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Today, June 27th is National PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Day. This is an especially important date for us to acknowledge here at the American Heritage Museum, due to the immense number of veterans that suffer from this terrible condition. As reported by the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs), in 2022, 6,407 veterans took their own lives. That's 17.6 veterans every day. Many of these were related to struggles with PTSD.So as we close out Men's Mental Health Month, we would like to urge a gentle reminder. Check in on your family, friends and loved ones. These struggles are often silent and overlooked, and sometimes all it takes to help someone is for them to know that someone cares.If you are struggling with your own mental health problems, there are people who can help. Call 988 or text TALK to 741741 to reach a representative at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
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What is your favorite Anti-Tank Gun of all time?Join the conversation and share your thoughts! 💭 Each week, We're posing a question about historical military vehicles, and we want YOU to weigh in. Whether you’re a history buff, or just curious—we want to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below to cast your vote! 👇#QuestionOfTheWeek ... See MoreSee Less
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Join us on Saturday, July 5th, 1pm to 2:30pm, for an engaging talk by award winning author George Hayward on his book The Party Dolls.On 10 May 1969, two American prisoners of war escaped from a brutal Hanoi prison camp called the Annex. Their story is one of incredible bravery against the longest of odds. It’s also one of bitter conflict. Air Force Captains John Dramesi and Ed Atterberry escaped with help from their fellow prisoners, but that help was not given freely. The suffering it brought killed Atterberry, and scarred others for life. For more information on the event see: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/speaker-series-the-party-dolls-escape-from-the-zoo-annex/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Here is this week’s challenge for “What is it Wednesday?” - What is it?! For a little extra challenge, this one is in black and white!Thanks to everyone who played last week… the answer for June 18th is a tire marking on our MAZ-543… see the previous post for the full details!Good luck on this week’s challenge! #americanheritagemuseum #historymuseum #visitma ... See MoreSee Less
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The Holocaust Exhibit at the American Heritage Museum

The American Heritage Museum has completed Phase One of a two-phase project to develop a comprehensive exhibit on the Holocaust from its evil origins, through years of horror and tragedy, and its lasting repercussions on the world in the decades since. The cosmetic restoration and installation of the original WWII-era Deutsche Reichsbahn freight rail car is only the first step as we aim to complete a comprehensive multimedia exhibit within the year to be unveiled on the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp on January 27, 2025.

This rail car was imported to the United States by the American Heritage Museum from Nuremberg, Germany in the Summer of 2023 and has undergone complete restoration over the past six months. One of over 120,000 similar “Type G-10” cars built between 1910 and 1927 for the German National Railway. This 30-foot long, two-axle freight wagon is the type used by the Nazi regime for the inhumane transportation of millions of innocent Jewish people and other persecuted groups to concentration camps and extermination sites across Europe from 1933 to 1945. While no rail car can be directly traced to this terrible use as records were not kept of this type, the sheer numbers of victims transported during the Holocaust points to the likelihood that every car would have been used in this way at some point during its history.

 

Preservation for the Sake of Remembrance, Education, and Understanding.

The Holocaust represents one of the darkest chapters in human history, characterized by the brutal extermination of millions of innocent lives. It is crucial to remember and understand this horrific event so to prevent its repetition. Historical artifacts play a vital role in educating people about the Holocaust, and among them, this Deutsche Reichsbahn rail car holds profound significance in offering insights into this tragic period. By preserving this artifact and examining the rail car’s historical importance, we can gain a deeper understanding of the Holocaust, its origins, and its lasting impact on humanity.
During World War II, Nazi Germany’s national railway system, the Deutsche Reichsbahn, played a critical role in orchestrating the Holocaust. What was once a mere utilitarian means of transportation became a haunting symbol of suffering. Transformed into vessels of misery, these rail cars carried millions of innocent victims to a horrible destination from which many would never return. A logistical transportation infrastructure that enabled the state-sponsored persecution, mass deportation, and murder of millions by Nazi Germany.

At the American Heritage Museum, the display of this original rail car acts as a powerful symbol, connecting visitors to the reality of the Holocaust as inflicted by Nazi Germany and other Axis collaborators. Standing in front of this relic, one can imagine the unimaginable: the inhuman conditions endured for days, the fear, the uncertainty, and the sheer terror that innocent men, women, and children endured as they were transported to the death camps. It will become a tangible representation of the suffering and dehumanization inflicted upon millions, allowing visitors to establish a personal and emotional connection with the victims.

The presence of a preserved Deutsche Reichsbahn rail car in the Holocaust exhibit offers an invaluable educational opportunity. It enables visitors to comprehend the magnitude of the Holocaust and the systematic nature of its execution and a focal point for discussions about bystander apathy, collaboration, and the moral responsibilities of individuals and institutions during times of crisis. By engaging visitors in thought-provoking conversations, the display fosters critical thinking and raises awareness about the dangers of Antisemitism, prejudice, discrimination, and the consequences of unchecked hatred.
Moreover, the exhibit will serve as a poignant tribute to the millions of Holocaust victims who suffered and perished. It honors their memory by ensuring that their stories are told and that the horrors they endured are never forgotten. By placing the rail car within a larger narrative to be added in Phase Two that will include survivor testimonies, historical documents, and personal artifacts, the American Heritage Museum will provide a comprehensive and immersive experience that pays homage to the victims and preserves their legacy.

Through education, remembrance, and introspection, we can ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are learned and that future generations are equipped to build a more compassionate and tolerant world.

 

How you can help

Though the rail car has been installed in the American Heritage Museum, completing Phase One of the project, the most important part of the project awaits in Phase Two. The second phase will develop the exhibit narrative for installation inside and around the rail car that will include survivor testimonies, historical documents, and personal artifacts along with compelling multimedia to tie all the elements together. Phase Two needs your insight and support over the coming year to allow us to complete Phase Two by January 27, 2025 for the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp.

 

To Contact the Exhibit Development Team

Email: development@collingsfoundation.org or call 978-562-9182

 

To Make a Donation to the Holocaust Exhibit Fund

Online – Click on the button below:

By Mail:

American Heritage Museum
Attn: Development
568 Main Street
Hudson, MA 01749

 

Acknowledgements

The American Heritage Museum is grateful to the Czech Family Foundation (https://tmfc.cz) for their assistance in finding the rail car artifact for inclusion in the Holocaust Exhibit.

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EVENT TICKETS ONLY FOR SATURDAY & SUNDAY - No General Admissions available this weekend during Father's Day Tanks, Wings, and Wheels special event.

There will be no General Admissions tickets available on Saturday, June 14th and Sunday, June 15th during the Tanks, Wings, and Wheels Father's Day Weekend - all visitors on Saturday and Sunday must purchase event tickets for Saturday and Sunday for access to the American Heritage Museum. $30 Adults | $25 Seniors/Veterans | $20 Children 3 to 16 years old.