The Journey Back: A VR Experience
- Ages 12+
In this ground-breaking virtual reality exhibition, you'll "walk" alongside Holocaust survivors as they share their inspiring stories.
Select date and time
Location
Muscatine Community College
152 Colorado Street Muscatine, IA 52761Agenda
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday, April 21 | A Promise Kept
Fritzie Fritzshall
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday, April 22 | Don't Forget Me
George Brent
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday, April 23 | Letters From Drancy
Marion Deichmann
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday, April 24 | Walk to Westerbork
Rodi Glass
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday, April 25 | Escape to Shanghai
Doris Fogel
About this event
- Free venue parking
Step Into History with Virtual Reality
Hear directly from Holocaust Survivors as they guide you through the places that shaped their experiences—from their childhood homes to the ghettos and concentration camps where they endured unimaginable hardship. Their powerful firsthand accounts offer a deeply personal and unforgettable perspective on this chapter of history.
What You'll Experience:
Explore historic sites—as they looked then and now.
Hear survivors tell their stories in their own words.
Gain new perspectives on the resilience of the human spirit.
Event Details:
Location: Muscatine Community College | Loper Hall
152 Colorado St., Muscatine, IA
Dates: Monday, April 21, 2025 - Friday, May 2, 2025
Closed on Sunday, April 27, 2025
This event is free to the public with on-site parking. All buildings at MCC are handicap accessible.
Featured Survivor Films
A Promise Kept
Walk with Fritzie Fritzshall as she returns to her hometown and Auschwitz, sharing the promise she made to the 599 women who helped save her life.
Experience her story:
- Monday, April 21
- Saturday, April 26
- Friday, May 2
Don’t Forget Me
Follow Survivor George Brent through Auschwitz, Mauthausen, and Ebensee as he recounts his will to survive in the face of Nazi tyranny.
Experience his story:
- Tuesday, April 22
- Saturday, April 26
- Wednesday, April 30
Letters from Drancy
Join Marion Deichmann on her daring childhood escape across Northern Europe with her mother, her encounters with the French Resistance, and her survival of D-Day in Normandy.
Experience her story:
- Wednesday, April 23
- Saturday, April 26
- Thursday, May 1
Walk to Westerbork
Retrace Rodi Glass’s journey from her hometown in Amsterdam to the Westerbork transit camp and Vittel internment camp.
Experience her story:
- Thursday, April 24
- Saturday, April 26
- Tuesday, April 29
Escape to Shanghai
Follow Doris Fogel’s incredible journey from Germany to Shanghai, China—one of the few places that welcomed Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.
Experience her story:
- Friday, April 25
- Saturday, April 26
- Monday, April 28
Disclaimer for Participants
This virtual reality experience contains historical content related to the Holocaust, including firsthand survivor testimonies and visits to former concentration camps. Some participants may find the material and content of these films emotionally intense.
Viewer discretion is advised, and we encourage participants to take breaks if needed. Educators and guardians should assess suitability for younger viewers (must be 12+).
For questions, please contact Trevor Meyers, MCC Student Engagement Coordinator, at tameyers@eicc.edu or 563-288-6052.
"The Journey Back: A Virtual Reality Experience" is a paid partnership with The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. Mobile virtual reality trunks are generously sponsored by:
- The Kimberly Duchossois Family Global Immersive Technology Initiative
- The Diana C. Hunter Trust
- Spagat Family Virtual Reality Trunk Program
Frequently asked questions
This immersive VR exhibit lets you "walk" with Holocaust Survivors as they revisit their childhood homes, ghettos, and concentration camps. Through 360-degree storytelling, you’ll see these locations today while hearing their firsthand accounts of survival.
Each immersive survivor story lasts between 13–23 minutes. To ensure a smooth experience with minimal disruptions between sessions, please arrive 5–10 minutes before your reserved timeslot to check in and set up your VR headset.
Because of the historical content, we recommend this experience for ages 12 and up. Parents and teachers should decide if it’s right for younger students (ages 12–17). Anyone interested in learning about the Holocaust, history, or immersive storytelling is welcome to attend.
The VR experience is designed to be stable and seated, with no movement required. However, if you're prone to motion sickness or sensitive to VR, please use caution. We recommend taking breaks if needed. If you start to feel unwell, remove the headset and let a staff member know.
No, this experience is completely free for all participants.
Yes! Please contact our event organizer in advance to coordinate scheduling and accommodations. Trevor Meyers, MCC Student Engagement Coordinator, at tameyers@eicc.edu or 563-288-6052.
All parking at MCC is free, and no parking pass is required. The closest lot to Loper Hall is near the Student Welcome Center. All campus buildings, including the event location, are fully handicap accessible.
Organized by
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) delivers high-quality education and training that prepares a skilled workforce, provides equitable access to higher education, and builds and strengthens our communities.