Illinois Holocaust Museum Set To Reopen On Veterans Day After Closure Last Summer

SKOKIE, IL — The Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie will reopen Wednesday after being closed for more than a year for renovations.

The renovation work included a new Lillian & Larry Goodman Auditorium and Gallery, which the museum said was redesigned to enhance the visitor experience and accommodate a broad range of programming. The museum also renovated the Shapiro Family Foundation Welcome Center with an expanded lobby intended to create a warmer arrival experience and allow the museum to host more visitors.

Other changes include new additions to the Zev & Shifra Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition, expanded educational content about antisemitism, the story of Chicago resident Leo Edelmann, and the experiences of other groups targeted by the Nazis.

The museum also added a new reflection gallery connected to the Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition to give visitors a space for quiet reflection during and after their visit.

The lower-level Dr. Joy Erlichman Miller and John Miller Room of Resilience was also refreshed, including an expanded stage for presentations and public programs.

"The reopening comes at a critical moment, as antisemitism and hatred continue to rise, underscoring the importance of confronting the past and empowering individuals to take action in their own communities," the museum said.

While the Skokie site was closed, the museum opened a downtown satellite location in Chicago at the former site of the Broadcast Museum in River North. That location featured some of the museum’s most popular exhibitions.

From Nov. 11 through Dec. 31, both the Skokie and downtown museums will operate at the same time, according to the museum. Members can visit both locations for free.

The museum's public hours will remain the same, being open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day except Tuesday, when it is closed to the public.