From Hate to Hope, Designed for Learning:
Inspiring Upstanders
Welcome to the future Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center, where memory drives action. Our mission is to be a resource to teach about the Holocaust with the goal of inspiring students and other visitors to work toward a world without antisemitism, hatred and bigotry – bridging global history with today’s reality, grounding the Holocaust’s global reach in local context, and inspiring a future free of hate.
The 31,000-square-foot, three-story cultural landmark will explore this critical chapter in history through interactive, immersive exhibits, celebrating the lives and legacies of survivors and challenging 50,000+ annual visitors to be upstanders in combating antisemitism and hate.
The Center is currently under construction, and we look forward to welcoming visitors in Fall 2027.
Join Us in Preserving History and Inspiring Future Generations
Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the United States, but it is the only one of its size that does not have a Holocaust museum or education center. We have raised over $48 million: $38 million for the building and related costs, and $10 million to create an operating endowment.
The Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center will focus on educating Arizona students in grades 7-12 by hosting school tours and other learning opportunities and providing Holocaust-related curricula and other resources for educators and schools. The Center will also engage residents and tourists, expecting 50,000 total visitors annually.
Preserving History
The internationally renowned museum and exhibition design firm C&G Partners is designing the Center’s exhibits. The galleries will tell the story of the Holocaust through immersive digital multimedia experiences, while the galleries in the historic building will be dedicated to a Jewish Life exhibit that explores Jewish culture and joy, from pre-WWII to present day.
Combating Hate
The center aims to combat hate and intolerance through education that brings local and modern context to the Holocaust. Through immersive exhibits and reflective opportunities that weave in contemporary issues of bias, civic responsibility, and standing up against antisemitism and bigotry, the HFHEC will inspire individuals to commit to acting as ‘upstanders.’
Uplifting Hope
The Center uplifts hope by honoring the resilience of those who faced unimaginable tragedies and sharing stories of courage and survival. Through education and remembrance, the Center promotes compassion, understanding, and unity, inspiring a future free from hate.
A Powerful Tribute
The Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center grew out of a plan by the Arizona Jewish Historical Society to create a museum to preserve and share the artwork of Arizona artist Robert Sutz. Sutz, whose father’s family perished in Nazi concentration camps, began creating Holocaust-related art to pay tribute to honor survivors, liberators, and righteous gentiles to ensure their stories and lessons of hope and resilience are never forgotten. This focus on Arizona’s local survivor community continues throughout the design and building process today: four local survivor testimonies will be woven throughout the exhibit experience, creating a personal connection to the Holocaust, and reminding us that global history is also deeply woven in to our local community.
The Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center is part of the Cutler✡Plotkin Jewish Heritage Campus, the site of Phoenix’s first synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel which opened on October 30, 1921.
Insights & Updates
Stay updated on our progress! Discover educational resources, ways to engage, and key milestones that will lead up to opening our doors in late 2027.
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Building a Legacy of Hope
Capital Campaign Reaches nearly $46 Million in support of building and endowing the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center.
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Honoring History. Meeting the Moment. $3 Million to Go.
The campaign has reached $45 million, bringing the Center $3 million from its goal while community support continues to grow.
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Campaign Now $43.6 Million!
The campaign to build the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center has reached $43.6 million, with over 1,000 donors contributing. Construction progresses as design development continues.
Thank you to our partners and supporters for helping us realize our vision.
Your dedication to preserving history and promoting education inspires us to create a lasting impact. Together, we build a legacy of remembrance and hope. View our donors.
