New York City will host a full-scale replica of Anne Frank’s annex, a poignant memorial to history.
The exhibition, titled “Anne Frank The Exhibition,” will recreate the very rooms where Anne Frank and her family sought refuge during World War II.
“Those rooms [are] where Anne Frank, her parents, her sister [and] four other Jews spent more than two years hiding to evade Nazi capture,” expressed Leopold, highlighting the significance of this unique display.
In the confines of that secret annex, Anne documented her experiences and emotions in a diary that would resonate around the world. She began writing just at the tender age of thirteen, when the specter of the Nazi regime loomed large.
For those two years, Anne, her parents, and her sister lived in what they called a “secret annex.” They were later joined by others seeking the same sanctuary. The family occupied the second and third floors, with only a concealed entrance accessible through a revolving bookcase.
Beyond merely recounting their lives in hiding, “Anne Frank The Exhibition” aims to narrate the larger story of the Frank family—from their early years to the moment Anne’s father, Otto Frank, decided to share her invaluable diary after the war’s conclusion.
Published in 1947, only two years posthumously, “The Diary of Anne Frank” has since become a staple in classrooms worldwide. It serves not only as a historical account but a vehicle for understanding resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Leopold articulated a profound vision for the exhibition: “What we try to achieve with this exhibition is that people, our visitors, will learn about Anne not just as a victim, but through the multifaceted lens of a life, as a teenage girl, as a writer, as a symbol of resilience and of strength.” This exploration isn’t merely an act of remembrance; it is a call to reflection on the experiences that crafted her life and, in turn, ours.
This impactful exhibit is set to open on January 27 at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan, a date that holds profound significance as it coincides with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, observed on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
It is a temple of history, where the scent of memory will linger, infused with the stories of those who fought to live in a world overshadowed by hate. This exhibition invites visitors to step into those walls, to feel the weight of history, and to remember that even in darkness, hope can flicker brightly.
