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The Boxcar - Chronicle of EventsAfter a four-year international search, The Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida is proud to announce the acquistion of an authentic World War II Boxcar. This 10-ton freight car came to the Museum from the Post of Rotterdam, Netherlands on May 16th, 2007 and arrived in Naples on May 17. The Boxcar measures 10 feet in width, 30 feet in length. Through a Pilot Program the Boxcar will be used as a traveling educational tool to visit Collier County Schools this year, with the goal of eventually visitng schools in Southwest Florida.
Boxcar Used to Transport Holocaust Victims During WWII to Arrive in Naples
After more than a year of negotiations and project coordination by the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida, the 10-ton freight car was finally readied for shipment. After clearing customs in Miami, the rare artifact will be transported to Naples, where it will undergo conservation and preparation for its new environment before being placed on display. The Museum is currently in the process of developing a plan with the Naples Depot for placement and display of the boxcar. Exhibit inauguration is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2008, and will run concurrent with an exhibit at the Holocaust Museum. "I can't begin to tell you how important it is for me to be a part of this project," said Jack Nortman, co-president of the Holocaust Museum and Holocaust survivor who was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany. "My hope is that the boxcar will honor the millions of innocent men, women and children who suffered and/or died in the Holocaust, serve as a learning center that will teach visitors about the dangers of intolerance, and shed light on the genocides that are currently taking place in various regions around the world." It is estimated that 60 million persons died during the 20th century as a result of genocidal behavior. About 100-120 prisoners were crammed into each of the thousands of 30-by-8-foot boxcars that were used to transport millions of victims to death camps throughout Europe during World War II. Many victims died before the boxcars arrived at their destinations. These cars actually became rolling torture chambers with no toilet facilities, no air, and no food, except perhaps for morsels of bread and carried-on water. Many dead bodies were recovered from these railcars after their arrival. "My parents were prisoners in a boxcar for six weeks," explains Nortman.
Boxcar Arrives in Naples - May 17, 2007
The Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida has announced the itinerary and estimated arrival schedule of its long-awaited Holocaust Box Car. The rare artifact was unloaded at the Port of Miami the evening of May 16th and awaited a delegation from Naples to arrive at the Port, May 17th, to escort the treasure to Naples. The caravan was accompanied by Florida State Troopers and Deputies from Collier County. The arrival time at the Holocaust Museum, 4760 Tamiami Trail, Naples, FL 34103, was 4:30 p.m. where the box car paused for a brief ceremony and picture-taking session. It then travelled to The Woodworkers Cabinet, 6189 Taylor Road, Naples, FL 34109, where it was unloaded from the flat bed truck. The box car will remain there for many months as it undergoes conservation and preparation for the southwest Florida environment.
After the conservation stage, the box car was transported to the Naples Depot where it will rest.
The inauguration of the exhibit was to take place in early 2008.
Boxcar Restoration
The Box car Inauguration EventSunday, January 27, 2008 - 4PM At the Naples Depot 1051 Fifth Avenue South, Naples, Florida 34102
The official inauguration of the Holocaust Box Car Exhibit was held in downtown Naples.
This boxcar journeyed from mountainous Austria, across the Atlantic Ocean to Miami, Florida and then to Naples.
One of six other boxcars within the United States, these rolling torture chambers dubbed because of their incomprehensible
conditions, i.e. no air, no food, crowded conditions and no proper toilet facilities; were used to transport millions of victims to death camps throughout Europe during World War II.
This authentic boxcar will serve as a beacon to teach visitors from all walks of life about diversity, tolerance and understanding.
This poignant symbol is a constant reminder of man's inhumanity to man.
Several guest speakers were in attendance including Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, Congressman Connie Mack and Mayor Bill Barnett. Observers were able to step into the boxcar - which featured 12 panels illustrating the devastation of the Holocaust and past and present genocides. The United Nations General Assembly marked January 27th as an international day to commemorate and honor those victims. This day is significant because in 1945, victims that were being held in the largest Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, were liberated.
"There can be no reversing the unique tragedy of the Holocaust. It must be remembered, with shame and horror for as long as human memory continues.
Only by remembering can we pay fitting tribute to the vistims. Millions of innocent Jews and members of other minorities were murdered in the most barbaric ways imaginable. We must never forget these men, women and children, or their agony."
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, January 27, 2006
A Day of Remembrance.
Years of effort and countless hours of planning bring us together today to honor the millions of men, women and children who,
throughout history, have been murdered during the Holocuast and the many other genocides of the past and present.
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4760 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 7
Sandalwood Square Naples, Florida 34103 (239)263-9200 Copyright © 2002-2008 Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida. All rights reserved. |
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On approximately May 16, the Port of Miami received a boxcar used during World War II to transport Holocaust victims to their deaths in Nazi concentration camps.
The long-awaited rare artifact which was transported to Naples for conservation and future display, was imported by the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida.
The boxcar debarked from the Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands a week earlier.
A rare artifact, this boxcar is an invaluable and mobile educational tool to support the Museum's mission of
"promoting tolerance and understanding by teaching the history and lessons of the Holocaust.
Currently, only six others exist in the United States.
We believe that it will be an important teaching tool for all of southwest Florida and for others who come to our city as tourists.
Nazi Boxcar Dedicated in Naples - January 27, 2008
