Muscatine Community College (MCC) is bringing history to life with The Journey Back: A Virtual Reality Experience, an interactive exhibition developed by the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. Using 360-degree immersive technology, the exhibit shares firsthand Holocaust Survivor testimonies in a deeply personal way. The exhibit will be open to the public April 21 – May 2 at MCC’s Loper Hall.

Participants will use virtual reality headsets to follow Survivors as they revisit key locations from their past, including childhood homes, ghettos, and concentration camps. The exhibit is free and open to ages 12 and older. 

MCC Student Engagement Coordinator Trevor Meyers led efforts to bring The Journey Back to campus after experiencing it at the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. 

"Listening to a Holocaust Survivor’s story is powerful, but stepping into their world through virtual reality is something entirely different," Meyers said. "This experience allows you to connect with history in a deeply personal way—one that stays with you. The moment I experienced it myself, I knew our students and the Muscatine community needed that opportunity also." 

The Illinois Holocaust Museum provides Mobile VR Trunks to institutions across the country, equipping them with 10 Meta Quest 2 VR headsets, synchronized viewing tablets, and other essential technology. 

Survivor Stories 

Participants can choose from five immersive Survivor stories, each lasting 13 - 23 minutes: 

  • A Promise Kept – Fritzie Fritzshall returns to her hometown and Auschwitz, sharing the promise she made to the 599 women who helped save her life. 
  • Don’t Forget Me – George Brent retraces his journey through Auschwitz, Mauthausen, and Ebensee, revealing his will to survive. 
  • Letters from Drancy – Marion Deichmann recounts her childhood escape across Northern Europe and survival of D-Day in Normandy. 
  • Walk to Westerbork – Rodi Glass revisits her imprisonment at Westerbork transit camp and Vittel internment camp. 
  • Escape to Shanghai – Doris Fogel’s journey from Germany to Shanghai, China—one of the few places that welcomed Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. 

Registration and Accessibility 

Advance registration is required, though walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. Participants should arrive 5 – 10 minutes early to check in and set up their VR headset. 

Due to the historical content, the exhibit is recommended for ages 12 and up, with parents and educators encouraged to determine suitability for younger attendees. The VR experience is stable and seated, with no movement required. Free parking is available on campus, and all MCC buildings are handicap accessible. 

For more information or to register, visit this event link. 

About the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center 

Guided by its mission to “Remember the Past, Transform the Future,” the Illinois Holocaust Museum preserves Holocaust history and educates the public on human rights and social justice. Through exhibitions like The Journey Back, the museum ensures these lessons continue to resonate with future generations. 

This initiative is supported by The Kimberly Duchossois Family Global Immersive Technology Initiative, The Diana C. Hunter Trust, and The Spagat Family Virtual Reality Trunk Program