History isn’t just a lesson here. It becomes real inside a World War II cattle car replica.
The centerpiece of a traveling exhibit by Boca Raton’s Hate Ends Now, the cattle car will be on display at two South Florida locations this month: Coconut Creek and Coral Springs.
“While misinformation spreads quickly and historical memory fades fast, our exhibit aims to help connect past events to present-day consequences,” said Todd Cohn, CEO of the nonprofit Hate Ends Now. “It reinforces why remembrance matters and why education remains the most effective tool for confronting hate.”
The replica of the World War II cattle cars that transported prisoners to concentration camps — alongside other artifacts from the era — serves as a hands-on tool for what organizers call a more nuanced approach to Holocaust education.
The first chance to view the “Hate Ends Now: The Cattle Car Exhibit” is Thursday, Jan. 29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Coconut Creek Government Center. Visitors are encouraged to step inside the car, where they will hear testimonies from survivors and see 360-degree videos detailing the experiences of those who suffered inside.
Later that evening, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Coconut Creek will unveil a Holocaust memorial at the same spot. Artist Marit Meisler created the 10-foot sculpture titled, “Generations,” that will become the first public art installation in the city.
The sculpture focuses on the children of the Holocaust, specifically those who were on the Kindertransport, a rescue mission that saved thousands. The unveiling is limited to 200 guests and requires an advance registration (call 954-956-1580), but guests will be able to view the artwork outside of the Government Center after the event.
The exhibit moves to Coral Springs City Hall the next day. At press time, all available slots from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. were filled, but organizers say many artifacts will be on display inside City Hall for guests to view, including a prison uniform, ID cards and other Holocaust-era items.
In the past, the “Hate Ends Now: The Cattle Car Exhibit” has been stationed at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Times Square in New York City, and most recently at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, but it is mostly tailored for schools.
In 2025, it was used as part of a Holocaust education program at Saint Louis Covenant School in Miami-Dade County’s Pinecrest. Throughout February and March, it is scheduled to stop at various Palm Beach County schools before heading north to Orlando.
Cohn hopes that, in a time of rising antisemitism, the exhibit will help students better understand how dangerous the spread of hate can be.
“The Holocaust didn’t start with cattle cars; it started when everyday people lacked the moral clarity and courage to stand up to hate,” he said. “For students today, that moment may happen on social media or in a school cafeteria. Our charge to them is the same: to recognize hate when they see it and to stand up to it, wherever it appears.”
Find more information and additional viewing opportunities at hateendsnow.org.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: “Hate Ends Now: The Cattle Car Exhibit”
WHEN/WHERE:
- 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at Coconut Creek Government Center, 4800 W. Copans Road
- 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at Coral Springs City Hall, 9500 W. Sample Road
COST: Free, but advance registration is required for cattle-car entry
INFORMATION: coconutcreek.gov/cattlecar and coralsprings.gov
