We had a wonderful lecture by the educators at the Anne Frank House. They informed us that the Anne Frank House was originally Otto Frank's warehouse. The Franks and others hid on the top two
floors, which were concealed by a bookcase. The educators also told us that no one has figured out how exactly the Nazis discovered the hiding place. It amazed me that after all these years, no one has discovered the reason.
* Learning about how contradicting propaganda was during the Holocaust
*Group photograph before entering the Anne Frank house
By Alex Frame
Walking through the museum you are guided by Anne Frank's quotes directly from her diary. As Anne guided us through her father's business and hiding place, we were impressed by everything she was showing us. We saw the approximate layout of her father's business and after a trip behind a bookcase and up a steep stairwell we were in the annex. We were moved by seeing the exact place this Jewish family was hiding. This experience was incredible and made a lasting impression on me.
*A portion of the Anne Frank house museum
I've always wanted to see the Anne Frank House especially after I read her diary in middle school. I hope one day I'll get that chance. It's amazing how they were there for two years and no one had known. I had no idea that no one knows the reason for their discovery that is fascinating. I can't imagine having to live that way for so long being so careful as to not get caught, being so afraid and not being able to ever leave. To think we'd never know any of this without Anne's diary. The story about Maud Dahme was sweet, Anne didn't really have anyone either to connect with so it's nice to see that others felt connected to her. I learned a lot from the Anne Frank House website.
ReplyDeleteIt's so awesome that you guys had the opportunity to visit the Anne Frank House. I have seen countless films about her experience and it always boggles me that they were able to stay hidden for so long only to be betrayed and forced to suffer even when they did nothing wrong. Her experiences always move me and make me realize how lucky I am to be living my life the way I am.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it was incredible to visit the Anne Frank House. I would love to visit the Anne Frank House one day. I remember reading her diary when I was in sixth or seventh grade and it really moved me. I think that everything about Anne Frank is completely fascinating, especially how positive she stayed during the entire experience during World War II. I would love to hear more about how visiting the house made you feel and what you learned in the presentation you saw before the museum, especially about Maud Dahme's story. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you are to have such an experience! Her story overall just shows so much bravery and optimism. To remain in such a state of peacefulness and silence where you literally don't know what your next day will be like just leaves me in awe. Great blog! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI heard about the Anne Frank house in school years ago. I was always being told about what a great experience it is. I thought about visiting the exhibit many times but it wasn't until I saw it in the movie The Fault in Our Stars that I really had the urge to go visit. I haven't set the date quite yet for when I will be visiting but I hope it would be sometime soon because I cannot wait. I've heard all the stories in school and I just cannot wait to actually experience her life story through the exhibit.
ReplyDeleteAnne Frank's Diary was one of the first books I read as a child. Her story was among the first written works I cried over, because even children understand how tragic it all was.
ReplyDeleteThis quote of hers is one of my favorites: "Despite everything, I still believe people are really good at heart."
What an extraordinary conclusion for a child to come to in such terrible circumstances.
I'm sure visiting the house was an experience you won't forget.
Personally, I find the Holocaust the absolute most interesting topic to learn about. In high school I was able to take a trip to D.C to the Holocaust Musuem and it was truly life changing. Even since reading the Diary of Anne Frank, I have always wanted to visit the Anne Frank house. I find it so interesting that quotes from her diary are displayed on the wall. I cannot imagine how moving it would be to see that in person. I hope one day I am able to visit!
ReplyDeleteIt must have been so interesting going through the Anne Frank house. I heard about this last year and have been wanting to go. I thought it was intriguing how you explained there is quotes from Anne Frank herself, shown on the wall. I can not wait to one day attend this house.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a beyond captivating experience. I can't believe what it felt like to walk around the museum while reading her quotes on the wall, then to see the exact spot where she hid.. I someday wish to visit this museum.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine the emotions the group must have been feeling being able to stand in the very room that Anne Frank and the others hid for so long until they were found. I would love to experience that one day. Something I find interesting is that no one exactly knows how the Nazis found them. One thing I do like about the Anne Frank House from this post is that they guided you through the tour with direct quotes from her diary. I'm sure you could really feel how she felt when reading them.
ReplyDeleteWow this is an experience of a lifetime. To experience such history is amazing. I once read a book about Anne Frank's diary (it was not the diary itself) but I learned a lot about the hardships that her and her family went through. I'm interested in how you were feeling when you were in the actual annex. I almost feel as if I would feel sad knowing that a family had to be cramped in there for so long. Great post describing the actual building. It seems very interesting!
ReplyDelete-Kevin L.
I'm sure a lot of us have learned about Anne Frank and maybe read her diary sometime in middle school but what a moving experience to be able to feel her presence walking the walls of what she has told millions of people about. I could imagine how moving her words on the walls must be to read there. Wow.
ReplyDeleteI had heard they did not know how they discovered the hiding place, but I didn't know that they still didn't know this! How cool that they transformed Otto's warehouse into the Anne Frank House. I read her diary in middle school, but I recently discovered another book by her titled, "Tales from The Secret Annex." It's just as interesting as "The Diary of a Young Girl." Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI have read her diary and watched the movie but I am sure nothing compares to the breathtaking experience of standing within the walls she grew up in and spent he last days of life. The fact about no one knowing how they found Anne and her family is crazy to me, I never knew that. The quotes being written on the walls and stepping into her shoes must be an incredible experience surrounded by so much sadness. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHow fortuitous to read about your experience at the Anne Frank House on today, the 80 year anniversary of Kristallnacht. The lengths this family was forced to go to just to stay alive is mind-boggling. May we always remember and learn from the past.
ReplyDeleteThis is a dream of mine to be able to attend the Anne Frank House. I am an avid learner when it comes to the Holocaust and the journey you took this blog on for the reader is captivating. Have you been to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C? It is such a sad and touching but knowledgeable experience.
ReplyDeleteThe Anne Frank house seems like one of those places that you can't imagine to be real. It is incredible that you were able to learn the history in the exact location in which it happened. I can't imagine it was an easy experience, as it is hard to believe the events that happened. Hopefully by learning of Anne Frank, and her story, we will not allow another child to live as she did and history will not repeat itself. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThe Anne Frank house is truly an unbelievable place to see. As you describe that her quotes from her diary are what guide you through the house is incredible. I think this house is important for people and especially children to know what she went through along with the millions of other children during that time. It must have been really cool to see the artifacts and parts of history in person, something you can't see in the United States. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWow! I was not aware that the house at which Anne Frank and her family hid was made into a museum. Your pictures and descriptions of what you saw and learned while on this trip were very interesting, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis trip seemed like an amazing opportunity, your blog really captures the adventure well. It was quite surprising to read that they still don't know how the police discovered the Franks, I cant even begin to imagine the fear that family faced everyday. I just read that Martin Luther King Junior and Anne Frank were born the same year sometimes its easy to forget that these things are so much closer to our present that we often think.
ReplyDeleteThis had to of been a very moving expierience for you! To be able to visit the house where Anne Frank and her family hid is very interesting specially after reading her diary before in middle school. This information is great thank you!!
ReplyDeleteWow! I have always been so interested in Anne Franks actual home. I find her story so interesting and amazing as to how strong she was during her time. Her diary is so amazing to read. This must have been such an awesome experience.
ReplyDeleteThis brings back memories of long ago. I recall reading Anne Franks diary in school and how it just took me back in time. I remmember picturing myself and family having to go through Anne Frank's struggle. I also recall that the Germans knew a family must have been up in the attic because it was the only house on the block without any snow on top. A giveaway that meant there was heat givin to that part of house which would have been very strange. Thank you for sharing your experience!
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit the Frank House! I remember reading the book and seeing a movie on her life story when I was in grade school. I remember not being able to image the horrors that she and her family and all of the Jews had to go through. I also remember another time we had a Holocaust survivor come to our school to speak. It disgusts me that people can be so cruel to other human beings. It must have been an amazing experience. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete@Casey Murphy, My favorite part of visiting the Frank house would have been the same as yours. Hearing from someone of the period will always trump what is in a textbook. I hope to visit the Frank house one day.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could see the Anne Frank house. It is most definitely my goal in life. I would love to travel to other countries.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool! I have wanted to go to the Anne Frank house since I started to learn about her school. Learning about her and seeing and hearing peoples experiences will never get old!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool! The Anne Frank house seems so interesting to go and visit! Such a big piece of our worlds history and a landmark I would love to go and see for myself at some point!
ReplyDeleteWow! You are so lucky to have visited the Anne Frank House. A couple years ago, I performed a dance based on her story and we were required to read the book. Thank you for sharing the information and pictures of your experience.
ReplyDeleteThis is truly amazing to be able to see and listen to such an awful yet crazy time in the world. We read and learn about the holocaust and Anne Frank for years and years, yet we never really get to be there to see things and walk through hallways with Anne's voice all over the walls. I cannot imagine what was going on in the heads of you, and all of the students as they walked and lived and listened to such powerful material. I visited the holocaust museum in Washington D.C and that is an experience that I will never forget, and that is still engraved in my head to this day. Good work, and loved the pictures!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that you were able to visit the Anne Frank house. I have always wanted to go because my mother's side of our family is from Jewish decent. I also do not understand how no one knows how the hiding spot was found after all these years. Im glad you were able to get a lasting impression from this house and I hope that one day I will be able to visit as well.
ReplyDeleteThe amazing thing about traveling is that you get to see things you only read about in person. Seeing them and being there makes such a lasting impression. I can only imagine the feelings you uncover as you walked through the Anne Frank House and saw the places she was.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been so emotional to be in a space like that. Like many others, I read the Diary of Anne Frank in middle school and have been touched by it ever since. It got so personal that when I got to the end so abruptly, knowing what happened, it was heartbreaking. I cannot even imagine the atmosphere in that house. It is so important to keep places like this alive so that people can continue to feel these emotions and will never recreate these horrors.
ReplyDeleteThis must have been an amazing experience. The Holocaust always interested me. I personally did not know that they turned their hideout into a museum. I remember reading her diary years ago but I cannot even imagine what it was like to see everything in person!
ReplyDeleteI could not have imagined the emotions that must have been flying through the room. This is a place that I have been dying to visit my whole life. I can only imagine how touching the story must have been where Maud Dahme was able to speak about relating to Anne Frank. I'm glad you got to experience it and I hope I can eventually.
ReplyDeleteBryce Harris
This sounds like an amazing experience. I remember reading Anne Frank in middle school and the story has stuck with me since. This is on my bucket list. I am still amazed by how brave her family was for hiding there for such an extended time.
ReplyDelete