Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Pat Higgins.
The Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance was founded 1984 in the basement of the Jewish Community Center by a group of Holocaust Survivors living in Dallas. The Museum’s main exhibit, archival collection, and visitorship have since dramatically increased, prompting a move into its current space in Dallas’s Historic West End at 211 North Record Street.
In Summer 2019, the Museum will change its name to the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum and move across the street into a brand new, 50,000 square foot museum that will allow the Museum to expand its mission beyond the scope of the Holocaust and host more school groups and visitors than ever before.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The Museum’s duty to combat hatred has never been more critical than it is today. One need only read a local newspaper or watch the news to know that acts of violence, fueled by hatred and prejudice, are on the rise, both around the globe and here at home. There are 85 active hate groups in Texas, more than in any other state.
Dallas experienced the deadliest attack on law enforcement since 9-11 with the murder of five officers on July 7, 2016. The needs of the North Texas community have outpaced the Museum’s resources due to the growing demand of schools and families. The current Museum, located in a 6,000 sq. ft. leased space can accommodate no more than 240 visitors at one time. The 120-seat theater, where students and visitors hear live testimonies from Holocaust survivors, is “standing-room only.”
The Museum’s archives are overfilled with critical documents and rare historical items. Most Museum programs must be held off-site. Despite these constraints, the Museum’s visitorship continues to grow substantially each year—from 46,190 visitors in 2012 to almost 80,000 in 2016—and its relevance has never been more evident.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance story. Tell us more about the business.
The Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance is dedicated to teaching the history of the Holocaust and advancing human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference. We hosted more than 83,500 visitors in 2016, among them 36,000 school children. A top-rated attraction in North Texas, the Museum is one of just a few Holocaust-related museums or centers in the United States and the only Holocaust museum serving North Central Texas, as well as the adjacent states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
The Museum has been recognized for its compelling and creative programming, internationally recognized exhibits, and world-class speakers. North Texas is home to over 50 survivors, refugees and hidden children from the Holocaust. Dedicated members and volunteers throughout the region and the state generously support the Museum every year.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t know about the role of luck, but certainly, we feel fortunate. Educators use the Museum as a classroom extension and increasingly request curricula and training to equip themselves to answer difficult questions about hatred, bigotry, and violence from their students. Students make up half of all annual visitors to the Museum.
In May 2015, the Museum commissioned an independent study, surveying approximately 1,100 high school and middle school students and their teachers, before and after their visits. The findings are encouraging. They show students blazing a trail of change in their communities.
Pricing:
- $10 ADULTS
- $8 STUDENTS $8 (COLLEGE STUDENTS MUST SHOW ID)
- $8 SENIORS
- $8 ACTIVE MILITARY
- SCHOOL GROUPS OF 15+ $5 PER PERSON
- NON-SCHOOL GROUPS OF 15+ $7 PER PERSON
Contact Info:
- Address: 211 N. Record St. Suite 100 Dallas, TX 75202-3361
- Website: http://www.dallasholocaustmuseum.org/
- Phone: (214) 741-7500
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dallasholocaustmuseum/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dhmcet
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dallasholocaust
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dallas-holocaust-museum-dallas
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g55711-d553905-Reviews-Dallas_Holocaust_Museum-Dallas_Texas.html
Image Credit:
Amanda Lynn Photography, Nathan Lundeen
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