History

The VHM first opened in 1997, founded by Mark Fetter, Jay Ipson, and Al Rosenbaum. Housed in the former Education building at Temple Beth El, the museum became an attraction for school field trips. Within a few years, the museum outgrew the space at Temple Beth El, and required additional room to handle the growing number of visitors and school groups.

In 2000, the Virginia General Assembly offered the American Tobacco Company Warehouse for the relocation of the museum. After the restoration and reconfiguration of the building, the expanded Virginia Holocaust Museum was dedicated on Yom HaShoah, the Holocaust Day of Remembrance, 2003.

The Virginia Holocaust Museum has grown steadily since 2003 and now has an average of over 42,000 visitors each year. The VHM remains an important location for Virginia field trips with students from over 100 middle and high schools visiting yearly. Additionally, hundreds educators come to the Museum each year for professional development workshops. And an even greater number of police officers come to the Museum for workshops on fighting  antisemitism in the community.

The outside of the Virginia Holocaust Museum today.

An original stained glass piece in the Tower of Remembrance.

A group tour for Chesterfield County police officers.