But neither of those are The Museum of X. And I'm sure the museum must have something that shows tolerance (though the About page for the museum mentions nothing of the sort; the ToleranCenter "focus[es] on the major issues of intolerance that are part of their daily lives.")

Look at me, arguing a relatively minor point of no interest to either party. Is anybody surprised? Regardless of age appropriateness or goodness of mission, I'm inclined to disapprove of any institution that went forward with naming something "ToleranCenter."

On the contrary, now I'm doubly intrigued. I think I will indeed stop on my daily trek past and actually go inside someday real soon ... if only to expericence the ToleranCenter for myself.


Ok, yeah, that's the hokiest thing I've heard of in a long time, and I don't think anything about a Holocaust museum is supposed to make me crack so big a smile.

But it does put the place even more "on the map" for me, and truly increases my chance of a visit.

Then you might like to know that inside The ToleranCenter is The Point of View Diner, described as such:

I can only assume they don't really serve food. But it would be brilliant if they did.

I was actually and deeply disappointed as I read the description and it dawned on me that no meal would be served as an accompaniment.



I suppose it would be crass to sip a cocktail during the drunk driving segment.

Too bad.

But think of the "instant results" they could tabulate based on percentage of meal finished as relates to topics presented.

It would be like watching to see who can eat during an autopsy.

Aww - I think it would be a wonderful time to serve sterotype food - Watermellonand fried chicken, refried beans, Sour Kraut, Irish Wiskey, etc.

So does the interactive part allow you add your own slurs to the menu?

Thanks you guys for your responses.

I appreciate your response, GD, as I was speaking to someone who said they new a Holocaust survivor and that they felt this was age appropriate and I kept thinking she forgot what it was like to be 12...So, I am glad to hear you say, if I am careful about what we do, he will be alright.

Like Alex, I really had/have my concerns. Mostly I worry the subject won't be respected and that will make the trip a waste. That is why I am going with them. {and I hate to ride the bus with a bunch of kids!!!} I worry at their age their biggest concern is one another.

flippyshark~ That is it, I had 'number' in my head but I couldn't figure it out. And, sadly, it wasn't my son in your pictures. :( That would have been swell. Those pictures showed a lot of tolerance for knuckleheadness!!! {kidding!! I'm just jealous!}

Oh, I will have to go to that site! I've been working too many hours. {this is my argument against my working....;) }

I wish they did serve food. I worry what we are going to have for lunch. :rolleyes: I wanted to go to Olvera Street but was told it isn't close...

I just asked The Boy if he'd finished reading the book, he said no. I asked him what he knew about the Holocaust and he said he knew the Jews were tortured and killed by Hitler because he wanted people to be just like him.

So, yeah, I have work to do with him. He seemed very open to it, when I told him that there was much more and that I wanted to study it before our trip he was quite agreeable.

Thanks you guys for your opinions. I do understand your statement in the sense it was given. I don't think like iSm, all I can think of is George Carlin and 'Why do you drive on a Parkway and park in a driveway?' and any of his other comparisons...

Keep the ideas/opinions coming, I find this quite intersting. :)

LOL I really doubt that...But, you have a really good head start. :D

Whoever told you that is clearly being intolerant.

I've been to the Museum before... twice actually. The first time I went was around the time it first opened.

I know that there's at least 3 levels to the museumL the ground/lobby floor with the gift shop and the replica of Anne Frank's Diary, the 2nd floor with artifacts and the 3rd floor where the Holocaust Walk/Interactive exibits are.

Back then, they had a dark tunnel about maybe 30 feet or so that curved to the right so when you walked through, you could se absolutely nothing. Once inside, there would be whispers of all sorts of racial slurs coming from everywhere. It was creepy. I beleive they also made a South Park based on the Museum of Tolerance where Cartman walked through a similar tunnel. I'm pretty sure the tunnel is no longer there.

There's a light up map of all the hate groups in the United States and propaganda depiciting various stereotypes of different ethnic peoples and religious in advertising and comics.

It's in the waiting area for the Holocaust Walk. The Holocaust is a self guided tour where you get to see how the movement of Hitler spread through Europe.

At the beginning of the tour, you get a plastic card with a picture of a child on it. In the middle of the tour, you swipe your card and you learn more about your child, their family, and the circumstances around them going to one of the camps.

In the first half of the tour, there are highlights on how Hitler came to power. It's interesting because one can see how others were buying into Hiltler's idea, as twisted as it was.

The second part of the tour deals with the Death Camps. Eventually you make your way to a sorting area similar to the ones the new arrivals saw. At the end of the tour, you sit in a Gassing Shower similar to the ones at the death camps and you also watch a video about the gas chamber while you're sitting on the benches. This is the end of the tour.

As you leave the gas chamber, you walk into a beautiful room filled with light and glass. It's called the Survivor's room. There are stories of people who rescued Jews and other persecuted persons and, of course, the survivors of the Holocaust. This is the room where you scan your card one last time and find out the fate of the child you carried around during the tour. You also get a printout of the information for your kid. I have been fortunate 2 times as my children have always survived. My travel companions have not been so lucky.

The 2nd floor artifacts room has a room dedicated to death camp artifacts. There is an actual bunk from one of the camps and a picture to show how people were packed in them. One of the things that has haunted me over the years is a pile of shoes. I kept thinking that people used to fill those shoes... and then I would get weepy. It also shows the strength of the human spirit in the crudely made musical instruments and other items.

There's an interactive computer lab chronicling the different periods of World War 2. In addition, there are also army uniforms from the different factions that fought in the war.

It's been a while since I've been to the Museum, so that's all I remember. When my child is maybe 10-11, I'll take her there. She's only 7 so we have a while to go.

The tour, for me, was emotionally draining. After each time I've gone on the tour, I've promply driven back to DL so I could just sit and watch happiness for a while. Hopefully you and your son have a happy place when you get done with the tour so you guys can just sit and refill your happy meters.