'Anne Frank the Exhibition' explores Otto Frank’s legacy and daughter's diary

The exhibition at New York’s Center for Jewish History brings Anne Frank’s story to life through rare artifacts and a re-creation of the annex.

A person views a photo of Holocaust victim Anne Frank at a preview of "Anne Frank the Exhibition," ahead of its official opening on International Holocaust Remembrance Day at the Center for Jewish History in New York on January 24, 2025. Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

By Hayu Andini and Adila Ghina

Anne Frank the Exhibition offers a poignant look at the life of Anne Frank, her family, and the lasting legacy of her diary. Opened on January 27, 2025, at the Center for Jewish History in New York, the exhibition coincides with International Holocaust Remembrance Day and marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Featuring over 100 rare items, some of which have never been publicly displayed before, this exhibit provides a moving tribute to the Frank family’s tragic fate during the Holocaust and the enduring influence of Anne’s writing.

One of the most powerful moments in the exhibition is the re-creation of the annex where the Frank family, along with four others, hid from the Nazis for more than two years. The re-creation, while impressive in its attention to detail, becomes one of the exhibit's shortcomings. Despite the Anne Frank House’s effort to create a precise replica, the annex feels cramped, and the auditory experience is muddled by overlapping sounds, making it difficult for visitors to connect with the space emotionally.

The exhibition begins by detailing the prosperous life the Frank family led in Germany before they were forced to flee to the Netherlands as Nazi persecution of Jews intensified. From there, the narrative unfolds to cover the horrors of the Holocaust, with a focus on Anne Frank’s family and their time in hiding. As visitors progress through the exhibit, they are presented with original artifacts from the Frank family’s life, including Anne’s poetry, a kindergarten photograph of Anne, and letters exchanged between Otto Frank and his family. These items offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of the family before their tragic fate, grounding the historical narrative in personal experiences.

One of the standout pieces in the exhibition is a walnut writing desk used by Otto Frank. Along with the desk, visitors can view family possessions such as table linens, a colorful set of crockery, and a precious family photo album—all remnants of a time before the war irrevocably changed their lives. These artifacts humanize the family, offering a reminder that the Franks were not just victims of the Holocaust, but ordinary people with dreams and aspirations.

In addition to these personal items, the exhibition includes a remarkable film of Anne Frank, captured before she was confined to the annex. The footage shows a young Anne looking out over a balcony, radiating the charisma that would later make her diary an international sensation. Also on display are postcards from Anne and her sister Margot, sent to a neighbor in their former hometown of Frankfurt. These small items of daily life bring Anne’s personality into sharper focus, showing her not as an icon of tragedy, but as a real young woman with hopes, fears, and dreams.

But the most emotional part of the exhibition is its portrayal of Otto Frank’s experience after the war. Otto’s survival of Auschwitz and his eventual liberation in 1945 are marked by the small pouch of belongings he retained from his time in the camp. This pouch contained a ration card, a few personal items, and, most importantly, the hope that his family might still be alive.

However, Otto Frank’s hopes were soon dashed. He learned that his wife Edith had died in Auschwitz, and later discovered that his daughters, Anne and Margot, had perished from typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. It was only after the war, with the help of Miep Gies, one of the family’s Dutch helpers, that Otto was given the writings Anne had left behind. Miep handed him the diary, telling him that it was his daughter’s legacy. This moment, captured in a film clip at the exhibition, highlights the immense emotional weight of Anne’s writing and the deep connection Otto Frank had with his daughter’s words.

Anne Frank's original diary (R) is displayed at "Anne Frank the Exhibition," ahead of its official opening on International Holocaust Remembrance Day at the Center for Jewish History in New York on January 24, 2025. Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

As visitors move through the exhibition, the narrative expands to chronicle the journey of Anne’s diary after the war. Otto Frank, who initially hoped his daughter’s words would remain private, eventually agreed to have her diary published. The path to publication was not easy, and the exhibition features a letter from an unnamed Viking editor who rejected Anne’s manuscript. The editor acknowledged that Anne’s writing was “genuine and spontaneous” but deemed it too emotionally overwhelming to be profitable in the United States. In hindsight, this editorial decision seems like an enormous blunder, considering that Anne’s diary has since sold more than 30 million copies and been translated into 79 languages, becoming one of the most influential books of the 20th century.

While the exhibition does an excellent job of showcasing the tragic and powerful story of the Frank family, it struggles with its presentation of the historical context in which they lived. The exhibit provides a broad overview of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, the growing persecution of Jews, and the horrors of the Holocaust, but the storytelling can feel disjointed at times. Visitors are bombarded with photographs and films from multiple angles, making it difficult to fully absorb the details. The focus on Anne and her family is compelling, but it is often overshadowed by the overwhelming volume of information presented in a cramped space.

Despite these flaws, the exhibition succeeds in one important aspect: it brings the story of Anne Frank to life for a new generation. In a world where the horrors of the Holocaust may feel distant, this exhibit humanizes the history, making it tangible and personal. The combination of rare artifacts, photographs, and audio-visual storytelling helps to preserve the memory of Anne Frank and the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.

Anne Frank’s story, though one of immense tragedy, is also a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Her diary remains a beacon of hope and a reminder of the importance of bearing witness to the past. As visitors leave the exhibition, they are left with a sense of the enduring power of Anne Frank’s words and a deeper understanding of the unimaginable suffering that her family endured during one of history’s darkest periods.

A person attends "Anne Frank the Exhibition," ahead of its official opening on International Holocaust Remembrance Day at the Center for Jewish History in New York on January 24, 2025. Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

As the exhibition closes, it encourages reflection on the lessons of the Holocaust and the importance of remembering the victims and survivors. The Center for Jewish History’s Anne Frank the Exhibition offers an opportunity not only to learn about the life of one of history’s most beloved figures but also to engage with the broader context of the Holocaust and its lasting impact on the world. For anyone seeking to understand the profound legacy of Anne Frank, this exhibition provides a moving, thought-provoking experience that will resonate for years to come.