About the Virginia Holocaust Museum: Mission, Vision, and History
The Virginia Holocaust Museum (VHM) is dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, preservation, and education in Richmond, Virginia. Located at 2000 East Cary Street, the Museum preserves the history of the Holocaust and honors its victims, survivors, and upstanders through immersive exhibits, educational programming, and community outreach. Visitors encounter powerful survivor stories and experiences that connect the past to the present and inspire moral responsibility today.
Mission of the Virginia Holocaust Museum
The Virginia Holocaust Museum preserves the history of the Holocaust and honors its victims, survivors, and upstanders through innovative exhibits, educational programming, and community outreach. By engaging students, educators, and the public, the Museum fosters understanding of the Holocaust and encourages visitors to confront antisemitism, prejudice, and hatred in their communities.
Vision Statement
We strive for a world without antisemitism, prejudice, or genocide, inspired by the history and memory of the Holocaust and the enduring story of the Jewish people. Through remembrance and education, the Museum seeks to empower individuals to recognize the consequences of indifference and to stand up against injustice in all its forms.
Virginia Holocaust Museum History
The Virginia Holocaust Museum was founded in 1997 by Mark Fetter, Jay Ipson, and Al Rosenbaum, who shared a commitment to ensuring that the Holocaust is never forgotten and never repeated. The Museum first opened in a repurposed building at Temple Beth-El in Richmond, where growing attendance quickly exceeded the available space.
In 2000, the Virginia General Assembly offered the Museum a transformative opportunity: the 120,000-square-foot American Tobacco Company Warehouse, built in 1899 and located at 2000 East Cary Street. Following a major renovation, the Museum reopened in its expanded home in 2003, with a dedication ceremony held on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).
Today, the Virginia Holocaust Museum welcomes more than 25,000 visitors annually from across the United States and around the world. More than 100 middle and high schools visit each year, making VHM a vital educational resource for students and educators across Virginia.
The Museum also supports educators through professional development workshops and seminars focused on Holocaust history, antisemitism, and classroom strategies aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning. As antisemitism rises globally, the Museum’s mission—to educate, remember, and inspire moral responsibility—remains as urgent as ever. We invite visitors of all backgrounds to explore, reflect, and consider their own role in standing up against hatred and injustice.