Commemoration

The term Holocaust became widely used in the 1970s. Prior to that, it was referred to more generally as “World War II atrocities.” The trial of Adolf Eichman in the 1960s began to distinguish the Holocaust as a discrete event.

Immediately after the war, many survivors found themselves unable or unwilling to discuss what had happened to them; there was a general attitude that it was best to move on. As time passed, a sense of urgency began to develop around making sure that the horrors of the Holocaust were not forgotten with the loss of the survivors.

Memorials, museums, and centers began to arise within a few years of World War II in Europe and Israel. Commemoration in the United States took place more gradually; when the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh was established in 1980, it was stated that it was only one of six such centers in North America. In 2022, the Association of Holocaust Museums had 170 member organizations in the United States alone.

Video: 40 years of HC- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX0DqPSFHlQ 

Today, the Holocaust Center commemorates the past and its impact on the future through speaking engagements, field trips, public events, and more. Learn about our latest offerings at hcofpgh.org.