Hard to know how to review this place. It is a sad and moving experience. We particularly appreciated the survivor story piece in the second floor theater. It was well done and moving. The museum itself is not huge ( We would say give yourself 2 to 3 hours if you're the type to read everything). It is heartbreaking and so very important to teach this history in the hopes that we never again allow this genocide to reoccur or to allow a fascist egomaniac and his fanatical followers to take over and commit these atrocities. Go and take the whole family. This history must continue to be taught. read more

A very moving experience, particularly with all that's going on in the world now. You walk through his exhibit at your own pace, and can take as much time as you like. It is truly horrifying what happened, and even more scary when you realize some of the similarities to current news stories from around this country. It is a reminder of what can happen when people become complacent. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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2 stars because I never got in to see the museum. Entrance is hard to find. I arrived 1 hour to closing. They wanted to charge me $10. Online is said FREE with a suggested voluntary contribution of $6. As a comparison, the Holocaust museum in DC is FREE. Instead I took a walk along the canal - the riverfront area gets 5 stars. read more

Virginia Holocaust Museum - Museums Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This was a very stimulating and informative experience. In school, we always learn about the holocaust as it relates to the Jewish and concentration camps, but there is so much more to know! I will not spoil anything for anyone, but I am glad I visited. I enjoyed that it was self paced in an organized way. I could take my time looking at everything without missing anything. I also like that they give you a little guide book that has more in depth information about each exhibit. After finishing downstairs, there was the option to view or have an AI simulated interview with a holocaust survival, and was one of the coolest things I have seen from a technology perspective. The interview itself was very touching and educational. I learned new things from it as well. After my visit to the museum I have a new perspective on the holocaust and just truly how horrific it was! While I do think it can be very emotional and some things are tough to see, I think it is worth the visit and the education. read more

The Virginia Holocaust Museum is a powerful and moving experience. Through personal stories and impactful exhibits, it offers a deep reflection on history and the importance of tolerance. read more

Virginia Holocaust Museum - Museums Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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My Wife and Daughter came to visit for the day and we all went to the Virginia Holocaust Memorial on a Sunday when they had free entrance. I had been following Yeshua in a Hebrew way for about 11 years and my Wife and Daughter recently started attending Beth Simcha (House of Joy) in Wilmington, NC. I've been wanting to visit the Memorial but wanted to wait for the local Rabbi to lead a guided tour. It was my Wife and Daughter who wanted to see it while they were here. It is very moving emotionally to see and realize the world in these end times is about to face the same horrific events and it has even begun with the Hamas attacks on Israel and the terrorist attacks on Christians globally. Everyone who attends any denomination or non-denomination church needs to visit this Holocaust Memorial, it is what your spiritual eyes need to see to awaken you out of your Easter Bunny Babylon Bewitchment and help the foolish sleeping churches get ready for the returning Messiah. read more

The museum is donation-based so it's technically free but the suggested donation is $6. The museum is much bigger than I expected. It's a big loop and then there is a small upstairs that I didn't go to because I ran out of time. The lights are motion-censored so it was honestly a little spooky walking through because the room may be dark with mannequins if no one was in front of you. The lady at the front (end of my self-guided tour) did say they were planning to phase out the mannequins though. It's very educational! The gift shop has lots of books, mezuzahs, candlesticks, menorahs, stuffed animals and other items and is actually very reasonably priced for a gift shop. read more

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It really isn't that far from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in DC, and obviously pales in comparison to it. This museum is free, and the historic building it's in is nice. A booklet is meant to be read as you walk the exhibits. The lights are motion activated as you go through. The museum doesn't so much present a clear narrative as a grab-bag of anecdotes. Oddly, some religious references are rendered as "G-d", which I'm told is an intentional choice based on the underlying beliefs. Some of the constructed pieces are kind of hokey; the best parts are largely photographs. Many of these are sourced to the USHMM. I spent a little less than an hour inside, and didn't find a ton of new information for me, but I suspect for someone who is newer to the subject the museum here could serve as a useful introduction (and frankly, a lot of young people are totally clueless about the Holocaust and antisemitism). I would also be curious to see what special events they have going. read more

Virginia Holocaust Museum - Museums Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Very powerful and informative museum. There is a 15 minute film in the beginning and then several rooms to walk through with signs and exhibits to see. Very informative. It was really quiet when we went and it took us about 2 hours to make it through. $6 recommended donation. read more

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We came to visit this museum on a Friday afternoon to find it surprisingly empty with only a handful of other people in the museum at the same time we were there. But that did give us more time to take things in as there is quite a bit of literature around the exhibits that has interesting information that would have been missed. The museum is currently under some renovations, so the main entrance is not accessible, and the current entrance is directly across from the free museum parking lot on the Cary street side, closest to 21st St. They are donation-based only, so you only have to pay a fee to enter if you can/wish to. They gave us booklets to guide us through the museum and told us where to go to start, but I wish there were a couple extra signs along the way that made a bit more obvious of where to start because it was a bit confusing with the construction going on. Once we got going, it was pretty easy to self-navigate throughout the exhibits. If you're not a fan of old-school mannequins, this museum may give you the creepy crawlys as there are quite a few throughout the museum and some are in hidden spots and can be a little unnerving if you are unprepared. Overall, this museum offered good insight for the entire Holocaust time period, as well as focusing on local Richmonders who aided or were impacted during the time period. Definitely worth the couple hours spent! read more

Good museum that had free admission and was not very crowded! I visited on a Monday and enjoyed my time. The staff were friendly and I would recommend it if you are in town. read more

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I have been to a number of Holocaust Memorials and Museums. This one in Richmond is just as powerful and just as evocative as any of the others. Similar theme, it starts slowly building up the history of Jews in Germany and Poland before video of Kristallnacht (the night of broken glass) and gets deep into the Holocaust. Lots of video, lots of large exhibits that don't only talk about the horrors of the Holocaust but they show it. And they don't pull any punches at all, even including the dispicable behavior of the United States in turning around the St. Louis and sending those Jews back to Europe to certain death. And when you think it's done because the stories turn to the liberation of the camps, it continues. A few displays discuss the post-war Displaced Persons camps in Europe that were somewhat better than the concentration camps but still not freedom. And then displays about Israel and the Aliyah returning to found the country. It was the replica cattle car that pushed me beyond my own limits of intake and I headed to the water fountain for a drink. POW! There's a sign mounted over them that they are forbidden for Jews. This is an excellent museum and the "view discretion advised" is serious. While everyone needs to know what happened so that it can never happen again (even though it's already starting to happen again in Europe), I would not recommend anyone under 15. [Review 11765 overall, 1547 of 2019.] read more

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Parking lot out back beneath the train tracks. Museum can be found in old brick building. Museum is free but would like you to preregistration as they are limiting visitors for social distancing. Tour starts with a 13 minute video played on a loop in front room. read more

Virginia Holocaust Museum - Safety precautions - Museums Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This was such a moving experience, I would highly recommend to anyone in the area to stop by and spend an hour or two walking through the exhibits. Incredibly informative and interesting, the setup of the museum itself was spacious and they're currently installing new sections too. Staff was helpful and friendly, all around a wonderful museum. read more

This museum was incredibly curated and provided a wealth of knowledge. The staff were very friendly and it made for an overall good experience. read more

I won't lie, guys, this place needs some work. The whole thing came off as lazy. There's like zero flow to the exhibits and half the time I didn't know what I was looking at. Also a little off put by the awkward guy who basically asks us for donations before he even welcomes us in. Come on. I don't know what your budget is, but you can do a better job than this. read more

So many interesting facts that can be read. Not huge by any means. My teenage son loved all the learning he was getting by reading and history is his thing. read more

This Museum has been tastefully done. The exhibits and programming employs the history of the Holocaust. There aim is to educate future generations to fight prejudice and indifference. The Museum is free, but donations are excepted. Upon entering you can allow the Museum to speak for itself beginning with the short film, "Through Our Survivors' Eyes". After watching this you can allow the painted railway tracks to guide you through the broader historic realities of the Holocaust and the Ipson family's ordeal and survival. You will hear the voice of other survivors who created new lives for themselves in Richmond. Be sure to get one of the tour books as it will help you on your journey through the museum. Give yourself some time the trip through can take 2 to 3 hours depending on how quickly you want to move through. This is a sobering , humbling experience . Making me realize how important life is and keeps my focus on the real life ahead. read more

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Amazing museum, another spot where we can be humbled and remember history so we don't repeat it read more

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This is a great museum well worth the trip! I would say it has more detail, artifacts and memorabilia than the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. The maze of information puts you right in the time period; with film and interviews from survivors! The staff was very informative and friendly. Free parking right across the street. ADA compliant. Museum is free too! Everyone should pay tribute to all the people and the time period, lest we forget. read more

Virginia Holocaust Museum - How Could the Holocaust Happen? - Museums Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Good museum but the lighting could use some help. Motion detector in most rooms but you aren't sure if it is an exhibit in some until you walk on in the dark & then light finally comes on. It is "free" but they let you know right away you are expected to pay $6! Somethings are hard to read because of lightning. I touched one item as I read the description because it was on the front & back. I touched the rack to see it & the manager told me not to touch anymore items! Overall it is a good collection of items. Very informative & interesting. read more

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We came into this location on a weekday with 2 adults and 6 kids later in the afternoon. There were several other families and couples there but it was not extremely busy. Admission is free which was nice. There are several options to be able to make a donation which was also convenient. The museum is very well put together and maintained. There was so much to see and learn about. We would definitely return and recommend. read more

We have been to the DC one and decided to check this out while in Richmond for the day. It was very informative and we enjoyed being able to visit. I would recommend it. read more

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This museum is huge. I learned while in CenVA for school that it opened in 1997; a brilliant re-purposing of an old tobacco building. Admittance is free. Did I stutter? It's free. If you are in Richmond for more than a day and do not pay the Virginia Holocaust Museum at least a quick visit, you are probably a redneck. (May I direct you to the Confederate White House?) The location is right alongside the Canal Walk, and a block or two from the likewise excellent Poe Museum (that one you have to pay [a nominal fee] for). The reception desk staff insists that you watch a short documentary before taking a self-guided tour through the museum if it is your first time. It is run on a loop; so, you can choose to wait until it starts again, or go in at whatever segment you happen to arrive. To respect the wishes of the staff, we stayed until after the credits rolled and watched the beginning (which we had missed). It took us hours to get through. That is for the entire museum, not for just the short documentary. The documentary is about twelve minutes long or something. We were not really on a time crunch, so it didn't matter. The museum is very large though; it encompasses an entire city industrial block. It will take plenty of time to comprehensively go through it all. And you should. You should comprehensively go through it all. It is the least you could do. Rating: Four-stars, "Yay! I'm a fan." Good for Kids: Yes. read more

Virginia Holocaust Museum - Business card - Museums Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This museum is very educational and requires a lot of reading along the way versus looking. If you spend the time reading all the info as you look at photographs and displays, you will get much more put of it than just walking through. I recommend the participating in the interactive part where you crawl through the hiding bunker via a dark tunnel and watch all the video displays. They are very hard to see/watch displays so be sure you are mentally ready to receive. read more

Amazing Holocaust memorial. A must see on any Richmond trip. Extremely well done and impactful. A variety of different exhibits that take you through the historical era with an emphasis on Richmond survivors. Has rotating exhibits on the second floor. Very COVID safe and they are taking great precautions for the safety of the visitors. read more

Inspiring, educational and humbling. This is an amazing gem of a find in Richmond! The Museum was founded in 1997 by one of Richmond's Holocaust survivors in an effort to preserve and educate people on the atrocities of the Holocaust of World War II. The museum has one mission: "Teaching Tolerance Through Education." Located in a cool old tobacco warehouse in the historic Shockoe Bottom this museum is a MUST SEE, MUST EXPERIENCE for all ages. * No admission fee * Walk-in visitors choose between audio tours and guidebook tours * Museum provides a guide to groups of 10 or more, but reservations are required * Free parking on site read more

Museum admission is free and they give you a self guided tour booklet to follow. There is free parking available in-front of the museum as well. read more

Virginia Holocaust Museum - Fascinating museum - Museums Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

What an amazing experience! The museum was so touching and gave an in depth history of the Holocaust. Additionally when we visited they had a special upstairs exhibit dedicated to learning about Auschwitz. The staff was incredibly kind the gift shop is filled with tons of great books if you're a book person like me. The museum is free, but they do accept donations. Due to COVID, try to get online and reserve your place the night before. They can only accept 10 people per hour right now. read more

This a Great Museum with a Sobering Theme. Loads of Exhibits and Pictures. They do a Fantastic Job creating an Experience. The Staff is Friendly and truly want to help people understand the Tragedy of the Holocaust. It is Friendly for All Ages. read more

Virginia Holocaust Museum - Double History - Museums Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This was a very well laid-out museum and was most assuredly designed to make visitors feel how the victims of the holocaust must have felt during their tribulations. It was very moving, and I am glad that I went. Even comparing it to the DC museum, this one is still excellent and well-worth the trip. This place is sizable and will definitely take you a few hours to go through if you like reading all of the signs like I do. I feel like the place could stand to benefit by having more historical artifacts rather than the large amount of modern children's art (though the children's art made by the actual holocaust sufferers themselves was well-placed and very moving), though it's possible that they're simply doing that as a temporary collection until they build up enough financing to put in more historical sections. As far as non-exhibit related things go, the gift shop is quite nice and contains books and memorabilia you won't find elsewhere. There is quite a bit of dedicated parking just off Cary street (on the right side if you're traveling east) which is free, and the museum is free as well (with suggested donations, of course). While visiting here is important, it is also intense and contains graphic depictions of violence and death, and you should keep that in mind if you have children or especially sensitive people in your group. It may not be something you look forward to experiencing, though this place should be experienced by everyone at some point. The only way to have a future free of such atrocities is to remember the ones which have already come to pass. Overall: 4.0 stars -------------- Pros: - Excellent museum with lots of space and exhibits, well laid-out. - Plenty of free parking, and the museum itself is free as well. - Nice gift shop, you won't find many of these items elsewhere. Cons: - Many areas with art from children who visited this museum. It's good that they came to witness it, though these areas would be put to better use by having historical artifacts or more information about the events of the holocaust. read more

I'm happy I got to see it, but I probably wouldn't go again. It's free admission but also with a donation box. When we arrived we were told to wear stickers as proof we checked in and were given a booklet which had information in it about the exhibits. I only wish there was an audio tour because there was too much reading involved for me. If you don't fully read then some of the exhibits don't make sense and don't look like they belong (which obviously they have a purpose there but you need to read to learn why). I don't think this place is good for kids because a lot of the reading is higher up and I don't think kids would even be able to see it. Overall a good experience and a good activity for an hour to do right in the heart of Richmond. *At the end they have a suggestion book, and gift shop. read more

It's a work in progress. I was happy to stop by with my family and donated to help make this museum all it can be.

This is a really nice museum to visit if you're in Richmond. When you first arrive you will have to go into a room and watch a video where people who survive tell you their stories and then you are free to tour. Its very educational and great for children to learn. read more

Very impactful experience. Its set up was fantastic, leads you through different scenarios, and tells different stories, of which are both personal stories of victims and survivors. The mannequins that show specific instances in time for mental reference helped make a continued impression on me long after having visited. 8/10. The only section of the museum lacking was the top floor, it left the only room for improvement I'd suggest. Bare and fairly useless. It caused a diminished experience from the rest of my museum experience and took away from the impact as a whole. read more

It was very realistic. They are still having things build. But I think it's amazing. I feel sorry for what has happened. read more

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Great museum. It was very educational and had some nice exhibits. The audio tour is the way to go. It lasts about 90 mins and a former holocaust survivor talks you through the museum. There is a flow to the museum which demonstrates the whole cycle of events. You start off with the persecution of Jews and then onto the round up and forced placement into ghettos. From there you experience the travel to death camps, life at death camps and the gas chambers. Then life after the camps for the survivors and the subsequent war trials for the people carrying out the atrocities. Very hands on museum and they do a good job of making you feel like you are there. There is even one part where you have to crawl on your hands and knees through a tunnel escaping from the ghetto. There is an alternative route for those who are not physically able or those not wanting to crawl. Museum is totally free, just takes donations. Not for young children. I would recommend teenagers and up due to the graphic nature of some content. It is a good way to spend a couple of hours. read more

This is definitely not for young children. Until they get to the age where they read "The Diary of Anne Frank" and study World War II, this would be too intense for them to comprehend. I've been to the national museum in D.C., as well as several holocaust museums around the country (almost every state has one) and this is one of the best because of the way the tour is put together. Instead of looking at exhibits, the audio tour by an actual survivor takes you through the whole experience, even crawling through a tunnel to get to a hiding place. There is no admission but you should make a donation of some kind, as we need museums like this to teach tolerance to future generations and honor those who didn't survive this atrocity. read more

This review is overdue and I have to rely on my memory of my trip. I have been to other Holocaust museums and I really liked this one. It was a very unique perspective because this is about one man's story. The displays are great in that they put you in the perspective of his experience. At one point I was crawling on the ground which replicated the man's experience hiding in a field. It was informative and personal and that was a nice balance. The museum also puts in in the point of view of some of the first Holocaust survivors that ended up in Richmond which was refreshing. Definitely worth seeing. read more

Virginia Holocaust Museum - Museums Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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While this is by no means a "fun" place to visit, it certainly is important as it helps to remind us as to just how much depravity exists in the world. Human beings suck, which is why we need effective laws that protect average citizens from power-crazed idiots when they are in power. One criticism I do have with the museum is the statement you hear again and again of "never again can we let this happen.' The problem with that is genocides have occured on a fairly regular basis, both before and after World War II. Millions died in Cambodia after the Kmher Rouge took over and almost a million Rwandans were macheted to death in a few short weeks, simply because they belonged to a different ethnic group than those doing the killing. Mao and Stalin killed tens of millions apiece. So as long as you take the Ethnocentric viewpoint into account, this is a worthwhile place to spend some time, If anything, it will remind you of how lucky we are to live where we do. Most of the rest of the world isn't so lucky. read more