Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center

We recently visited this well designed museum. A docent gave our small group a tour. She was interesting and able to answer all questions.

Fantastic setup of two Museums side by side. One is the original first synagogue in Arizona. It houses the history of Arizona and Tucson Jewry and the history of religious buildings on south Stone Avenue. The second building is dedicated to the Holocaust and the Tusconians who survived. Both are excellent and well done Museums.

This is a hidden gem, especially today with all the divisiveness and polarization afflicting the country. It provides a window into Judaism's development in and myriad contributions to Tucson and to Arizona. The Holocaust Center provides valuable context and a deeper understanding of all genocide. It pays tribute to all Holocaust victims, but calls out those survivors who made their way to Tucson after surviving the worst horrors in the history of our species. This is a "must visit" for all, Tucsonans and visitors alike. Admission is free, though donations are gratefully accepted.

Such a wonderful and historical museum. Has a lot of unique history and artifacts. Very friendly staff!

In 1990's the Stone Ave. synagogue was about to be closed as the story goes. Some people decided to raise money and keep it alive for all to see. There is so much history in it you can feel stirring of a time in the 1880's when it was new. Now they have added the Holocaust section in a separate building. It is a place where school children come to not forget what can happen when Fascism and Demagoguery take over a country. Starting slow at first and building to destruction. It is a place to learn and be sure this never happens again. The docents are very informative. I am surprised more people have not yelped this Museum. Tucson has a long very rich Jewish history in its past. Going here gives you a very proud feeling for standing up always for what is right and good. A positive must for all religions and faiths to see for themselves.

I recently had the opportunity to take my students for a field trip to both the Jewish History Museum and the adjacent Holocaust center. This is definitely a gem in downtown Tucson. Much of Tucson history is entwined with Jewish history as several of the early prominent merchants were Jewish. It's also remarkable to recognize how many Holocaust survivors settled in southwest Arizona. If you are traveling in the downtown area or teach, I would highly recommend them as part of your must-sees and its especially helpful to have a docent. The individuals who led our tour were remarkable in both knowing what would interest our kids and in answering questions.

A small jewel and guardian of Jewish and Arizona history! Eileen, the curator is absolutely fascinating and will explain things in such an enthralling way, you'll never want to leave! The Jewish couture exhibit is amazing! A must see!!

This is a hidden gem in Tucson!Two friends and I visited the Jewish Museum, just the former synagogue part of the site, in early March 2024. One of my friends is Jewish & found it listed on a travel site. A tour guide gave us a tour of the building, introduced two videos that explain the LONG history of Jews in AZ and the west, which none of us had known previously. Our guide was very entertaining and shared amazing &amusing stories about the founding families and prominent Jews that made history in Tucson and beyond. It was one of the places on our vacation that we felt most connected to the community.

Too bad they have changed the museum so much. It's got very litte history, which was fascinating, and now it's all about the holocaust. I loved seeing Linda Ronstadt's wedding dress years ago in the history museum for a special show. They aren't doing that anymore.

Went to Tucson for the Gem and Mineral show and low and behold, we found another gem! It is the Jewish History Museum on South Stone Avenue. They have a Ketuba exhibit that is wonderful and includes a variety of vintage wedding dresses and old Ketubbas. They offer a guided tour with either Eileen or Barry, both will fill your mind with a world that we don't know now, but loads of tidbits about Judaism and what it was like being Jewish 100 years or more ago! Their stories make you amost feel like you were experiencing life then. A wonderful gem in the desert! You don't need to be Jewish to see this. It is just wonderful history!