Museum Guide

The Holocaust Museum & Cohen Educational Center in Naples, FL is teaching the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against hatred and to promote mutual respect. The Museums Vision is to live in a world that values mutual respect, free of antisemitism and hatred. The Museums does this through, displaying artifacts and photographs which tell the individual stories within the larger history of the Holocaust, provide educational programs and activities to students at all grade levels and presenting the general public programs and exhibits that highlight elements of our collection and stories related to the Holocaust and other genocides; The unique origin of the Museum was a Naples, Florida middle school classroom exhibit created by students and teachers studying the Holocaust called “Out of the Ashes.” The motto of the project was “Tell your children to tell their children and their children another generation. We will never forget!” The students knew the important lessons of the Holocaust must always be shared. In 2001, the exhibit was transformed into a museum and educational center, operating as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. With the focus on education, our programs reach over 15,000 students each year and the Museum hosts more than 5,000 visitors annually. The Golden Gate teachers and students would be so proud of the impact “Out of the Ashes” has had! Today, the Museum houses over 1,000 original photographs and artifacts related to the Holocaust and World War II. These items are displayed chronologically, from the rise of Nazism to the Allied Liberation and Nuremberg Trials. Many of the artifacts have been donated or permanently loaned to the Museum by local Survivors, Liberators and other dedicated people. Of special interest are the photographs, documents and artifacts that belonged to the families of Survivors and Liberators who now live in Southwest Florida, many of whom are volunteers at the Museum.  The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, with last guest entry at 3:30 pm. The Museum is closed on Mondays and the following major U.S. holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, and Christmas. Come Visit us at 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Suite 108, Naples, FL and Check us out online: https://hmcec.org/ 239-263-9200. We look forward to welcoming you! 

The Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association (PFSMA) was created in 1978 to establish a memorial to the gallant sailors of the Silent Service, and to maintain as a centerpiece of this memorial the Fleet Submarine USS BOWFIN. In 1979, the PFSMA saved the decorated Balao-class USS Bowfin (SS-287) from scrapping and began the painstaking process of restoring her to her 1945 configuration. The site in Honolulu, HI would become the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park. Bowfin opened to the public in 1981, and an empty dirt lot soon expanded to include numerous outdoor exhibits. In 1986, construction began on a museum facility. In 2021, following extensive renovations, our campus was renamed the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum. USS Bowfin (SS-287) is a WWII Fleet Submarine and legend of the Silent Service. She served with distinction on nine successful war patrols between 1943 and 1945, destroying enemy ships in the Pacific, providing assistance to guerillas in the Philippines, and even venturing into the mine-laden Sea of Japan. Launched 7 December 1942, exactly one year after the Pearl Harbor attack, she was appropriately nicknamed “The Pearl Harbor Avenger.” The museum now offers hands-on, interactive experiences that tell the story of the Silent Service from WWII to the Cold War to present day. In December 2021, USS Bowfin welcomed her 10 millionth visitor. Reopened in 2021 following a $20 million renovation, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum tells the story of the U.S. Submarine Force from World War II to the present. Models, weapon systems, photography, battle flags, recruiting posters, and a dissected Poseidon missile. Climb aboard to see how confining and demanding the life of the undersea warrior was. Walk through the forward and aft torpedo rooms, the galley, the wardroom, and the control room – restored to her 1945 configuration. We are Open Daily from 7 am to 5 pm - Last admission is at 4:30 pm. Closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas! Walk Up Adult General: $25.99 - Walk Up Children (4-12 years): $14.99 - Adult (Military and Kamaʻāina): $18.99 - Child (Military and Kamaʻāina): $9.99 Reservations for General Admission are not required. Prices are subject to change. Military Personnel in uniform are admitted free. We look forward to welcoming you upon you arrival! https://www.bowfin.org/    

Constructed in 1936, The El Paso Centennial Museum was built to celebrate the anniversary of Texas independence, making it the oldest museum in El Paso. Permanent exhibits in the museum focus on the natural and cultural history of the Chihuahuan Desert region, the largest desert in North America, and the ties of friendship that exist between the University and Bhutan can be seen in its surroundings. The Centennial Museum and Gardens sponsor such events as lectures/talks, collaborative exhibits with other museums on campus or in El Paso and FloraFEST The Centennial Museum prides itself as an academic support and outreach unit of The University of Texas at El Paso focusing primarily on the natural and cultural history of the Chihuahuan Desert. It promotes and shares knowledge and understanding of the natural diversity of the region and its people. The museum meets its responsibilities through the presentation and curation of the permanent collections, including the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens. The Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens celebrates the stories of life in the Chihuahuan Desert. We aim to engage the border community with participatory programs and exhibitions that inspire dialogue about and respect for the natural world and our cultural heritage. As a university museum, we expand access to knowledge and opportunities that higher education and cultural engagement can offer. The Gardens were established in 1999 and are certified as a Texas Wildscape site. With more than 600 species of plants that are native or adapted to the Chihuahuan Desert, visitors can see the plants in their native setting. The Chihuahuan Desert Gardens are visited by thousands of people each year, including international visitors and school children from the region. We hope you will visit us in El Paso and see and experience our museums and beautiful gardens! The Centennial Museum is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., with the exception of holidays and UTEP Football home games. The Chihuahuan Desert Gardens are open daily from dawn to dusk. For additional questions or information please contact us via email at centennialmuseum@utep.edu https://www.utep.edu/centennial-museum/about/about.html