Founded in 1998 and opened in 2001, the New Mexico Holocaust Museum is dedicated to eliminating hate and intolerance through education. Our exhibits illustrate–through artifacts, memorabilia, pictures, documents, videos, and books–historical conflicts caused by local, national, and global prejudice, culminating in the most unspeakable of all horrors, the Holocaust.
We are dedicated to providing knowledge on genocides and intolerance throughout history continuing to present day. Approximately 60 percent of the museum focuses on the Holocaust, covering the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis against both Jews and non-Jews. The remaining space is devoted to other genocides, human rights, and social justice issues. The facility includes a research library that is available for public use. The museum has recently embarked on a program to revise all of its exhibits to reflect current perspectives and best practices in museum exhibits and education.
The museum has long been involved in the community and has organized and sponsored a wide variety of events including lectures, panel discussions, film screenings, plays, visual art exhibits, and dance performances. In addition to the hundreds of students who visit the museum each year, it also receives substantial walk-ins from New Mexican, out-of-state, and international visitors. We rely on volunteers, and, as the museum is free to the public, operate on generous donations from supporters and visitors as well as grants from foundations and grant making agencies.
In March, 2023, the museum became a USHMM Community of Holocaust Education Center (CHEC).
Our Founder (1926-2019)
Werner Gellert, a Holocaust survivor, his wife, Frances “Frankie” Gellert, and Julianna Lerner, also a survivor, were inspired to create the museum after separately visiting a similar museum in El Paso, Texas. Lerner, along with the Rev. William Dorman, an interfaith community leader, were two of the first board members in addition to the Gellerts.
Educating the Future
Education has always been the focus of the museum and youth is our target audience. Critical to our mission since inception has been our program of educational outreach for students and teachers, both in and outside of the museum. Education outreach includes internships with high schools and the University of New Mexico, outreach programs for middle and high school students across the state, and an upstander program for elementary school students.
Our Location
The museum opened in the Freed Company Building at 415 Central Avenue NW, near the Kimo Theater. Originally a shared space with the Wheels Museum and a local theater company office that subsequently moved out, the Gellerts upgraded and expanded the exhibits and increased the educational outreach program. In 2009, the museum moved to its current location at 616 Central Avenue SW.
Staff
- Executive Director
Raye Cohen - Director of Administration
Lyn Berner - Director of Collections
Camelia Caton-Garcia - Volunteer Coordinator
Kayla Abeyta-Lopez - Librarian
Sheri Karmiol
Board of Directors
- President
Raye M. Cohen - Vice President
Sheri Karmiol - Vice President
Regina Turner - Secretary
Jennie L. Negin - Treasurer
Armen Chakerian
Lane Leckman
Gloria Taradash
Michael Wald
- President