The Holocaust Memorial is one of the most powerful public monuments in Florida, and probably the best in Miami Beach. The design by sculptor Kenneth Treister is raw and direct: a bronze arm reaching 42 feet into the sky, its surface covered with the agonised figures of the dying, surrounded by a reflective pool and a tunnel of names. The entrance is understated — you walk through a narrow passage engraved with photographs and text before emerging into the central space — which makes the impact of the main sculpture greater when you encounter it.
The memorial opened in 1990 and reflects the history of the Miami Beach community, which had large numbers of Jewish residents including survivors and their families. It is not a gentle or comfortable monument, and it is not intended to be. Admission is free. Dress and behaviour should be appropriately respectful.