On a recent visit to see my daughter in Portland, we ventured to this memorial site, in Washington Park near the Japanese and Rose Gardens. (It took a while to find the nearest parking lot and, even then, we had a bit of a walk, including down a steep pathway. FYI for those who are mobility-challenged). The memorial itself is open to the public and free; parking in the nearby lots carries a nominal charge. It is difficult to convey how powerful this memorial is. One truly has to visit this site and experience it to feel the weight of the magnitude of the terror and atrocities and sadness and madness that the Holocaust created. As one approaches, it simply appears to be a stone curvilinear bench on a granite, brick-like ground, with a large, curvilinear granite memorial stone ahead, with engraved quotes and names on the granite. However, when one gets nearer, one sees objects, apparently random, everyday things, scattered about. Said objects are life-size and made of bronze. There's a child's doll on the bench. There's an abandoned pair of eyeglasses on the ground, and a nearby toddlers shoe. Just one shoe. A violin that appears to have seen better days. A valise on its side on the ground with a pronounced crack in its side. Perhaps most poignantly, a lone teddy bear. One can only imagine the nightmare of the people who these objects belonged to, and what fate befell them all. The front of the curved memorial contains quotes on smooth stone surrounded by rough brick-like granite. The reverse side of the monument is all smooth granite and it contains the names of all the Oregon families who've had relatives who've perished in the Holocaust. I had no idea there were so many Oregon families affected; you don't really see a lot of synagogues or Jewish delis or shops in OR (or the rest of the Pacific Northwest, really. I grew up on the east coast, where there is more of a Jewish footprint in the cities in the US and Canada out east). I was especially moved to see a pair of wreaths recently placed at the foot of the memorial with signs that read "Oregon and Humanity stands with Israel" and "Never Again is Now". In light of recent events and the global rise in antisemitism, these wreaths, in front of this memorial, really touched me, more than I can articulate here. (I encourage readers to check out the other reviews of this site, especially Tom V's review, as it is way more articulate than mine and gives the reader a better sense of the gravity of this memorial). read more

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It takes your breath to see some of this memorial. The cast bronze of everyday items, scattered about as if they were left behind in a hurry. Eyeglasses...a satchel...a child's doll...if you imagine hard enough, you can see these inanimate items attached to their owners as they fled capture or were led to camps. I'd say your breath is taken away, but it's not that; rather you find yourself holding your breath in. You just can't not feel the overwhelming gravity of the memorial. I've visited the traveling Auschwitz exhibit in Kansas City, and can say without equivocation that the power of its display could not match the terror that the Jewish people had to have felt. The Oregon Holocaust Memorial captures the magnitude of the stretch of years where armies of evil marched all over Europe, eradicating lives and forever altering history. There are samples of soil & ash from each of the six extermination facilities, such as Auschwitz & Treblinka, interred under a quiet memorial. Give that a look and attempt to understand the brutality of those moments decades later. Chances are very good that you will remember the time you spent here in reverence to those lives forever impacted. Quotes, simple anecdotes, and perspective are etched in granite for all to see in perpetuity and, hopefully, never to see repeated. It's a simple memorial, but unlike so many sites, the less said, the better. It stands for remembrance, a bitter reminder of chaotic, xenophobic times, and the solemn respect we should all have for those who perished and, more accurately, those who lived through nightmare only to have to recall it. May they find peace. read more

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So well done, and spine chillingly breathtaking. The quotes on the wall and the statues of items left behind left a lasting impression on both me and my husband. read more

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At first glance, it appears as if items have been discarded on the ground; however, upon a closer look, you'll realize that they are bronzed tattered beloved possessions that will never be reunited with their owners. They are displayed in such a way to be not only a reminder of the past, but provoke discussion and thought on the Holocaust atrocity. At the end of the small brick walkway, you will find a curved wall with quotes from those who were lucky to survive and tell their story. It is worth the time to reflect on their words that they have left behind. Tips: + Follow the signs for parking, or park up near the Rose Test Garden and walk down. + For public transportation, bus 63 during the winter months. There is a free shuttle during spring - fall that will loop around and pickup/drop off the Red/Blue line Washington Park station + The memorial outside is free +Visit the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education for a more information and additional exhibits on the Holocaust in Downtown Portland. *Note there is a $8 entry fee read more

This is a very nicely done Memorial, not far from the Rose Test Garden. We walked through the forest path from the Garden, and it's right there across the street, but set back appropriately from the road. The Memorial wall has some thought-provoking quotations, as well as names of those with local ties that did not survive the Holocaust. Items that may have been left in a hurry are cast in bronze, strewn on the path that leads to the Memorial. Items like a smashed violin, a child's doll, glasses, a baby shoe. Nicely done Memorial to take a moment of reflection. read more

Oregon Holocaust Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This Memorial was on my list of places to see in Washington Park. located just south of the international Rose Garden this striking memorial has details you wont really understand until you are standing within the memorial. What initially looks like trash or something left on the ground or on a bench, turns out to be what is most impactful about this memorial. Bronze girls dolls, a broken violin, a tattered up set of paper, a suitcase, a menorah all ruminants of what the Nazis stole from the Jews and anyone else they deemed unworthy. All these items strewn about without a care for these innocent peoples belongings as they are shuttled into trains to be put to death. The cobblestone entry to the memorial very much like the cobblestones in the ghettos themselves. The memorial itself explaining in as much detail as you can in the space provided the horrors the Nazis and the words of the survivors that chill you to your core. This is a powerful Monument and one that ensures we never forget the atrocities that people are capable of just because you are different. I was surprised to see how many survivors moved to Oregon after the war with all the names and families etched into this beautiful memorial. This is a must see when you are in Oregon! read more

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This memorial was created in 2004 at the request of local holocaust survivors and their families. It is located in a tranquil spot in Washington Park. I've visited Yad Vashem in Israel. Passed through the gates of Auschwitz ("Arbeit macht frei") and wandered through Dachau. And as I walked up the stone path and saw the discarded items cast in bronze (baby shoes, a violin, glasses, a teddy bear), it took me right back to those places. It was a beautiful sunny day in Portland, but I was cold and weeping. Sometimes I think to myself, I shouldn't go to these places. It was so long ago and it hurts too much. But then I am so grateful these places exist, especially in Oregon. Because my parents and relatives were children during WW2, in England, Germany and the U.S., I have this incredible oral history of what it was like during those horrible times. But people born 10 or 20 years after me probably don't have the same connection to that time and place. We need to remember and acknowledge the worst. Group tours and docents can be arranged by contacting the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center. read more

Oregon Holocaust Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Wow! This memorial is moving, amazing and shocking. As you walk down the walk way toward the memorial, you see bronze figurines of various objects smashed on the ground. For example a suitcase, a book, toys and glasses. It really involves you in the horror of what households must have gone through. Once you get to the wall you read a introduction of how the holocaust came to be. As you walk along the front side of the wall you read various quotes from survivors. These quotes are unbelievable yet powerful. I spent a good amount of time taking in this beautiful memorial and you should too. read more

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My Son and walked over the Oregon Holocaust Memorial from the Rose Garden and I'm glad we did. It was a little hard to find, but it's relative isolation only enhanced the spiritual tranquility that we both experienced. We first walked up to the stone bench with wrought iron gating around a cobblestone circle. We noticed various bronze discarded common objects (e.g., shoes, glasses, teddy bear, etc.) that symbolized what was left behind by those persecuted during the Holocaust. The cobblestone walkway/railroad (note the granite bars) led us up the polished wall that taught us the history of the Holocaust (with quotes from survivors). Also here is a vault panel that contains soil and ash from 6 former extermination camps brought back from local residents. Then on the back of the wall are engraved names of people who died in the camps and their local surviving relatives. It doesn't take long to take all this in, especially the silence. The click of my camera almost ruined the moments that my Son and I shared here. read more

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I've been to several Holocaust memorials. This one captures the essence of this tragic event in our world's history and free to visit. The words on the memorial are descriptive, yet concise. The part that I appreciated was the positive notes in order to move us forward as a human race and act with more understanding and kindness. The Holocaust should not be forgotten in our history, its remaining survivors carry a story that no other can ever grasp and those who have died, may there souls rest in peace. read more

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It is hard to find words to describe this place. Set into the trees not to far from the parks entrance loop it is a place to make you think. Carfully designed so that everything means something from toys and glasses like those lost by people on the way to the camps, in the fall they collect leaves... give yourself time to take it all in, and read... The memorial is very moving and a reminder of a past we should not let repeat. read more

Walking to the International Rose Test Garden, we stumbled upon the Oregon Holocaust Memorial. I have never seen anything like this. The closest thing for me was a trip to Nagasaki to the center of where the atomic bomb was dropped. There's not many words that I can use to describe the feeling that I had when I looked upon all the names of those who lost their lives during the Holocaust. The Oregon Holocaust Memorial is a historical find that I unexpectedly ran into. The tranquil nature of the area sets the mood and over all feel that I had when walking the grounds. There's so much to pay attention to, so I would take the time to walk around slowly and take it all in. Definitely highly recommended for anyone in the area, especially on your way up to or around the rose gardens. read more

Oregon Holocaust Memorial - What an amazing place to learn and pay tribute to those who were effected and lost their lives during the Holocaust. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Decided to check this out after leaving the International Rose Test Garden. On the walk there, I was thinking 'Ok, I'll just take a quick look around and go get some lunch'. The only other Holocaust Memorial that I have recent memories of (in the states that I have been to in my adult life) is the one in Boston, MA - which is more visually impressive than this one. However, I feel that the Oregon Holocaust Memorial is FAR more powerful, just in its simplicity. The emotion that this place triggers cannot be put into words. I ended up staying for over an hour (completely forgetting about my intended lunch time), just reading everything on the wall. The quotes of Holocaust survivors are especially chilling and moving. This is an amazing memorial. Definitely a must-visit. read more

Oregon Holocaust Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Very well designed art piece honouring those lost to the tragedy surrounded with sculptures representing all the belongings people lost as well. Definitely shows how much what happened effected many Oregon people and just people in general read more

Really nice that they care enough to put this outdoor Museum tribute it's worth spending a little time and taking a look, it'll help you understand a little bit of what it was like for them at that very sad time in the world's past read more

Oregon Holocaust Memorial - Beautiful flowers all over Washington Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Thought-provoking, moving, beautiful... The design is amazing, captivating, and engrossing... I come here often when I come to the park to hike. I read the memorial and my heart pulls out of my chest. It's personal and informative all at once, and brings up the same questions, "How did so many people go along with and make such a horrible thing happen?" Inducing hope and despair at the same time, this memorial requires more than just a quick stop. read more

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I can't say it any better than the three reviewers that come before me. This is certainly worth going to see. Moving and thought provoking to say the least. It was well worth the time we spent to try and find it. We never did find where we were supposed to park, ended up parked on the street and no one bothered us about it read more

We ran into a docent while we were searching for the location, and he explained what all the different things meant. It really opened our eyes. What a well thought out memorial, with actual artifacts bronzed and laid in place. The quotes on the wall are all from survivors who now live near Portland, so it has a lovely connection to those who live here, as well as an enormous historical impact. I'd ask for a docent tour if you can. It really changes how you look on all of it! read more

So touching. I did not know about this memorial prior to coming to the park. We came across it and it struck me so deeply. The fact that the artist designed it in such a way that it appears that the items of people were left as they went down a path where the railroad tracks were. I liked that the plaque acknowledged all the unfortunate individuals who were involved in the holocaust, Jew, gypsy, homosexual, handicapped, etc. I liked that it was applicable to those who lived in Oregon as well as humans at large. If you are here, I would HIGHLY recommend seeing this. "NEVER AGAIN!" We must never forget the atrocities of our past so that we can prevent those horrors from ever occurring in our futures. read more

Break your heart, beautifully done! The Holocaust was real, and I wanted my 2 boys (under 10) to learn about it. I didn't explain much before we got there. We parked at the Rose Garden and walked down (such a great walk!) Once there, you are drawn in by the carefully placed pieces, that immediately made them want to touch, want to get closer, wanted to explore. Then the oldest started to read... and the questions came. It's hard in our EASY life to comprehend what happened, what it must have felt like, what they were missing, the sorrow and fear that surely surrounded them, but this memorial opens our eyes. I know that my oldest son GOT IT, and once again understood (but even deeper now) the importance of how we need to LOVE ONE ANOTHER. I was 15 the first time the Holocaust became a living thing. Some friends and I were late coming back to school from lunch, and joined the rest of the school in the auditorium where we heard a Holocaust survivor tell her story, show us her prisoner # tattoos up her arms, and open our eyes to a world where hate and evil ran rampant, and freedom and family disappeared daily. This memorial was put together with careful consideration, and pristine placement. Open your heart and your soul as you take in part of all of our past! read more

This important memorial is hidden next to the rose test garden. I recommend spending some time here on a dry day.

Beautiful, haunting memorial with all the "debris" of burned teddy bears, suitcases and other items laying about. Really makes you think. read more

Very moving memorial, especially with the lost items along the path to the memorial. The words etched in stone were so sad, and brought to life the fear and loss many experienced with the Holocaust. You just have to experience to fully understand it. The area is very peaceful around it too, giving you time to reflect and try to understand a little piece of the pain. I would recommend seeing it. read more

This is hidden in a forest, and I had no idea I would stumble upon it as I trekked to the Rose Garden... incredibly powerful, if you care anything at all about the Holocaust (which you should) then seek this out when you visit Portland. It will move, haunt, and motivate you to learn more about the Holocaust and the people annihilated because of it. read more

I've had an unusual experience of being so young that even my parents weren't alive during the events of the Holocaust but I spent two years helping survivors apply for restitution funds. I've heard hundreds of stories personally and found that along the way my own self became entwined with the story of the Holocaust. I've visited many memorials and this one is thought provoking and not scary. No pictures you wish you wouldn't have to forget but simply your own mind processing the symbols. We all take away something specific and unique to ourselves. A docent can offer an experience and information that will heighten your time there. Try and arrange if possible. It will leave you with something to ponder and remember. Good to never forget, better to always remember. read more

A very humbling and sobering experience. The memorial is done in such a thought provoking way as to make you think. The power of words and a items carefully laid as reminders. I am not sure why but the little bear was the one that touched my heart deeply. Innocence is always connected with a little bear for a child. But what affected my heart the most was the words written on the wall by the 10 year old girl. Beautifully stated but with so much hurt and sadness My wife said I should read them out loud as I recording on video the wall. The words will never leave me. Forever in my mind, not on video they are recorded. Especially the last words on the wall. I will not put them here. Please take time to stop by and reflect,ponder and weep. And Never Forget. read more