A Major Chicago-Area Museum Just Reopened After a $10 Million Renovation. Here's What's New
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie. Photo by Scott Edwards, via Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center.
SKOKIE, ILLINOIS: One of the Chicago area's most important cultural and educational institutions has reopened its doors, welcoming visitors back after more than a year of renovations.
The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center officially reopened November 11, 2026, at 9603 Woods Drive in Skokie, following a renovation costing approximately $10 million.
The project brings expanded visitor spaces, redesigned galleries, new historical materials and updated facilities intended to make the museum more accessible and engaging.
Visitors will also have a new reason to return this weekend. Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare, a special exhibition examining Hollywood's political blacklisting era, opens Sunday, November 15.
For North Shore residents, families, educators and visitors exploring Chicago's museums, the reopening marks an important new chapter for an institution dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, education and combating prejudice.
What's New at the Illinois Holocaust Museum After the Renovation?
The renovation focused on improving how visitors move through the museum, experience its exhibits and engage with its educational programs.
According to the museum's official reopening announcement, the updates include several significant improvements.
A Larger, More Welcoming Entrance
The renovated Shapiro Family Foundation Welcome Center features an expanded lobby designed to accommodate more visitors.
The updated entrance offers additional gathering space and a more comfortable environment for individuals, school groups and families arriving at the museum.
Updated Holocaust Exhibition
The museum's central Zev & Shifra Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition now includes additional historical materials and expanded educational content.
Among the additions is the story of Leo Edelmann, a Chicago resident who helped Jewish families escape Nazi persecution.
The exhibition also provides more context about the historical roots of antisemitism and the experiences of other groups persecuted by the Nazi regime.
A New Reflection Gallery
One of the renovation's most meaningful additions is a dedicated space for quiet reflection.
Accessible from the main Holocaust exhibition, the new gallery allows visitors to pause and process what they have learned.
The space is particularly important given the emotional nature of the museum's historical content.
A Redesigned Auditorium
The new Lillian & Larry Goodman Auditorium and Gallery has been upgraded to support educational presentations, lectures, public conversations and other programs.
Improvements also include a refreshed lower-level Resilience Hall with an expanded stage.
The renovation adds wider walkways and accessible restrooms on each floor, making the museum easier to navigate for visitors with different accessibility needs.
Together, the improvements are intended to support growing attendance while preserving the museum's focus on education and remembrance.
New Exhibition Opens November 15: Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare
The museum's reopening also introduces a new temporary exhibition exploring a controversial chapter of American entertainment history.
Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare opens Sunday, November 15, 2026, in the museum's Special Exhibitions Gallery.
Created by Jewish Museum Milwaukee, the exhibition examines the political investigations and professional blacklisting that affected Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s.
During this period, actors, writers, directors and other entertainment professionals faced allegations about their political beliefs and associations.
Many lost employment opportunities or were excluded from the film industry, including Jewish artists and other creatives caught in the investigations.
The exhibition explores questions surrounding freedom of speech, antisemitism, political fear and national security.
Rather than focusing exclusively on well-known celebrities, it examines the experiences of people whose careers and personal lives were affected.
Special Opening Program on November 15
Visitors can also attend a public discussion connected to the exhibition's opening.
Program: Hollywood on Trial: The Blacklist and the Red Scare
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Skokie
Admission: Free; advance registration required
The discussion will feature cultural historian Thomas Doherty and Ellie Gettinger, with Chicago film critic Richard Roeper serving as moderator.
The exhibition is currently scheduled to remain on display through April 24, 2027.
Visitors can find details through the museum's official Blacklist exhibition page and opening program registration.
What Can Visitors Experience Inside the Museum?
Although the renovation introduced important changes, many of the museum's signature experiences remain available.
One of its most recognized attractions is the Abe & Ida Cooper Survivor Stories Experience, which uses holographic technology to preserve recorded testimonies from Holocaust survivors.
Visitors can ask questions and receive responses drawn from extensive interviews recorded with survivors.
The museum also features the Richard & Jill Chaifetz Family Virtual Reality Gallery, offering immersive experiences connected to survivor testimony and historical locations.
Other permanent exhibitions include the Take A Stand Center and Voices of Genocide Exhibition, which connect Holocaust history with broader discussions about human rights, prejudice and individual responsibility.
For families visiting with children, the museum offers educational resources and the Make a Difference! Harvey L. Miller Family Youth Exhibition, which focuses on choices, kindness and standing up for others.
Parents should consider children's ages and readiness when exploring the main Holocaust exhibition, as some historical material can be emotionally difficult.
The museum's expanded spaces also provide more opportunities for visitors to take breaks and reflect during their visit.
Illinois Holocaust Museum Skokie: Hours, Ticket Prices and Visitor Information
Planning a visit after the reopening? Here's what to know.
Museum: Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
Address: 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL 60077
Reopening Date: November 11, 2026
Hours: Wednesday–Monday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Tuesdays
Last Admission: 4 p.m.
General Admission Prices
| Visitor | Admission |
|---|---|
| Adults | $18 |
| Seniors (65+) | $12 |
| Students (through age 22, with valid ID) | $8 |
| Children (ages 5–11) | $6 |
| Children under 5 | Free |
The museum's virtual reality and holographic theater experiences now require an additional $5 ticket each, depending on membership benefits.
Admission is free for museum members.
The museum is also bringing back its monthly free admission days on the last Wednesday of each month, with the next scheduled for November 25, 2026.
Visitors should note that the museum is cashless and accepts electronic payment methods.
Official Tickets and Visitor Information: Illinois Holocaust Museum: Plan Your Visit
Getting to the Museum
The museum is located near Golf Road and the Edens Expressway, making it accessible from Chicago, Skokie, Evanston and surrounding North Shore communities.
Visitors traveling by car can reach the museum from Interstate 94 via Old Orchard Road.
Public transportation is also an option, although visitors may need a connecting bus or other transportation from nearby CTA or Metra stations.
The museum recommends consulting current transit directions before traveling.
Visitors with accessibility requirements can contact the museum directly at 847-967-4800.
What About the Downtown Chicago Location?
During the Skokie renovation, the museum opened Experience360, a temporary satellite location in River North.
That location will remain open through December 31, 2026, meaning both the Skokie museum and Downtown experience will operate simultaneously for the remainder of the year.
Visitors should confirm which exhibitions and experiences are offered at each location before making plans.
Why the Museum's Reopening Matters to Skokie and the North Shore
The Illinois Holocaust Museum has a particularly meaningful connection to Skokie's history.
Its origins trace to the late 1970s, when neo-Nazis threatened to march through Skokie, a community where many Holocaust survivors had rebuilt their lives after World War II.
In response, local survivors organized efforts to preserve their experiences and educate future generations about the consequences of hatred and discrimination.
Their work eventually led to the establishment of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois and the museum that opened in its current building in 2009.
Today, the institution serves visitors from across Chicagoland and beyond.
The renovation supports that ongoing mission by creating more room for educational programs, school visits and conversations about history and human rights.
For Skokie and surrounding North Shore communities, the museum also represents an important cultural institution alongside local libraries, schools, community organizations and other educational resources.
Residents exploring the area will find that Skokie offers more than convenient suburban access to Chicago. Its cultural history and community institutions are an important part of its identity.
The reopening gives both longtime residents and first-time visitors another opportunity to engage with that history.
Explore Life in Skokie and Chicago's North Shore
From cultural institutions and community parks to restaurants, schools and transportation connections, Skokie offers a mix of suburban conveniences and access to Downtown Chicago.
For buyers and relocation clients considering Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette and nearby communities, exploring local institutions and neighborhood amenities can help provide a fuller understanding of everyday life.
The Cory Tanzer Group at Option Premier helps buyers, sellers and relocation clients compare Chicagoland neighborhoods, understand local housing markets and explore available properties.
Considering a move to Skokie or the North Shore? Connect with our team for guidance on housing options, neighborhood differences and finding a home that fits your needs and priorities.
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