Children's Holocaust Memorial
Top Historical and Cultural Attraction in Marion County:
The Children’s Holocaust Memorial
No visit to Marion County, Tennessee, would be complete without a visit to the Children’s Holocaust Memorial at Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, Tennessee. Whether you are a history enthusiast, an educational tourist, or a family seeking a meaningful cultural experience, this moving memorial is essential to visit during your next getaway. This cultural site in Marion County offers visitors a chance to learn more about the history of the Holocaust through the eyes of local middle school students, teachers, and administrators striving to help visitors from across the globe understand the impact of so many precious lives lost. Keep reading to learn more about the Children’s Holocaust Memorial and plan your visit to step back in time with the Paper Clip Project.
The History and Impact of the Paper Clip Project at Whitwell Middle School
In 1998, Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, Tennessee, started a journey toward diverse education that created a widespread global impact. Led by principal Linda Hopper and teachers Sandra Roberts and David Smith, the Holocaust education class strove to teach diversity, inclusion, and acceptance within their less diverse community. But how does a dedicated teacher help middle school children understand the magnitude of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust? Inspired by the Norwegian use of paper clips as a symbol of resistance during World War II, the students, and teachers at Whitwell Middle School started the Paper Clip Project. They decided to collect six million paper clips, one for each Jewish life lost. News of the project spread far beyond Whitwell, Tennessee, and worldwide support poured in, including a donation from Holocaust survivor Lena Glitter. By 2001, the school received more than 30 million paper clips, filling a German railcar, once used to transport Jewish prisoners, which now serves as the centerpiece of the Children’s Holocaust Memorial.
What to Expect When Visiting the Children’s Holocaust Memorial
Visitors to the Children’s Holocaust Memorial at Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, Tennessee, while surrounded by the area’s natural beauty, will experience an emotional reminder of the lives lost in the Holocaust. Stand on the platform of an authentic German railcar, once used to transport Jewish prisoners to Nazi death camps, now filled with more than 30 million paper clips, each representing a precious life lost during the Holocaust. Visitors can view glass cases of paper clips and impactful mementos on either side of the railcar. Stroll a bit further to read letters and documents and see artifacts donated in memory of Holocaust victims, all carefully cataloged by students. As visitors walk through the Children’s Holocaust Memorial, they witness how the small Whitwell, Tennessee, community turned a symbol of fear and oppression into one of acceptance and remembrance for those lost during the Holocaust. Take a tour to go deeper into the history behind the Paper Clip Project, and when you are ready to learn more, watch the award-winning documentary film about the project, Paper Clips.
Beyond the Memorial: Other Activities Near Whitwell, Tennessee
After you visit the Children’s Holocaust Memorial, you can head less than 40 minutes down the road to Snoopers Rock Trail in the Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area. Enjoy the stunning views along the 6-mile challenging trail, which features light rock scrambling and captivating rock formations. The trail has a 1000-foot elevation gain. Be prepared to climb over a few trees. Next, when you are ready to settle down for the night, head to Bolthouse Farm Treehouse, named Travel and Leisure’s Top Treehouse Hotel. Stay in one of the treehouses, mirror cabins, or domes to rest, real,x, and reconnect with nature at Marion Country’s only 5-star adults-only wellness retreat. Guests say Bolthouse Farm Treehouse is a piece of heaven on earth with unmatched tranquility and peace.
So, whether you are an adventure-seeking traveler looking for an educational stop or a history buff ready to dive deeper into the past, the Children’s Holocaust Memorial in Whitwell, Tennessee, will not disappoint. While the impact is deeply felt, the memorial is a reminder of the lives lost and the hope, resilience, and impressive power of thoughtful education in a connected community.
