us-005526
type: Institution
buildings: The Museum was designed by El Paso artist Victor Mireles.
sources: [El Paso Holocaust Museum](https://elpasoholocaustmuseum.org/) website
sources: ClaimsCon'06
opening hours: Monday: Closed Tuesday - Friday: 9a.m. - 5p.m. Saturday: 1-5p.m. All self-guided tours must begin 30 minutes prior to scheduled closing times
agent has or had location: 1
authorized by: 1
history: El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center had its very humble beginnings in 1984 when Holocaust survivor Henry Kellen decided it was time to tell his story and to educate the community about the horrors of the Holocaust. Until then, Mr. Kellen had not spoken publicly about his experiences—the result of a promise he and his first wife, Julia Kellen, had made to each other after arriving in the United States. However, a surge of Holocaust denial in the mainstream media during the 1980s convinced Mr. Kellen he could not be silent any more. In 1984, Mr. Kellen borrowed space in a small corner of the Jewish Community Center on El Paso’s West Side. With a few books and a handful of personal items, he began telling his story. Word quickly spread about this Holocaust display and, before long, schools and interested people were making appointments to hear from Mr. Kellen. The space was so small that groups sat closely on the floor just to listen. The community rallied behind Mr. Kellen’s desire to teach the Holocaust. Louis and Miriam Rosenbaum donated $250,000 so that a full-fledged museum could be built. By 1994, that museum, appropriately named the El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center, opened its doors next to the Jewish Community Center. EPHM thrived in its new location and each year hosted thousands of visitors and hundreds of school tours. Sadly, an electrical fire in October, 2001, destroyed the original Museum. A devastated Henry Kellen rummaged through the charred remains and wondered if that was the end of his vision. Almost immediately after the fire, the Museum’s Board of Directors vowed to rebuild and work quickly began on a Capital Campaign to raise the money needed for a new Museum. The community came through and $2.5 million was raised for the new Museum. It is worth noting that the majority of the money was raised in El Paso. Meanwhile, the Museum did not stop operating. A dedicated staff continued to teach the lessons of the Holocaust—first through vis…
name: El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center