Pictured from L to R: Senator Rebecca L. Rausch, Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, Co-founder Jody Kipnis, Co-founder Todd Ruderman, Mayor Michelle Wu, Chairman Aaron Michlewitz, Councilor Ed Flynn. Photo: Jeff Pinette

The Holocaust Museum Boston had its official groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, marking the start of construction on the only institution in New England that will be primarily dedicated to Holocaust education.

The event took place at the museum’s future site, located at 125 Tremont Street, at the intersection of Tremont St. and Hamilton Place and across from Boston’s Freedom Trail. The museum will open in late 2026 and overlook some of the city’s historic landmarks, including the Massachusetts State House and Park Street Church. The Holocaust Legacy Foundation is leading construction of the museum and hosted Thursday’s ceremony, which was attended by community leaders such as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, President of the Senate Karen Spilka, and Consul General of Germany Dr. Sonja Kreibich.

The Holocaust Museum Boston will feature immersive exhibits, survivor testimonies, and historical artifacts in an effort to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and highlight the stories of victims and survivors of the Nazis’ campaign to exterminate European Jewry. The future museum will also aim to educate visitors about the dangers of antisemitism, hate, and bigotry. Artifacts that will be on display include a 1940s teddy bear that saved the life of a Boston Holocaust survivor and a real-life Nazi-era railcar. The museum will additionally have an interactive holographic experience where visitors can engage with video interviews of Holocaust survivors.

The groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday featured a speech by Joseph Fasullo, the 17-year-old grandson of Holocaust survivor Steve Ross, who is the founder of the New England Holocaust Memorial. Fasullo said the goal of the Holocaust Museum Boston is to educate younger generations about the Holocaust and help stop antisemitism and hate from flourishing.

“This is not just a groundbreaking,” said Legacy Foundation co-founder Jody Kipnis. “This is a promise. A promise to honor the past, educate for the future, and ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust continue to resonate in a world where the dangers of hatred and intolerance still exist. As we stand at the beginning of this journey, we are not just building a museum — we are building a space that demands action, understanding, and a commitment to justice for generations to come.”