moving and powerful. Our trip to DC was last minute. Still, it was easy to get tickets online. The museum is free, but tickets were required. There was a nominal $1 fee per ticket service charge. They scanned my tickets at the museum right from my phone. It was CROWDED! Expect to wade through crowds if you want to see every exhibit. The docents and security inside were friendly and very helpful. OMG the shoes will break your heart...

James Reeves

Everyone should visit it's an amazing memorial so we'll designed. I will never forget Daniel. Please visit you get the tickets at the center information desk for free. However, you do need to ask for it because it gives you the time to go in due to the amount of visitors there. My 13 year old daughter and I only waited 15 minutes but there are amazing things like Daniel' story to do while you wait. If you can please go, we will "never forget"

Karissa Eckert

This is an amazing museum and something everyone should see. There are a couple of logistical challenges to getting in here. I'd recommend getting your timed entry tickets online before you go. Entry is free but you do need a timed ticket. Even with your timed ticket you'll have to wait in the security screening line before entering. With our timed tickets (which I got two weeks beforehand online) we stood in line for 30-40 minutes to wait to be screened through security. The museum is beautifully done, amazing, and really makes a lasting impression. It's not the most uplifting experience but it's something everyone should go through. This was my 2nd time through it and the first time we had taken my 11 year old son. He did have some nightmares after going through it, but it also made a huge impression on him. I wouldn't take kids much younger than 10-11 years old through this because a lot of the photos and interviews are disturbing.

Michael Heath (Mike Actually)

The free exhibits are nice and interesting, for the permanent exhibit, it's not clear just how popular this can be. I strongly recommend booking online in advance if you are able to, as tickets for the permanent exhibit can sell out day of and even sometimes days in advance. Overall good though, very interesting to see different perspectives and look forward to returning in the future.

Chicklet64

This was an incredible experience. Lots of information and artifacts that really made the history of the Holocaust very real.

Eileen Giles

Very moving and informative museum. Lots of stories and rare videos. Loved the reading about and exploring personal stories. Lots of exhibits throughout the museum. We needed 2 days to see everything as they started telling us to leave at 5pm. We were a bit confused when we first went in as we didn’t know how the museum flowed. There’s elevators to the left side when you enter that you should first go up and make your way through the museum. But we didn’t know that. just thought it was just an accessible elevator, so we took the stairs to some exhibits. But didn’t realize till after we saw some aftermath exhibits. But it would’ve been better to see those after the top floor exhibits. Also there’s security to get into the museum and all the museum cafe (the cafe isn’t in the main museum, it’s a separate building with a spectate security). But I’d say the cafe was just okay. Nothing that special. Would have eaten elsewhere if we weren’t so hungry. Anyhow! Definitely recommend as a museum to see if your visiting DC. And it’s free!

Disney Dreams

Sad but needed. Beautifully done. Everyone needs to remember. I wish there was no cost like many of the other museums in DC so no one has an excuse not to go. Some people say it was a hoax. You definitely can't once there. The horror. My husband is only 6% but if his ancestors didn't make it, he would not be here. A must see!

Jeff Houston

The information and presentation was very well done. Unfortunately the challenge of sharing with as many of us as possible meant it was so crowded that the noise level in the entrance area was deafening. On the upper floors the number of patrons made access to the displays difficult. Clearly those who are managing the museum are trying to balance available space with interest from the public. This museum is worth the effort but requires patience.

YourLandAndCruiseExperts Travel

Tons of information here. You could spend hours looking at the displays, reading the info graphics, watching the short movies, and looking at artifacts from actual camps. If you need a scooter or stroller to get around, definitely bring it. There is a lot to see here over four floors. Great educational experience for teen/tween age kids too. Devastating info and images, but definitely Must Do when you're in D.C.

Trevor Hughes

It was way crowded when I went, especially on the top floor of the tour, but it thinned out on each floor down. I spent around 2 hours here but could have easily spent longer had it not been so crowded. There is a lot of information here and each exhibit is very powerful. I'm glad I went.

Brad Barker

Great museum with exhibits that will get you thinking. Easily a half day visit needed to walk through the museum. Make sure you get a ticket before your visit though arriving early the morning of you might be able to get a walk up ticket, but expect to arrive quite early and be disappointed. Plan ahead for an enjoyable visit.

Maria Pavlova

Too much video clips and too less artifacts. Difficult for tickets reservation. Not so impressive as it was expected.

Melody McKay

They have limited passes for the main, permanent attraction so get there early or you won't get to see it. Frankly, I don't know if we saw everything that was available to see since they were out of passes by noon. We really had to search to find something to see there. At first, it looked like the only other exhibit to see was the kids' exhibit which was cool for kids but underwhelming for adults. Finally downstairs tucked in a back corner we found an exhibit focused on what was happening in America during the Holocaust timeframe. It was a really good, interesting exhibit ... glad we took the time to dig around and find it.

Mikaela Colvin

Amazing experience. The museum is very well organised and incredibly interesting and educational. We arrived 2 hours before closing and we barely made it half way through the permanent exhibit. Give yourself plenty of time to explore!

Virginia Bosch Hyttfors

Very good museum with a lot of documentation and photographs. I liked that they make you take an elevator to begin the tour and that certain very graphical videos were inside a box, so that if you go with young children and you don't want them to see them, they are easy to avoid. Good cafeteria on the outside of the museum, the only downside is that you have to go through security again before entering the cafeteria and again when you want to re-enter the museum. We spent about 1.5 hours

Douglas Cavin

Not to be missed on your next trip to Washington, DC. This historic and important museum is layed out extremely well. This self guided tour is one you can take at your own pace, but the displays are moving and well done. There is a good mix of pictures, historical content and video. This will leave you thinking for days after your visit. Do not miss the videos of live interviews at the end. This progressive tour takes you on the journey and helps you understand not only the horror of what happened, but the historical event that led up to it. You will not be disappointed.

Andrea Lin

They do an amazing job presenting some really tough material. It is a lot of information so we spent 3.5 hours there and there are not many places to sit, especially early in the exhibits. The exhibits are presented in a linear fashion so everyone goes through in the same order... Early exhibits can be packed, as people start moving through the displays faster (due to physical or emotional fatigue) it's easier to view them. The most horrifying images are shielded from view so you can choose to look or not. There is an exhibit geared for children out in the free area which presents the concepts well and still a wide range of ages, worth a visit if you can't get times entry passes.

Jeremy Post

I visited for free while in DC for the marathon over the weekend. I was able to have the honor of talking to a holocaust survivor. I saw a couple of the secondary exhibits and was only able to see about 1/4 of the main exhibit in the nearly 3 hours I was there. I wish I had time to see more as everything was very well done and interesting. I had to leave to grab lunch well before I could finish seeing everything. I loved the place.

Maya LeMaster

An incredible and emotional experience. This museum is incredibly detailed and takes you through the story of what happened all the way from how Jews lived in the years preceding Hitlers rise to power to interviews of how many survivors were doing years after the events. The museum does not pull any punches with imagery and descriptions - this is important, but parents please consider this before bringing very young children. Genocide and mass murder are things that still happen today, and this museum reminds you that history does not look so kindly upon those that do not act to do something to stop it. Overall, I would recommend this museum for any trip to DC.

Alaa Abdalla

This museum is not just a visit, it is an experience. I was moved by it and needed few minutes to collect my feelings and thoughts after the tour. I liked the little creative details they have every where. The ‘happy ending’ was stated as the creation of a new nation to compensate all those who suffered, which hides part of history. You build your happy ending by putting others in suffering. I wish the end of the tour was different.

shari smith

Sadly, despite the FREE tickets, one still must make reservations for the museum. What I saw was very moving though.

g gc

This museum was amazing. Be prepared to be wiped out after walking through it. It is extremely educational, sad, infuriating and draining! It has areas that are as you expect, displays with captions that you can explore at your own pace. It also has interactive displays that put you in the moment and help you to feel it. Some people do not make it through the entire museum due to the magnitude of the museum itself and the depression that it can impose.

Justin Michaud

Must see in DC, get tickets in advance for the exhibit, worth it!!! It's incredible to see some of the artifacts and to immerse yourself in the story of how it all developed. I probably wouldn't take younger kids, they either won't get it, there are some really horrific pictures, and it gets a little cramped so the stroller is difficult to navigate.

Jonathan Arroyo

A must visit! One of the most impressive museums I've ever visited. Make sure you have time to spare because it's an estimate 2 hours and a half to see everything. Also avoid going on the weekends because it gets really full and you won't be able to fully appreciate.

James Neuhaus, jr

Very good presentation. Sad (obviously) but it will reaffirm to your teenagers that what they learned in school (and that their teacher DOES in fact have some knowledge) wasn't just some boring lesson. Some very graphic movies and images, so prepare your little ones before you go in. It does take a full half day to do it justice. The cafe is good... although a bit overpriced.

Megan Mays

What a humbling experience. No words can truly explain until you see it for yourself. Very educational. Very moving. My husband and I are in our late 20s and we learned more in the few hours we were there than we ever learned from history books. The little bookstore/gift shop area had quite a few books I would have loved to read but I settled on buying just one. We would love to visit again as we did not get to see and experience everything the memorial had on display and we would even like to bring our son when he is a bit older and can understand better. I highly recommend visiting.

Jake Schofell

As someone who has devoted class and personal time to the study of genocide as a broad topic and looked into many 20st century genocides in depth, I can honestly say this museum is a must for anyone interested in the subject. The attention to every last detail is incredible. The staff is all knowledgeable or can point you in the right direction and they all take their solemn job with a serious pride. As many museums as I've visited this one is by far the most detail oriented in my opinion.

Keith Davis

Engaging and well-presented exhibits are the standard here. The layout, on top of that, is incredible. Such a unique museum experience and it kept me interested until the very last moment. Will definitely be back if I ever get the chance, because there was a lot I couldn't get to in the time we had! You HAVE to check this place out.

Danny Coonradt

This was a very sobering and immersive experience. The exhibit is more than just a historical recap, rather it also connects you to the people who suffered on a very intimate level. There is a lot of reading/listening as a part of the memorial, so it will take anywhere between 2 - 3 hours or more if you intend on seeing it in detail. There is quite a bit of graphic imagery that comes hand in hand with the nature of the memorial, so it may not be suitable for very young children. I would highly this moving and well-created museum. Also, it is best to come in the off-season/weekdays, as there will be smaller, more navigable crowds

Jameson

The way they put this together is amazing and you can almost feel the pain of the people during this time, the experience is not for the light hearted I almost was overwhelmed by the acts the Nazis did during this time and the exhibits that showed it. The exhibits are very well designed and it is a timeline that you walk through, they even give you a passport of a person who lived through that horrible time and you read their experience as you go through. The overall experience is emotionally overwhelming, I would recommend going though just to see the struggles the people went through. One of the tour guides actually was one of the kids who actually survived the holocaust and me and my class got her as a tour guide, that was an awesome experience. I would recommend visiting and want to go again.

Ed Godden

Truly a place all people should visit and learn from. Moving experience with exhibits and installations which make the horror deeply felt. We were extremely well served by the staff who led us up the stairway (cant take elevators) in a friendly engaging way.

Brad Weber

The museum is amazing and contains so much information, but it's next to impossible to truly experience everything with the amount of people around. A lot of the exhibits require reading a long description or watching a movie and it's very hard to do so with the amount of people they let in at once. They should do a better job of limiting the amount of people inside the museum and it would definitely improve the experience.

Cameron McNae

This place is very well put together. Probably the 'best' museum (that seems like the wrong word due to the content) that I visited in DC, and I went to a lot. Graphic scenes are hidden behind walls so it is your choice whether to view them or not, but I recommend you do, a main purpose of the museum is to understand what humans are capable of and make enough of an impact that we don't do anything like this again as a species. But overall a great mixture of artifacts, video, art, and symbols.

Annie Deckert

I could have spent days here - the experience was unbelievable. Words can't describe the feelings the museum evokes. We brought our 13 year old and 9 year old. Both were very engaged with the exhibits, and gained an entirely new perspective of the Holocaust. One half day was sufficient for the kids, however, if you plan on attending sans children, plan for a full day, at minimum.

T Bailey

If given the chance, I think everyone should visit this museum. It was very meaningful.

Jessica Christophersen

Beautiful museum. Thought provoking and important. Highly recommend everyone go through at least once. It probably takes an hour or two to go through the entire museum. Lots of restrooms and many opportunities to sit. The memorial at the end was beautiful.

Brittany G

Such an impressive exhibit with so much important history. They tour guide said it takes most people 1 to 1¹/² hours but it took me 3 hours and I didn't even get to see everything. Take your time! So much to take in!

Nance A

Being a Muslim person who embrace every religion,race and culture, I always wanted to visit this museum. Went to DC for the weekend and had the opportunity to do so. Very mix feeling and emotions. It broke my heart to see the pics and read everything about them. The most touching and the one that stayed with me was the walk through exhibit in the steps of a little boy....he went from laughing and playing to crying and hearing gunshots... it's a museum everyone needs to visit, put aside your beliefs and culture cause at the end of the day it's ignorance that's keeping us divided. I am very happy I went , I came out with a better understanding. Planning on visiting again.

Chris Grossi

This place is very depressing but it is also very informative. I would definitely recommend you go here if you want to learn more about World War 2. They also have these little cards they give you that tell a story throughout your walk through the museum and at the end it will tell you if you lived through the war or if you died. I would not recommend this place for younger children as there is sensitive content but if you would like to educate your child just be aware of the explicit content.

Lori jordan

Its strange giving 5 stars for a place such as this but the museum is simply moving. I cried through most of it but people need to experience it.

Krystal Acevedo

This place needs at least 8hrs of processing the whole information and history of what these innocent people suffered through in the Holocaust! It is NOT for the fainted heart! But it was a very amazing experience and very eye opening. However I do recommend buying a ticket way ahead of time, Maybe a month or more before you go visit the museum. You can't buy it online so you need to buy it in person.

Soham Changani

The museum is well designed and worth a visit. However, unlike other museums in DC, it does have an entry pass to the permanent exhibition. Make sure to get those passes and they usually run out by 4. The special exhibitions are good but the permanent exhibition is much better and worth a visit.

Dakota Hunt

I definitely think everyone should visit this place. It’s free like every other museum in D.C.. You only need tickets from March - September any other time you just walk in. Make sure to get there early though. It’s usually very crowded! Be prepared to spend 2-3 hours here. There is a lot to stop and see/read and a lot of audio stops that are worth taking the time on. Be prepared to fell every emotion you hate to feel; anger, sadness, broken hearted. It’s not easy. To get through, but so worth it.

John Higginbotham

Very well done. We went the Day before New Years and there were long lines to see the main exhibit. I would suggest getting there early or break it up into a couple of days. So far it is free to get in. We also had to wait in line to get in but it wasn't that long and the security checkpoint is fairly fast. Everyone was friendly.

Neena Smith

Such a humbling and beautiful place. I cried walking through. I would go again and recommend this place for everyone.

Joshua Park

Access is free so I can't complain. But the main exhibit only allows a relatively small number of people to see it with reserve passes each day. The side exhibits are informative but a bit thin in my opinion. I'd like to have seen more content accessible to people without the limited passes. This is stuff everyone should see.

Eric Anderson

This museum is powerful. It is my favorite museum in the D.C. area it has the best layout and the information has so much depth. I have been there no less than 5 times and I still see new things. I highly recommend coming in at "strange" days like holidays that are not federal to have as much time alone as you can with this emotion grabbing, solemn, and thought provoking place.

B Dunlap

Wow! Such an amazing museum. Definitely a must see! I don't recommend taking busy toddlers. There's a lot of reading involved, and a respect level that needs to be kept.

Michelle Ryman

There are lots of things to read and see, however, in order to take in all that the museum has you should definitely try to do a morning visit and not afternoon. When getting your tickets they don't tell you that it can take more than two hours to get through. This is of course if your wanting to read every thing in the exhibit like myself.

Nathan Ramirez

Amazing place that I believe should be on everyone’s list when visiting D.C. It was nice to experience the museum with my child, it’s something that we as humans should take a step back and remember history. The museum didn’t spare quality when it came to the exhibits and interactions, do yourself a favor, unplug and truly immerse yourself in the museum as it is intended. It can become emotional at times, use it for educating your children and yourselves.

Baylee Tyler

A beautiful memorial for all those who went through the Holocaust and a wonderful place for families to learn about the Holocaust. Such a great learning experience and a great place to learn about the history of our world. The walls that they have around the graphic videos and pictures allows for people who don't want to see those things feel a little less pressured to look. It was a great trip.

Jason

Definitely worth going if you're in d.c. Powerful imagery and some really well done props. Definitely more of a read and listen to screens sort of museum rather than historical items etc. But to see footage taken during the war etc was breathtaking. Go kind of early before they run out of passes.

donna manitu

A museum so well done. Admission is free and we visited it over 2 days. There is a snack bar with a variety of hot and cold items. The only thing I wish is that the schoolchildren would respect the museum and conduct themselves properly. Many children were running around and acting like they were at a playground. Take the time to visit , it's a terrible occurrence in our history but the presentation is done respectfully.

Tyrell Neal

Give yourself a couple of hours to fully enjoy the museum. The museum is at your own pace and you can move in any direction. The cost is free, but they only give out so many tickets per day, so go early!

Dawn Stic

Quiet environment, rightly so as the museum is truly heartbreaking, yet very important for all people to experience. In fact, we feel that every student in the US should field trip here. Worth every second of our four hour tour.

Sreejith Gopal

Very well maintained memorial museum. Make sure you have enough time to go through the whole history as it takes at least 2-3 hours to completely understand the essence of the real story. You get to pick a card (which is yours for ever) and have a feel of being the person in that card - someone who lived during that horrific period in history. Some very nice videos, recordings, and pictures.

Sweet Kawaii Lady

Love it. Learned new things. Nicely put together.

Christine Rossman

Make sure to do this first in the day, to see the permanent exhibit you need a ticket that has a time. Go to the information desk and ask for your tickets (they're free), then go see the exhibits that are on display that are not ticketed. The children's exhibition is actually really powerful, even for adults. The museum is beautiful, and really really worth your time.

Suzan Lantz

This museum was extremely moving and brought tears to my eyes. The layout was very modern and anything that required viewer discretion was hidden from curious child eyes. Admission is free, for good reason. You shouldn't have to pay to see this. Donations, however, are accepted.

Jeff Higgins

A very beautiful museum with lots to learn about the second world war with a nice designated flow providing a chronological path through the museum. The start of the path is not clearly marked and we ended up doing the last section first, look for the large elevators with museum staff. I would recommend a minimum of an 2 hours for this museum

Sam Skariah

What an experience!!! The museum has done such an amazing job in transporting the visitor to the past. Making individual stories to read along with photographs and timelines, changes the victims from a number to being a story you can resonate with. We loved the whole set up in the way it guides you through the whole building. Totally heartbroken at what hate can drive people to do. Highly recommend visiting this museum. It was an emotional rollercoaster.

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