By Feature Impact | Guest Contributor
During back-to-school season, education is naturally at the forefront of most parents’ minds. While a lot of important learning is accomplished in the classroom, there are so many opportunities to continue challenging and developing children’s minds and hearts in family life as well. Learning about history together is a practical way to inspire deep, meaningful conversations about the world, whether from books, documentaries or visits to museums.
Now is an opportune time to explore the story of Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager evading Nazi capture during the Holocaust. Families can read her famous diary together then visit “Anne Frank The Exhibition,” presented by the Anne Frank House at the Chicago-based Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. This comprehensive exhibition immerses visitors in the context that shaped Frank’s life, from her early years in Frankfurt through her tragic death and how her father ensured her legacy. The centerpiece is the first full-scale recreation of the Annex where the Frank family and four other Jews hid during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The exhibition, recommended for visitors ages 10 and older, is open through early 2027.
We hope this exhibition offers meaningful moments of reflection for our guests, particularly young people, and encourages them to think critically about their role in the world they are inheriting.”
Dr. Chevy Humphrey
No matter what piece of history families choose to delve into together, they should take the time to discuss with their kids what they’re thinking and feeling about everything they’re discovering. Then together they can figure out what lessons from the past can be taken into the future.
“Anne Frank’s story is a powerful reminder of what happens when fear and hatred are allowed to take root,” said Dr. Chevy Humphrey, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry President and CEO. “At the same time, it reveals the quiet but enduring strength of curiosity, creativity and resilience, values that sit at the heart of our mission. We hope this exhibition offers meaningful moments of reflection for our guests, particularly young people, and encourages them to think critically about their role in the world they are inheriting.”
About The Griffin Museum of Science & Industry
In 1933, Julius Rosenwald turned a spark of inspiration into a legacy. After witnessing his child’s fascination with an interactive exhibit, Rosenwald envisioned a museum where science came to life for everyone. Today, Rosenwald’s vision continues at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, where more than 200 million guests have ignited their curiosity through our immersive experiences. As one of the largest science museums in the world, we bridge education and innovation, delivering hands-on exhibits and outreach programs that break barriers and engage future thinkers of all ages.
Learn more about the exhibit and other experiences that bring history and science to life at GriffinMSI.org.