Exhibit
Holocaust Rails
An immersive exhibit of remembrance at the Sioux City Railroad Museum — the visual and educational heart of the Tolerance Alliance.
About the Exhibit
A center for education and understanding
Holocaust Rails places visitors inside a carefully crafted experience of history: a cattle car, barbed wire, personal artifacts, photographs, and video testimonials that honor those who were taken too soon, including the millions of people who were persecuted and murdered in their own communities, in ghettos, and in labor and death camps.
Designed to reach young people and adults alike, the exhibit balances the vast scope of the Holocaust with intimate human stories — making remembrance immediate, respectful, and unforgettable.
Holocaust Rails includes displays that bring the Holocaust home to Sioux City, the Vernon Tott story and his photos, the Tolerance Week display, and the video experiences of Sioux City Holocaust Survivors and members of the Jewish community.
Field trips and special tours can be scheduled for schools and groups. A self-guided tour brochure is available on-site.
Newest Addition
Auschwitz-Birkenau in HO scale
The newest addition to Holocaust Rails is an HO-scale reconstruction of Auschwitz-Birkenau depicting the arrival and selection area in 1944, providing visitors with a visual understanding of one of history’s largest and most notorious Nazi concentration and extermination camps.
Plan Your Visit
Visiting Hours
Holocaust Rails is open seasonally at the Sioux City Railroad Museum. Visits are also available by appointment.
June, July and August
- Thursday–Saturday: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM–4:00 PM
April, May, September and October
- Saturday: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM–4:00 PM
Visits are also available by appointment.
Field trips and special tours can be scheduled by calling 712-255-4346.
Sioux City Railroad Museum3400 Sioux River Road, Sioux City, IA 51109Museum website
On-site Guide
Access the Self-Guided Tour
A printed self-guided tour brochure is available at Holocaust Rails.
Scan this code with your phone camera, or click it, for the self-guided tour brochure at Holocaust Rails.
Reflections
What visitors say
“Just a note to say how moved I was at Holocaust Rails. I have visited several camps in Europe, including Auschwitz, and what you have done to give a sense of that horror to those who visit is a tremendous gift. I travel this country a lot and am constantly struck by how varied and rich are its places and tributes. Holocaust Rails is exceptional among them all — particularly because of its emphasis on reaching young people.”