Illinois Holocaust Museum Expands VR Holocaust Testimony Access

Chicago, IL, Oct. 08, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center (IHMEC) has expanded access to its acclaimed virtual reality (VR) films featuring Holocaust Survivor stories and testimony, making these immersive experiences available for the first time on standalone consumer VR headsets. The Museum has made three virtual reality documentaries, Walk to Westerbork, Letters from Drancy, and Escape to Shanghai, available for home viewing on platforms like Meta Quest 3, Pico 4 Ultra, and Samsung Galaxy AndroidXR-compatible headsets. These films, which were previously only accessible at the Museum’s Chicago location, are now free to download and feature subtitled versions in English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.

IHMEC’s initiative represents a significant step in ensuring that the testimonies of Holocaust Survivors remain accessible to future generations.

The VR films, produced in collaboration with award-winning production company East City Films, combine archival photographs and documents with live-action and animated sequences to recreate pivotal moments from the Survivors' lives. The films, shot on location in Germany, France, the Netherlands, China, and the United States, are designed to place viewers within the environments where significant events took place, allowing for a more immersive and personal experience.

The release of these films on consumer VR platforms marks a pivotal moment in Holocaust remembrance, as the generation of Survivors continues to grow smaller. As global antisemitism and Holocaust distortion and denial rise, IHMEC is exploring new ways to connect with audiences and ensure that the Survivors' stories are preserved and shared.

The VR films are available beginning October 8th on Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S, with versions for Pico 4 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy AndroidXR headsets to be distributed through Google Play later this fall. All three films are free to download, with subtitles available in multiple languages. IHMEC has also launched a new Experience360 exhibit at 360 N. State Street, open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., for those who wish to visit the Museum in person. For more information, visitors can visit www.ilholocaustmuseum.org or call 847-967-4800.