Construction Begins on Atlantic City Boardwalk Holocaust Memorial: A Landmark of Remembrance and Resolve
On June 5, 2025, Atlantic City took a solemn and historic step forward with the groundbreaking of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Holocaust Memorial—a project years in the making, now coming to life on one of the city’s most iconic public spaces.
Hosted by the Atlantic City Boardwalk Holocaust Memorial Committee and supported by Mayor Marty Small, Sr. and the City of Atlantic City, the ceremony marked the beginning of construction on a memorial designed to honor the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, while educating future generations about the consequences of hate, silence, and injustice.
“This memorial is a promise—a promise that Atlantic City will never forget, and that we will always stand on the side of truth, justice, and humanity,” said Mayor Small during the event. “We’re building more than a monument—we’re building a message.”
A Place of Reflection on the Boardwalk
Located at the Roosevelt Pavilion, the memorial’s oceanfront setting offers a space of peace, reflection, and remembrance. Designed with symbolic architecture and thoughtful details, the site invites visitors to contemplate the strength and resilience of Holocaust survivors—and the urgent need to confront bigotry in all its forms.
Benches and other features will offer space for quiet reflection, while educational signage will guide visitors through history’s lessons and the memorial’s meaning.
The site’s high visibility on the Boardwalk—traveled by millions each year—ensures the stories it tells will reach a broad and diverse audience, making this memorial not only a place of memory, but of active learning and public awareness.
Civic Commitment to History and Human Rights
Construction began with support from the Department of Public Works, who removed the Boardwalk planks from the designated site prior to the ceremony—signaling the physical beginning of a project rooted in moral and civic responsibility.
Mayor Small and his administration played a key role in moving the memorial forward, offering steadfast backing to the committee and reinforcing the importance of public spaces that promote education, human rights, and shared memory.
“This memorial will stand as a powerful reminder—right here on our Boardwalk—that silence in the face of hatred is never an option,” said Mayor Small.
A Shared Mission, A Community Promise
The groundbreaking drew community members, city officials, interfaith leaders, and Holocaust descendants who came together in a collective vow to remember, educate, and speak out. Their presence turned the event into more than a ceremony—it became a declaration of values.
Once completed, the Atlantic City Boardwalk Holocaust Memorial will serve as a permanent landmark of resilience, remembrance, and moral clarity—a beacon to all who walk by that history must be faced, and that justice begins with memory.
Under Mayor Marty Small’s leadership, Atlantic City continues to lead with courage—turning remembrance into resolve, and history into hope.
