The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center located in Skokie, known for its commitment to preserving the memory of the Holocaust, is preparing to undergo major renovations beginning this summer. Citing a significant increase in visitation numbers, CEO Bernard Cherkasov highlighted the museum's growth, stating, “In the last two years alone we’ve broken our single-day visitation record five times,” according to a Chicago Sun-Times report.

While the Skokie facility will cease its regular operations on June 2, it will maintain limited public programs by reservation through the end of that month. As an interim measure, the museum is inaugurating a temporary satellite location at the ex-Museum of Broadcast Communications at 360 N. State St., slated to open this July. This move will allow continued access to some of its most compelling exhibits and is expected to draw new audiences downtown. "By opening the downtown satellite museum, we hope to reach new audiences who haven’t had the opportunity to make it to Skokie,” Cherkasov explained in a statement obtained by Chicago Sun-Times .

The planned refurbishments to the existing Skokie structure include a redesigned auditorium and the addition of a new lobby. A particularly novel feature will be a reflection space integrated within the core Holocaust exhibition. “Instead of stretching out construction over years, we’re going to get it all done at once, and reopen with an amazing world-class experience for our visitors,” shared Cherkasov in a conversation referenced by Chicago Sun-Times . Despite no plans for expansion of the museum's overall footprint, a significant redesign involving the incorporation of a new floor will enlarge the space by nearly 700 square feet, enhancing the visitor's experience.

More information on the renovation project and details about the State Street location, including hours and admission fees, can be found at the museum's website, as noted by the Chicago Tribune .

The museum's full reopening in Skokie is scheduled for the summer of 2026, with a partial reopening projected for January 2 of the same year. For those looking to support the museum during its transition, the online gift shop will continue to operate seamlessly throughout the construction period.