2021 Bearing Witness Magazine

25 HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

1981

1990

SIEGI IZAKSON, a Holocaust Survivor and longtime Houston resident, traveled to Israel to participate in an International Gathering of Holocaust Survivors. He had no idea his trip would inspire a movement that would ultimately become Holocaust Museum Houston.

SANDRA WEINER, President of the Jewish Federation, established the Holocaust Education Center and Memorial Museum of Houston and named Martin Fein founding Board Chair.

LIDYA OSADCHEY became the first Executive Director.

1998

The first Guardian of the Human Spirit Award was presented to RON STONE, longtime and respected Houston news anchor. 1997

1996

The first curriculum trunk program was created and sent across the US and beyond.

On March 3, Holocaust Museum Houston, Morgan Family Center opened its doors to 2,000 attendees.

1999

2002

An honorary commencement ceremony “graduated” 51 Holocaust Survivors from Emery/Weiner School.

The Eric Alexander Garden of Hope is dedicated, made possible by JOAN AND STANFORD ALEXANDER.

2016

2015

Engines of Change debuted with 40 students eager to find their voice as upstanders in our collective community.

The Museum began digitizing its oral testimonies.

Educator in Motion debuts.

2017

2018

A $44 million expansion was announced and a $15 million gift was received from LESTER AND SUE SMITH, the largest donation in the Museum’s history. The Museum held a groundbreaking ceremony that October solidifying the future of HMH.

On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, HMH’s Butterfly Project debuted at the United Nations.

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