This week, the Anne Frank pop-up exhibit “A History for Today” starts traveling to middle and high schools in Washington State. Organized by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and the Dutch Consulate General in San Francisco, this exhibition tells the story of Anne Frank during the Holocaust and the World World War II. “Anne’s story shows us the most human and vulnerable side of the consequences of discrimination and exclusion,” says Deputy Consul General Agnes Koppelman.

Selected students from participating schools are trained by the Anne Frank House, to act as tour guides for their fellow students. Telling the story of a 15 year old, to 15 year old students, by 15 year old tour guides makes the exhibition a powerful experience for all involved. The exhibit allows for discussions involving topics such as mutual respect that hit close to home for many students. Students in Washington State were trained this week by the Anne Frank House.

In Washington State, the school tour is coordinated by local Dutch Honorary Consulate and the Holocaust Center for Humanity in Seattle. “Anne Frank's story touches the hearts of thousands of Washington State students every year,” says CEO Dee Simon. “Key to teaching the lessons of the Holocaust is to apply those lessons to our time. Anne's quote, "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world" inspires people to find ways that they can make a difference in the world.”

The Washington tour kicks off with an exhibition at Bellevue City Hall. “We are honored to have the opportunity to host this meaningful and historically significant exhibit in Bellevue during its visit to Washington state,” said Mayor Lynne Robinson. “The courage and resilience displayed by Anne Frank and her dedication to sharing her story with the world has contributed to its enduring relevance and continued teachings for us all today.”

West Coast Tour

The Anne Frank House has several pop-up exhibitions that travel all over the world. The Dutch Consulate General in San Francisco brought this particular exhibition to the US West Coast in 2017, educating thousands of students at schools in California, Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico, and Colorado. The tour was scheduled to finish in Washington State in spring 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic halted the project for 3 years. After visiting schools in Seattle and Bellevue, the panels are handed over to Anne Frank House Los Angeles, that will host the exhibition at schools in the Los Angeles area. Last week, the Anne Frank House trained new trainers in LA, ensuring the continuation of the project in the years to come.

Agnes Koppelman: “In these times when discrimination is back on the rise, the story of Anne Frank should not be forgotten. The situation in the Middle East also reminds us of the fact that the fight against hate is not over. Through her diary, Anne Frank teaches us all so much about tolerance, freedom and inclusion. That is why it is important that we share her story with people around the world.”

Participating schools include West Seattle High School. TOPS (Seattle Public Schools). Einstein Middle School (Shoreline), Snoqualmie Middle School, Chief Kanim Middle School, Twin Falls Middle School, Bainbridge Island High School. Participating schools often set up projects discussing the topics that Anne Frank stands for; from a theatre in New Mexico, to local information panels in Hawaii and involving homeschoolers in Alaska.

More than 94 years after Anne was born, her legacy lives on: through her book, films, tv-series and the exhibition, and the wise words she shared with us. As Agnes Koppelman stated: “her story is also one of hope, and urges us to never give up on our dreams, and to have the courage to be ourselves.”