Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center

Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center Teaching the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action aginst hatred and to promote mutual respect.

. Holocaust education doesn’t stop when you leave our building. Our gift shop is stocked with a range of books to conti...
09/06/2026

. Holocaust education doesn’t stop when you leave our building. Our gift shop is stocked with a range of books to continue learning at home. We include children’s picture books as well as life stores from local Holocaust survivors you cannot find elsewhere. Pick one up next time you visit and share what you learned with a friend.

As the news and social media continue to be filled with stories of hateful acts like the N**i flag flown at the MMA even...
09/04/2026

As the news and social media continue to be filled with stories of hateful acts like the N**i flag flown at the MMA event last weekend in Orlando, we are grateful for the daily opportunity to encourage the next generation to do better.
Our Museum, founded twenty-five years ago, was inspired by local students who believed change could come to our communities and the world when we treat each other with kindness, empathy, and respect.
Last year, Museum Education programs brought the history and lessons of the Holocaust to over 90,000 students in 10 SWFL counties. And, when students hear the eyewitness testimonies of SWFL neighbors who experienced the Holocaust, that history becomes personal, understandable, and motivating. Our programs encourage students to recognize and use their power to change the world. We ask them to stand up to hate and bigotry and promote mutual respect for others. And to always remember - we have much more in common than what divides us.

Summing up the impact of the trip, Principal Wes Moreland added, "You can look at our trip to Poland in terms of time, c...
09/02/2026

Summing up the impact of the trip, Principal Wes Moreland added, "You can look at our trip to Poland in terms of time, costs, and dollar signs, but the experiences we had was priceless." Mr. Feingold said, “After seeing Poland in person, there are way too many similarities echoed in society today. We must remember the past (especially the Holocaust) in order to try and protect all of humanity from having to endure something so horrific again.”
The teachers aren’t the only ones to benefit from this trip. They are bringing back and sharing real-world, on the ground, experiences of seeing Holocaust history to their students at Gulf Middle School, Bonita Springs Charter, and Palmetto Ridge High School. They will also add new personal stories of the Holocaust with those preserved by the Museum and shared in its exhibitions, as well as Holocaust Education programs for students and the public.
Łódź Ghetto Memorial, Wes Moreland at Birkenau, Wes Moreland at Auschwitz Camp Commandant Hoss’ family home
Gulf Middle School Bonita Springs Charter School

In recognition of , we are sharing these pictures of American soldiers, taken by Ken Regele and donated to us directly....
08/30/2026

In recognition of , we are sharing these pictures of American soldiers, taken by Ken Regele and donated to us directly. Ken was an American photographer who used film to capture the lives of American soldiers on the front line of WWII’s Western Front. Here we see the U.S soldier’s approach and land on a beachhead on the northern coast of France. If you are interested in seeing more of Ken Regele’s work, please come and view our special exhibition Caught on Film: The Wartime Photography of Ken Regele and The US Army Signal Corps. This exhibition will be on display through October 18, 2026.

This well-dressed pup is lovingly known as “Purim Puppy” here at the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center. We do no...
08/26/2026

This well-dressed pup is lovingly known as “Purim Puppy” here at the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center. We do not know the dog’s name, but he is decked out for a 1950 Purim Masquerade Ball. He is dressed up as an airborne soldier, specifically a U.S parachutist based on the badge.
In the years following the end of the Holocaust, Jewish communities focused heavily on social events and finding joy again. Purim is a Jewish holiday, that in short, commemorates Queen Esther saving of the Jewish people from a death decree. It is a celebratory holiday and often involves dressing up in costume. In the wake of the Holocaust, it felt even more important to gather as a community and celebrate after escaping death.
These photos are courtesy of Michael G. Levine, who donated several photo albums from his parents, Bertram and Zilla Levine, who lived in Germany from 1945 to 1950. The album was donated in their memory.

The educators’ tour to Poland was not only explored the Holocaust as a historical event but also provided the group a br...
08/23/2026

The educators’ tour to Poland was not only explored the Holocaust as a historical event but also provided the group a broader view of life in Poland before, during, and after the Holocaust. Among the areas visited were cities and towns where Jewish people had lived for hundreds of years. A special moment for educator Justin Feingold during the trip was a stop in Bilgoraj, where his ancestors lived. While his great-grandfather was able to come to the U.S. before the war, other family members who remained in Bilgoraj were likely deported to Bełżec and murdered. He noted “Not only did I get to walk the same streets as two of my great-grandfathers, but I got to see the final resting places for their aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings. I now get to share my stories (and pictures) with my students, which means the world to me.”
Justin Feingold at Bilgoraj city limits sign; his family members lived here before and during the Holocaust
View of Auschwitz taken from inside the home of the commandant
Wes Moreland at Auchwitz Camp Commandant Hoss’ family home

Wes Moreland, Haroldo Fontaine, and Justin Fengold recently returned from a ten-day educational study tour to Poland. We...
08/19/2026

Wes Moreland, Haroldo Fontaine, and Justin Fengold recently returned from a ten-day educational study tour to Poland. Wes Moreland is the Principal of Gulf Middle School in Cape Coral, Dr. Haroldo Fontaine is an 8th Grade Team Lead and English Language Arts Teacher at Bonita Springs Charter School, and Justin Feingold is a 10th Grade English Language Arts Teacher at Palmetto Ridge High School in Naples. They were chosen by the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center in Naples to participate in the program, “A Journey Through Poland - History, Evidence, and Memory.” Museum President and CEO Erin Blankenship, who accompanied the educators on the trip, noted “We have provided Holocaust Education programs to each of these schools for many years. In this time of rising antisemitism, education is the strongest tool against hate. The work these and other SWFL educators are doing to inform the next generation about the importance of standing up to hate is critically important to our communities”.
Also on the trip were other educators, students, scholars, and Museum professionals from across the U.S. The itinerary included visits to major historical and memorial Holocaust sites, including Warsaw and Łódź, Auschwitz I, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and Bełżec.
Gulf Middle School Bonita Springs Charter School Palmetto Ridge High

Our Education Department would like to wish all Collier and Lee County students a great school year!
08/11/2026

Our Education Department would like to wish all Collier and Lee County students a great school year!

Happy National Friendship Day! We can’t talk about friendship without mentioning our great volunteers Terry and Eileen. ...
08/07/2026

Happy National Friendship Day! We can’t talk about friendship without mentioning our great volunteers Terry and Eileen. These friends live in the same community and are some of the welcoming faces greeting you as you enter the Museum. Eileen joined us six years ago and quickly recruited her friend Terry to join her. Both have been volunteering with us now for 6 years. Over the years, they have brought in friends who also became Volunteers. In addition to receiving compliments from our visitors, Terry and Eileen have made a great impression on our board members, other volunteers, and staff. They bring light to our work, and we are so thankful for everything they do.

Don’t forget we are partnering with seven local institutions this summer for free or reduced entry! Our Members receive ...
08/04/2026

Don’t forget we are partnering with seven local institutions this summer for free or reduced entry! Our Members receive free entry to Bonita Wonder Gardens and the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Non-members can also receive reduced or free entry from six of our partners by showing their receipts from HMCEC. Or, you can visit one of our partners first, and then bring your receipt to our Museum for free or reduced admission. This program ends August 31st.

Address

975 Imperial Golf Course Boulevard
Naples, FL
34110

Opening Hours

Tuesday 1pm - 4pm
Wednesday 1pm - 4pm
Thursday 1pm - 4pm
Friday 1pm - 4pm
Saturday 1pm - 4pm
Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+12392639200

Website

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