A new exhibition titled "Anne Frank The Exhibition" opens Friday, May 1 at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. It features 130 collection items from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, including artifacts from the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Nazi occupation. Some of these items have never been displayed in the United States before. The exhibition offers a personal look at the Frank family's life in hiding, including a board game that helped pass the time.
The exhibition matters because it brings a deeply personal and historical narrative to a broad audience, using rare artifacts to connect visitors with the human experience of the Holocaust. Presented by the Anne Frank House, it has only been shown in New York prior to Chicago. Organizers hope the exhibit inspires reflection on humanity and kindness, and it will remain open through early 2027 with free admission for school groups. It underscores the enduring relevance of Anne Frank's story in fostering empathy and understanding across generations.