Visiting the Miami Holocaust Memorial: A Place of Horrific Reflection

When I planned my trip to Miami, I was surprised to learn there is a Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach. The horrific genocide carried out by Nazi Germany during World War II wasn’t something I had associated with this South Florida city. Upon visiting, I learned that Miami Beach is actually home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States of America. That was a huge part of why it was deemed appropriate to create the massive monument near South Beach. The Miami Holocaust Memorial makes for a stark contrast with the atmosphere of fun and frivolity just a few blocks south, but is an essential stop when visiting Miami. Read on to learn about it.

• Planning a trip to Miami and need help deciding what to do? Check out my city guide and itinerary post, which you can read HERE.

Miami Holocaust Memorial – The Basics

• Where? 1933 – 1945 Meridian Avenue, Miami Beach
• When? The Memorial is open daily from 10.00am until sunset.
• How much? Admission to the Memorial site is free.
• How to get there: The Holocaust Memorial is just a few blocks north of the main South Beach area. If you’re staying nearby, you can get to the Memorial on foot. Follow Meridian Avenue a few blocks north of the Lincoln Street Mall, and you’ll reach the site just before getting to Dade Boulevard.
• Website: https://holocaustmemorialmiamibeach.org/

The Story Behind the Miami Holocaust Memorial

Miami’s Holocaust Memorial opened in 1990, however its construction was not without controversy. Plans for the site first came about in 1984, when a small number of Holocaust survivors went on to form the Holocaust Memorial Committee. With Miami’s aforementioned Jewish population, the committee felt the city was the perfect site for a large scale monument in memory of the six million Jews killed under the sick Nazi regime. At the time, it was said there were some 20,000 – 25,000 Holocaust survivors living in the Miami Beach region alone.

There were those who objected to the Memorial’s construction. Developers argued that it would put a somber blemish on Miami’s booming reputation as a fun filled summer escape for tourists. Others simply opposed it, claiming such a monument contrary to the separation of religion and state. All arguments came to a head on November 17, 1984, when dozens of Holocaust survivors from all over Florida attended a Miami Beach Planning Board meeting. Emotional pleas were put forth, and the Memorial was unanimously approved. Kenneth Treister was subsequently commissioned to design the project.

The site of the Memorial wasn’t coincidental. Its address at numbers 1933 – 1945 matched the years over which the Nazi genocide was carried out. Some claimed the location was chosen by fate.

A Few Rules When Visiting the Holocaust Memorial

It goes without saying, but this isn’t the place for loud conversations or running around. The Holocaust Memorial is a somber place of reflection. When you’re here, you need to show respect for the lives that were lost. While its just a few blocks from the beach, that means you’re expected to at least wear a shirt and shorts on the memorial property. The memorial is outdoors, but smoking, food or drink are all prohibited. If you’re visiting with more than 10 people, you also need to contact the Memorial office in advance before arriving.

If you’re visiting Miami with children, I’ll leave it to you to decide whether its appropriate for them to visit the site. They should obviously be made aware of the significance of the site so that they act appropriately. Some parts of the Memorial, which I’ll cover below, are quite confronting, so keep that in mind.

The Main Site’s Exterior

Arriving at the Memorial, the first thing you’ll notice is the giant bronze arm at its centre. It stretches up into the sky, invoking images of someone suffering and reaching up for help. The bronze arm, officially titled the Sculpture of Love and Anguish, stands at 40 feet tall. It is surrounded by a reflecting lily pond with a 200 metre diameter. Its definitely eye catching, even though its finer details are still obscured from this distance.

When I got to the site, I was greeted by an extremely knowledgeable staff member. Unfortunately I can’t remember his name, but he told me a lot about the history of the site and some of the aspects of symbolism throughout. Right by the spot where we talked, we spoke about a smaller sculpture, this one depicting a woman, seemingly shielding two young children. Behind the sculpture was a quote from Anne Frank – “then in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart”. Those words stuck with me as I look around the Memorial. Its important to look back on times of evil that have been carried out in history, so as to ensure they never be repeated.

Just by the entrance to the tunnel that leads into the main part of the memorial, there are a few information panels. They provide some context to the events of World War II and the Holocaust. After a series of photos depicting some of the horrible events, the panels turn into a list of names of Holocaust victims that wrap around the rest of the site.

Through the Tunnel

Following the panels, you’ll pass through the Arbor of History. This tunnel is comprised of Jerusalem stone and winds towards the centre of the memorial. The tunnel culminates with an eternal flame and the words of Psalm 23 – “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow and death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me”. Wandering down through the Lonely Path, you’ll see Jewish symbols such as the menorah and Star of David, whilst the eery voices of children speaking Hebrew fills the area. You’ll pass the names of various concentration camps, a simple, but stark reminder of some the most evil acts in modern history.

Then you step back out into the open. You’re right at the base of the giant arm that you saw the moment you entered the Memorial grounds. Now however, you can see the more intricate aspects of its design. The hand is swarmed by an immense swath of naked figures, their faces frozen as if crying out in helpless anguish. The way some are desperately stepping over others invokes images of true horror and hopelessness as these representations of those persecuted attempt to escape a horrid fate.

They’re joined by those that couldn’t make it to that point. Scattered around the base of the arm, there’s more figures. Some stand alone with signs of malnourishment, some seek hopelessly to console others, some are draped over the floor, perhaps already having perished. I didn’t expect the imagery at the Memorial to be quite as confronting as it was here, but when you think about what the victims of the Holocaust endured, its entirely appropriate.

I left the site of the Miami Holocaust Memorial with a fresh reminder in my mind of just how horrid the crimes committed against the Jewish population under the Nazi regime truly were. The Memorial forces you to think about the pain and suffering that was inflicted in the pursuit of power. The Holocaust was a symbol of the evil that can brew in humanity. While I like to believe that the words of Anne Frank at the Memorial’s entrance about the good in humankind is true, there’s no doubt that the evils of the Holocaust must be remembered and that we fulfil our humanly duty to condemn any who would take a similar path to attain their goals.

Visiting the Holocaust Memorial invokes a completely different mindset than you’ll likely experience for the remainder of your trip to Miami. I’m glad I visited the site. It surpassed my expectations, both in terms of scale and content, and in my view it is presented in a tasteful manner. Have you been to the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach? What did you think? What message did you take from your visit? Let me know below.