Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center

This month, The Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center awarded six SWFL seniors with the Anne Schuchman and Stephen Light Holocaust Museum Scholarship. The scholarship program was founded last year by Anne and Stephen to recognize students who embrace the lessons of the Holocaust and apply them to their lives, becoming upstanders – individuals who stand up for others and work to improve their communities.
Through a partnership with the Collaboratory, students applied by submitting a reflection about how learning about the Holocaust impacted them. 36 students from five counties submitted outstanding essays, making the award decision difficult.
One of this year’s winners is Makena King. In her essay, Makena wrote “Reflecting on the boxcar [exhibit] also made me consider my own responsibilities in the modern world. The Holocaust Museum’s mission is not only to preserve memory but to inspire action against hatred and promote respect among all people. Seeing this exhibit made me realize that learning history isn’t enough if we don’t apply its lessons to our lives. It reminded me why mutual respect matters—not just in theory—but in how we treat others every day.”
Congratulations Makena!
Collaboratory

Happy Flag Day from the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center! This flag is a part of our permanent collection.
Made in 1945 by Jewish Polish prisoners at Nordhausen Concentration Camp. It was presented to First Lieutenant John Spain Sr. of the 750th Tank Battalion, Company B who helped liberate Nordhausen with the 104th Infantry Division on April 11, 1945.
Spain Sr. as an American Legion Department Commander, donated the flag to the Rabe O. Willkinson American Legion Post 38 in Fort Myers, who took care of this item for over 35 years. After the flag sustained damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017, it was restored and preserved by Victor Paul Tuchman Post 400 Jewish War Veterans of America. The work was completed June 29, 2024, and we now hold the honor of displaying it for our visitors. Come by to view the flag in person, along with the rest of our collection.

We are happy to be working with Bonita Wonder Garden this summer! Now until August 31st members of both institutes can visit the other for free. Non-members can buy admission and receive a coupon card to the other institute.
https://wondergardens.org/
27180 Old 41 Road Bonita Springs, FL 34135-5405

Hello Summer! We are happy to be working with C'MON this summer to provide admission coupons. Visit one institute and ask for a coupon for the other.
One per party, can not be combined or traded for cash, must present the coupon at time of purchase, good until August 31st.
https://www.cmon.org/
15080 Livingston Road Naples, FL 34109
Children's Museum of Naples

We are happy to be working with The Railroad Museum of South Florida with Buy-One Get-One style admission. Visit one institute, bring your receipt to the other and receive free general admission.
One per person, can not be combined or traded for cash, must present receipt at time of purchase, good until August 31st. Must buy a non-discounted ticket (senior or children's tickets do not apply for this deal)
https://www.rrmsf.org/
7330 Gladiolus Dr. Fort Myers, FL 33966
railroadmuseumofswfl

We are happy to be working with The Railroad Museum of South Florida with Buy-One Get-One style admission. Visit one institute, bring your receipt to the other and receive free general admission.
One per person, can not be combined or traded for cash, must present receipt at time of purchase, good until August 31st. Must buy a non-discounted ticket (senior or children's tickets do not apply for this deal)
https://www.rrmsf.org/
7330 Gladiolus Dr. Fort Myers, FL 33966

The Railroad Museum of South Florida | Fort Myers, FL Visit the Railroad Museum of South Florida for family fun. Enjoy restored locomotives & scenic miniature train rides. Support railroad history!

This month, The Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center awarded six SWFL seniors with the Anne Schuchman and Stephen Light Holocaust Museum Scholarship. The scholarship program was founded last year by Anne and Stephen to recognize students who embrace the lessons of the Holocaust and apply them to their lives, becoming upstanders – individuals who stand up for others and work to improve their communities.
Through a partnership with the Collaboratory, students applied by submitting a reflection about how learning about the Holocaust impacted them. 36 students from five counties submitted outstanding essays, making the award decision difficult.
One of this year’s winners is Cypress Cohen from Babcock High School. In her essay, Cypress wrote “Ultimately, learning about the Holocaust taught me that history is not just what happened. It is what we choose to carry with us, what we choose to remember, and what we choose to act upon…Remembering the Holocaust is my way of refusing to look away from any other wrongful experience. It is my promise to help build a world where hatred cannot grow so quietly again.”
Congratulations Cypress!
Collaboratory
Babcock High School

The Holocaust Museum and Cohen Education Center is a proud participant of Museums for All. Visitors can present their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, and a valid form of photo ID at the desk for a discounted admission. Four people per EBT card can enter for $3 per person. Kids under 11 are always free.

We are a proud 2026 Blue Star Museum! Active-Duty military can show their ID at the desk and receive free admission for themselves and up to five family members, now until Labor Day (9/7).
Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of War and museums across America, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.
To find other more about participating museums please visit arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums

Every day we celebrate the strength and resilience of the Holocaust survivors, past and present. Today for National Holocaust Survivor Day, we'd like to highlight some who have dedicated their lives to educating others.
Sam Harris 1935 — 2026. Sam Harris was born as Szlamek Rzeznik in Demblin, Poland. He helped found the first iteration of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in 1981 and was president there from 2002 to 2009. He was also a speaker at The Holocaust Museum and Cohen Education Center 2025 Triumph Dinner.
Lorie Mayer 1927–2018, Using her experiences growing up in Berlin, Germany, she became involved in the establishment of the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida in Naples, where she serves as the Collections Curator and Historian.
Ade Price 1923 — 2014. Ade was a Polish holocaust survivor and a founding member of the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida. Abe became a tireless volunteer and active public speaker whose mission in life was history and Holocaust education.