Dr. Peter Black, the Chief Historian of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, explores the response in the United States to the events of the Holocaust era, focusing on the issues of immigration, pre-war refugee policy, and wartime rescue policy.
The Museum honors the memory of millions of innocent men, women, and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust. It is dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides.
The museum offers exhibits, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events.
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the Museum stimulates leaders and citizens to confront hatred, prevent genocide, promote human dignity, and strengthen democracy.
The museum offers exhibits, short films, research library access, educational programs, and recreational and educational events.
The Fort Ontario State Historic Site presents Fort Ontario as it appeared between 1868 and 1872. The site interprets civilian, officer, family, and enlisted life at the fort in 1868 and 1869. During the Holocaust, the fort served as an emergency refugee center.
The site offers exhibits, costumed interpreters, demonstrations, audio-visual programs, educational services, guided tours, self-guided tours, interpretive signs, re-enactments, and a picnic area.
The Minnesota Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Minnesota. To this end, the society operates a history center and 26 historical sites located throughout the state. The Minnesota History Center collections include more than 230,000 artifacts, including a collection of Ojibwa pieces; 6,000 works of art; and 53,000 cubic feet of government records, among other items.
The Minnesota History Center offers a 30-minute introductory film, exhibits, interactive field trip programs, library access, and two lunch sites—one indoor and one outdoor. Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance for field trip programs and/or use of the indoor dining area. Lunches can be ordered ahead from the museum restaurant. The center can arrange for sign language interpreters and wheelchair availability. The society also offers outreach presentations given by costumed interpreters and continuing education workshops for teachers.
The website offers blogs on selected artifacts, local historical organizations, and the archives; a forum for historical researchers; video podcasts; historical images; lesson plans on Minnesota and the Holocaust; and a Minnesota history curriculum available for purchase.
From the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum workshop:
"This three-day workshop will bring up to twenty teachers from western states schools to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on March 4-6, 2010. Social Studies and Language Arts teachers of grades 6-12 with five or less years of experience in teaching about the Holocaust are encouraged to apply. In addition, teachers of other disciplines such as journalism and library and media specialists should consider applying.
Educators from suburban and rural schools from these states are eligible:
AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY
Teachers will use the Museum's Permanent Exhibition, the exhibit 'State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda,' and the interactive installation 'From Memory to Action: Meeting the Challenge of Genocide,' as their primary classroom as they learn the history of this tragic event. Museum staff and scholars will then assist participants in exploring questions of rationale, content, and methodology in teaching the Holocaust."
From the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum website:
"Since 1996 the Museum Teacher Fellowship Program has developed a national corps of 246 skilled educators who serve as the core of the Museum's efforts to ensure quality Holocaust education in secondary schools. Teacher Fellows organize conferences, lead workshops, write curricula, serve on boards of Holocaust museums and education centers, lead study trips to Holocaust sites, and serve as conduits to the Museum for educators, institutions, professional organizations, and community groups in their regions.
Each year up to 15 educators in grades 7 through 12 and community college faculty are designated as new Museum Teacher Fellows. These educators must show evidence of extensive knowledge of Holocaust history, successful teaching experience, and participation in community and professional organizations.
Teacher Fellows participate in a five-day, all-expense paid summer institute at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., designed to immerse participants in advanced historical and pedagogical issues. Following the summer institute, Fellows are expected to create and implement an outreach project in their schools, colleges, communities, or professional organizations. In July of the following year, Fellows will attend a follow-up program at the Museum to assess their various efforts and to continue their study of the Holocaust with Museum staff and noted speakers."
"Community college faculty, and middle and high school history, social studies, foreign-language, English and journalism teachers, as well as librarians and instructional media specialists, are encouraged to apply for Museum Teacher Fellowships. Other content areas will also be considered. It is expected that applicants will have taught the Holocaust for a minimum of five years. Applicants must teach in United States schools."
For the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum:
"A workshop for middle and high school teachers in Colorado."
From the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum:
"This workshop, designed specifically for secondary teachers in public and private schools in the greater Phoenix area, will be an introduction to the teaching of the Holocaust, increase teachers' knowledge of the Holocaust, and examine issues associated with this history.
Emphasis will be placed on understanding Nazi racial ideology, electronic resources for teaching about the Holocaust, and issues of propaganda."