There are only 12 freestanding Holocaust Museums in the entire U.S. El Paso is home to one of them. It stands downtown now, in tribute not only to the 6 million Jews and 5 million non-Jews who perished in that insane conflagration and the Holocaust Survivors among us, but also to the citizens of El Paso, who have made it happen.
A quick history lesson: The El Paso Holocaust Museum was born in 1984, in one room of the Jewish Community Center, on El Paso’s West Side, in honor of those killed by the Nazis and the survivors who had lived through the nightmare. Driven in great part by its founder, Henry Kellen, it grew quickly and attracted donors, who gave money and artifacts from the years of the holocaust. Soon, it needed a space of its own, and in 1992, The El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center constructed and moved into a separate building on the grounds of the JCC. It grew to prominence within the city. The exhibits were well done and the dedicated docents brought this hideous stage of world history to life for thousands, with frequent tours by local schools, U.S. and German army trainees, and tourists.
Then, in October, 2001, an electrical short caused a fire. The building itself did not burn down, but most of the irreplaceable exhibits, relics and artifacts were consumed. The tragedy and irony of this was not lost on the founders, the Holocaust Survivors and the volunteers.
Henry Kellen, a survivor to whom this museum was a passion and a mission, felt defeated. He was sure that was the end. But he was amazed at the number of people, Jews and non-Jews alike, who were determined to see the Museum rebuilt. It took three years to collect more artifacts and find a space to house them. Jim Scherr and Sam Legate, the owners of Centre Court, a downtown office building, donated space to the Museum, and, in October of 2004, the Museum reopened in this location. Over 100 school tours and thousands of adults per year have passed through the exhibits, according to Leslie Novick, Executive Director. But everyone knew this was just temporary.
There was no question as to whether the Museum would be built; where and how became the issue. It was a tough three years, deciding what to do. What kind of building would to do justice to the mission of the Museum, to teach the lessons of the Holocaust, address other contemporary genocides and to emphasize the importance of diversity and acceptance?
Downtown was chosen because of the proximity to other Museums and the synergy available from downtown renovation and revitalization. The entire El Paso community had to be a part of this rebuilding. A significant piece of land was donated by the Mesa Group of El Paso but the cost of building from scratch seemed daunting. (Fundraisers with internationally known speakers brought in money that was used for operational costs.) The cost to prepare the concrete foundation alone would be several hundred thousand dollars. And the elderly and frail Survivors were dying.
When Walter Chayes took over the Presidency of the Board of Directors in 2005, he felt a strong sense of urgency. He convinced the Board that it would be more realistic and expeditious to remodel an existing building: upkeep would be affordable and ongoing fundraising would be easier. “I felt it would be more timely and fiscally prudent [to use an existing building], and not be another weight on the community,” said Chayes. And, most importantly, the building could open before too many more of the survivors were lost. The Board agreed and when the building at 715 N. Oregon St. became available, they bought it. Nearly $2 million dollars was raised by a focused Capital Campaign, headed by Jimmy Rogers, Jr. and Ann Schaechner. The El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center again become a reality.
A great deal of help came from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. The staff architect is overseeing the project, and has made suggestions. The USHMM has also referred donors with artifacts to replace those lost in the fire and their library has sent many books.
The 8800 square foot museum houses 11 exhibit areas. Victor Mireles designed the displays and the flow and feel of the individual areas. The use of color, lighting, space, murals and flat screen audio-visual equipment, as well as recreated environments will give the feeling of “being there.” Mireles says, “It is an emotional, eye-opening, heart tugging experience.” Hundreds of artifacts will be displayed. A very large library with many new books from USHMM and a computer room will be available for research at all levels, and a meeting hall/classroom will be used for special events and exhibits. A major highlight will be the interactive railcar that visitors to the museum will enter on one side and exit into the concentration camp area. At the end of the exhibits, there will be a reflection room, featuring an internally lit 6 foot flame of remembrance.
Leslie Novick explains the main goal of the Museum is “to teach young people today about what happens when bigotry and racism are allowed to flourish.” Far too many people today know little or nothing about that horrible time in history. Many times, after a student tour, the children will come back with their parents because the parents know so little.” This is why an important facet of the new building will be its Library and Study Center, with books, movies, internet access and an area for special presentations. Mireles explained that he wanted the displays to deal not only with the hard facts, but with core values of integrity, honesty and tolerance. Chayes insisted that this is for the whole community. “It’s not just a ‘Jewish Thing.’”
El Paso insurance executive Jimmy Rogers, Jr., co-chair of the Capital Campaign Committee remembers, as a child at the end of World War II, hearing about the atrocities that had been perpetrated in Europe. “Ever since that time I have been sensitive to my friends and others whose families were affected. I watched how survivors dealt with that horror, and was myself affected.” He joined the Board of Directors several years ago. “I had vowed never to do another fundraiser, but I couldn’t resist this challenge.” When asked what he thought the main purpose of the Museum was, he replied “The Study Center … to teach all people of all ages of the evils of genocide. And the job it does is incredible.”
Henry Kellen is a survivor, who escaped from a camp in Lithuania and was hidden by a farmer, along with six others, under the floorboards of a house for three months before the liberation. He, like many other survivors, kept quiet about what he had seen and endured. But, in the early 1980’s, something happened that made him rethink his silence. It was the growing and organized movement of Holocaust deniers in America and Europe that spread propaganda on the internet, in written papers and speeches. He felt he must speak out against these lies.
Volunteer Tibor Schaechner, also a survivor, is from Hungary. He was drafted into a boys’ labor battalion. By some miracle, he missed the work detail bus the day the rest were murdered. To him, the Museum is intensely personal. “The Museum’s mission is to educate the upcoming generation because the survivors are fading way. It is the only way we can give our message.”
Novick said that many tourists are among the Museum visitors and that they are “dumbfounded at finding a Holocaust Museum here in El Paso.” Imagine, a small border city with a predominantly Hispanic population supporting a museum that deals with intolerance! Kellen thinks that is precisely what makes the museum so well attended. El Paso is a wonderfully integrated community. “A mixed population of different religions and races understand better the subject of prejudice. Both the Spanish and Black communities are very interested in our story.”
According to Kellen, “The Museum will be a living testimony to the millions who perished in the Holocaust and it will be a source of education for this and future generations.” It is also a credit to our unique El Paso community that we hold it firmly nestled in the heart of our city.
