The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center is announcing its grand opening at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie. Sneak peek tours of the death camp exhibit area, the theater space and the exit lobby will begin at 10:50 a.m.

The 65,000-square-foot facility – designed by award-winning architect Stanley Tigerman – will be the largest center in the Midwest dedicated to preserving the memories of those lost in the Holocaust and teaching current generations about their role in combating hatred and genocide in today's world. The center will also likely be the last major Holocaust museum built in collaboration with Holocaust survivors.

Michael Berenbaum, the center’s interior and exhibit co-designer and former project director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., will describe the contents and significance of the exhibition space.

The following officials also will be on hand: Richard S. Hirschhaut, project and executive director; J.B. Pritzker, capital campaign chair of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center and managing partner of The Pritzker Group; Samuel Harris, Holocaust survivor and board president for the center; and Fritzie Fritzshall, Holocaust survivor and board vice president.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center is a project of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois. Founded by Holocaust survivors more than 25 years ago, the organization is dedicated to teaching about the Holocaust and the dangers of unchallenged hate. The organization has taught school and community groups through a small storefront museum and speakers' bureau since 1981.