Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial

The Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial at 1933-1945 Meridian Ave in Miami Beach was dedicated in 1990 and is among the largest Holocaust memorials in the United States. Designed by sculptor and architect Kenneth Treister, with the effort led by local survivors and community members, it was built to honor the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and to preserve the memory for future generations. The site sits in a plaza in a district that has long been a center for Jewish life in South Florida. The best-known feature is the central sculpture, Sculpture of Love and Anguish, a 42-foot bronze arm reaching skyward, bearing the tattooed number of a camp prisoner. Hundreds of bronze figures of men, women and children are shown climbing the arm in desperation. Around the sculpture, a curved wall and a Memorial Wall of Names carry the inscribed names of victims, and visitors can walk through a dark tunnel lined with a list of camps and with photographs, ending at the open plaza. Other elements include a Lonely Path with bronze figures, a Children's Memorial and reflecting pools. The approach is symbolic and emotional rather than museum-style, and it is intended to provoke reflection. Maintenance of the bronze and stone is done by the foundation that runs the memorial, and visitors may see volunteers or educators leading groups. Admission is free, and the site is open daily. It is a short walk from the Miami Beach Botanical Garden and the Lincoln Road area. Visitors are expected to behave respectfully, and the memorial is also used for commemorations on Yom HaShoah each year. Because it is outdoors and unstaffed in places, the experience is quiet and self-directed, and many visitors pair it with the nearby Jewish Museum of Florida. Visitors are advised to confirm current opening hours, admission prices and any guided-tour schedules directly with the venue before traveling, since these details change seasonally and with special events in Miami, Florida.