The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, located in Skokie, is set to reopen its doors on Wednesday, Veterans Day, following a closure of more than a year to accommodate extensive renovations.
On opening day, all veterans, active-duty service members, and retired military personnel will be granted complimentary admission, along with up to four accompanying family members. Presentation of a valid military identification is required.
The museum initially closed in July 2025 to undergo a comprehensive renovation project, which encompassed a fully redesigned auditorium and gallery space, as well as a newly constructed welcome center featuring a more expansive lobby. Additionally, a new reflection gallery has been introduced, offering visitors a dedicated space to gather and reflect following their experience. The virtual reality and holographic theaters, which have long been signature features of the museum, remain intact and operational.
Bernard Cherkasov of the museum stated in October that the facility is designed for “a new generation of witnesses, a new generation of upstanders.”
The museum’s temporary downtown location, known as Experience360, began welcoming visitors in August 2025 and will continue to operate at the corner of State and Kinzie streets through the remainder of the year.
Holocaust survivor Aaron Elster, who passed away in 2018, continues to share his powerful personal account with visitors through an interactive holographic presentation housed within the museum.
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