Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial, Providence

The Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial is a sculpture garden dedicated in 2015 to the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. It also honors survivors who settled in Rhode Island, rebuilt their lives, and contributed to local communities. Sculptor Jonathan Bonner designed the memorial with landscape architect Will Green and a committee that included Holocaust survivors.

A curving granite path passes between two entrance pillars and gradually becomes narrower. Faded railway tracks are set into its surface, recalling the trains used to transport victims to concentration and death camps. Six dark granite columns of different heights represent the six million Jewish victims and the wide range of ages among those killed. Their tapered forms also suggest crematorium chimneys.

The outer stone curb is engraved with the names of 15 concentration camps, while the inner curb records the names of survivors who came to Rhode Island after liberation. At the end of the path stands the smooth white Life Stone, representing remembrance, survival, and the continuation of Jewish life. Visitors may leave small stones on the Life Stone, following Jewish tradition. The memorial stands in a quiet riverside setting.