Museum celebrates 15th anniversary

Fifteen years ago, Holocaust survivor Eva Kor began the CANDLES Holocaust museum. It's a dream that has come true in ways no one would guess. Fifteen years ago, there were just a handful of people for the grand opening. Sunday, it was standing room only with two hundred people on hand.

"For me, it's a home away from home," said Kor.

Kor started in 1995 with a single, small room and some posters. It's a memorial to her twin sister Miriam who died in 1993. Both were subjected to Nazi experiments at Auschwitz.

"We are growing. It is a place that has been growing as the message has been very well received," said Kor.

It's a message that keeps growing as more and more come to see, some for the first time. Joe Valerius heard Eva's story and drove 11 hours with his family to perform a song he wrote for her.

"I thought it was just an amazing story, she's just an amazing woman as well," said Valerius. "Just to be able to do what she did after what happened to her, it's fantastic."

The museum is just one of about 20 museums in America dedicated to history of the Holocaust.

"It's great for our community because it draws people from all over the Midwest," said Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett. “It's a pretty big draw and so it is a great thing for our community."

One corner of the building still dedicated to the original structure, destroyed by arson in 2003. But the Eva and her husband Mickey Kor vowed to rebuild.

"Having a way of repeating itself and we don't want this to happen to any other nationality," said Mickey.

The museum isn't resting though. Eva hopes for a million dollar gift to expand the museum and add a forgiveness and peace pavilion.