The Auschwitz Exhibition Comes to Boston

Boston, MA – The world-renowned traveling exhibition, Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away., is set to arrive in Boston for its exclusive New England premiere this March. The acclaimed exhibition will feature over 700 original artifacts and objects from the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and over 20 other international museums. It is the first time a collection this immense has been brought together to tell the story of Auschwitz and the Holocaust to audiences across the world. Visitors will have a unique opportunity to view genuine artifacts that are rarely on display, as well as hear first-hand stories from the German Nazi concentration and extermination camps. The exhibition’s opening day is scheduled for March 15th, 2024 at The Castle at Park Plaza.

The Auschwitz exhibition, created by Musealia in cooperation with Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, will feature authentic, original objects from one of the most devastating periods in history. The artifacts featured in Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away. have great historical value, but more importantly, they hold profound personal significance. These artifacts tell the stories of those who lived, worked, and, more often than not, perished at Auschwitz. The objects range from concrete posts that were part of the fence of the Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp; large portions of an original prisoners’ barrack from the Auschwitz III-Monowitz camp; and a gas mask used by the SS garrison members who staffed the concentration camp system; to shoes, clothing, children’s dolls, and suitcases that had been packed by Auschwitz deportees in the hopes of one day returning to their lives.

Piotr Cywiński, Director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, expressed, “The tragedy of Auschwitz told through this carefully curated exhibition forces every visitor to bear witness to this horrifying chapter of human history and build a future shaped by remembrance. From the commandant desk to the prisoners’ bunkbeds to the child victim’s shoe, these artifacts call upon guests to prevent the dehumanization of others by building a future free from antisemitism, racism, and all ideologies of hatred.” Piotr Cywiński also shared, “On a more universal and symbolic level, Auschwitz played a pivotal role in shaping the identity of the world after WWII. The belief that humanity must prevent the recurrence of events like the Holocaust and the resurrection of places like Auschwitz was the cornerstone of post-war political changes. These principles of respecting others and promoting peace should be in everyone’s hearts and minds as we approach the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.”

In addition to the hundreds of items displayed from the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, over 20 other international museums and institutions have participated with special loans, such as Yad Vashem in Israel and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. However, this collection of artifacts will only be together for a brief period, and it will only be in Boston for a limited time. Registration for presale tickets is now available at TheAuschwitzExhibition.com.

“An exhibition this substantial and comprehensive on Auschwitz is unprecedented and is unlikely to ever be assembled again. Lending institutions all over the world have come together to make this exhibition possible, and it is a unique opportunity for everyone on the East Coast and beyond to visit Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away.,” shared Luis Ferreiro, Director of Musealia. “It is also a moral urgency to remember those who lost their lives at Auschwitz. Listening to their stories and understanding how these events could happen is the best action we, as citizens of the world, can take against the reoccurrence of such a horrific event.”

When guests enter Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away., they will confront one of recent history’s darkest periods. They will encounter the odious environment and acts that Nazi officers inflicted upon Auschwitz prisoners and learn how the prisoners nurtured hope even in this wretched place. They learn how the same hate that led to over 1.1 million deaths at Auschwitz in addition to millions of others throughout the Holocaust, has shaped the last 80 years to lead to our current world. This exhibition forever changes visitors through the telling of the stories of those who perished and survived Auschwitz. By the time guests leave the exhibition, they will bear the weight of the responsibility to combat the forces that wish to see this evil resurface in the world.

John Norman, President of World Heritage Exhibitions, who is presenting the exhibition locally, said, “Within the echoes of history’s shadows, lies a vital truth: to remember, to learn, and to honor. Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away. stands as an eternal testament, a beacon urging us to confront our past. In Boston, it will stand not just as an exhibition but as an emotional pilgrimage, inviting souls from far and wide to witness the poignant relics and hear the haunting tales. This showcase isn’t merely a display; it’s an unspoken promise to ensure the pasts’ darkest chapter resonates forever, etching an indelible mark upon our hearts.”

Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away. will open at The Castle at Park Plaza on March 15th, 2024. To sign up for presale tickets before tickets are open to the general public and to learn more about this exhibition, please visit TheAuschwitzExhibition.com.

About Musealia

Musealia is an independent Spanish company that creates and manages global touring exhibitions, which inspire us all to explore the past, understand the present and shape our collective future. With more than 20 years of international experience, our exhibitions are characterized by their strong narrative character, their historical rigor, educational value and emotional impact. More than 70 museums and institutions in countries such as the United States, Mexico, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal, Estonia, Poland, or Spain have hosted our exhibitions. About the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial: Fulfilling the wish of survivors, on July 2, 1947, the Polish parliament created the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum on the site of two preserved parts of the former German Nazi camp: Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. The Memorial today includes an Archive and a Collections department, and undertakes research, conservation, and publishing activities. It is, above all, an education center that teaches visitors about the history of Auschwitz and the Shoah. More than 2 million people visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum every year.

About World Heritage Exhibitions

World Heritage Exhibitions (WHE) is renowned for producing, promoting, and designing the finest quality museum content on the globe. Their exhibitions have captivated, educated, and inspired visitors in virtually every major market on the planet. With a combined 150 years of exhibition experience, the WHE executive team has been responsible for touring many of the world’s most valuable treasures, including objects from King Tutankhamun’s tomb, relics from Cleopatra’s Royal Palace, artifacts from the Titanic, items from the discovery of Pompeii, and more. Their exhibitions have now been enjoyed by over 30 million people spanning six continents, and their collective expertise has come together in one of the industry’s most influential touring exhibition companies.

In 2021, World Heritage Exhibitions became a part of NEON, a global leader in immersive experiences that is responsible for the touring phenomena “Jurassic World: The Exhibition,” “Harry Potter: Visions of Magic,” “AVATAR: The Experience,” and more. WHE and NEON have brought their expertise together to launch the awe-inspiring, artifact-based exhibitions “Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs” and “Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru.” Coupled with some of the most successful artifact exhibitions on tour: “Mummies of the World: The Exhibition;” “Pompeii: The Exhibition;” “Victoria the T. rex;” and “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away,” their collective exhibition and I.P. portfolio now highlight some of the most significant items and events in history with many of the most sought-after I.P. properties.