Wassmuth Center for Human Rights

Home of the Idaho Anne Frank Memorial

About the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights

The Wassmuth Center for Human Rights is dedicated to promoting human dignity and diversity through education. As the founders and home of the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, we invite visitors to reflect on the past, engage in meaningful dialogue, and take action for a just and inclusive future.

In our new Philip E. Batt Education Building, visitors can explore interactive exhibits and original works of art that bring human rights stories to life and spark conversation, and connection. Together, the Memorial and Education Building serve as a powerful campus for learning and action.

We envision an Idaho where everyone is valued, treated with respect, and empowered to protect and promote human rights. Through our programs and exhibits, we provide learners of all ages with the knowledge, skills, and resources to build a more just world.

Visit Us

The Wassmuth Center Campus is Located in Downtown Boise at 777 S. 8th Street, ID 83702

General Office & Gift Shop Hours (Philip E. Batt Building)

Open Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Closed Mondays from 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial

Open daily from dawn to dusk
No appointment required for self-guided visits

Art of Human Rights Exhibit (Philip E Batt Building)

Self-guided tours available daily on a walk-in basis
Access may be limited during scheduled programming or events—check our Programs Calendar for availability.

Dimensions in Testimony Exhibit (Philip E Batt Building)

Offered by scheduled session only.
Visit the Dimensions in Testimony page for more information.

Closed Monday, June 16th

In Observance of the Juneteenth Holiday

The Wassmuth Center will be closed Monday, June 16th in observation of the Juneteenth holiday.

We hope you’ll join us for a warm and welcoming Community Open House on Thursday, June 19 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM—for a chance to gather, learn about this pivotal moment in American History and celebrate the power of belonging together.

Support the New Building

The new Philip E. Batt Education Building, home to the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, opened to the public on October 11, 2024. Named in honor of former Idaho Governor Philip E. Batt, the building recognizes his leadership and lifelong commitment to promoting human rights for all Idahoans.

While the facility is now complete and serving visitors, there are still meaningful ways to be part of this legacy.

Supporters can purchase commemorative pavers or explore sponsorship opportunities to help sustain and grow the Center’s impact.

We invite you to join us in building a more inclusive future—brick by brick.

Updates & Events

Visit Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate at the Wassmuth Center through August 8.

Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate – Now on View in Boise

The national art exhibition Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate is now open in Boise for the first time, on view through August 8, 2025. The exhibition is hosted at three venues across the city: the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, the Erma Hayman House, and Albertsons Library at Boise State University. Each location features a different selection of artwork and is free and open to the public. For venue hours, programming, and more details, visit: Wassmuth Center for Human Rights – Speaking Volumes

This powerful exhibition began in Montana in 2004, when a former leader of a white supremacist group turned over more than 4,000 of the group’s hate-filled books to the Montana Human Rights Network. In response, the Holter Museum of Art invited artists from across the country to transform the books into works of art that challenge hate and promote healing. The result is Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate—a collection of over 250 pieces in diverse media, including sculpture, painting, ceramics, printmaking, and photography. Through their work, the artists invite viewers to reflect, engage in dialogue, and imagine a more inclusive and just future.

This exhibition is presented in partnership with Speaking Volumes Art Action (SVAA), the Holter Museum of Art, and with local support from the Pegan Family.

Juneteenth Open House at the Wassmuth Center Wednesday, June 19 | 11:00am–2:00pm

You’re Invited.

Join us for a special Juneteenth Open House as we honor this pivotal moment in American history and the African American experience. You’re invited to stop by, explore, and connect in a welcoming space dedicated to reflection, learning, and community.

Enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and sparkling water as you browse educational videos, curated reading materials, and a thoughtful selection of children’s books. Engage in meaningful conversation with our docents stationed in the lobby and the Dimensions in Testimony (DiT) room, where powerful stories come to life through interactive testimony.

Bring a friend, bring your curiosity—and don’t miss the Human Rights Board Game table for an engaging way to spark conversation about justice and belonging.

We look forward to spending this important day with you.

Nominate an Outstanding Educator! Now through August 15.

At the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, we know educators shape more than lessons—they shape lives by nurturing possibility. Across Idaho, educators are creating learning communities where every student feels seen, heard, and valued. These teachers are cultivating spaces where dignity is honored and all learners have the opportunity to thrive.

Each year, we recognize one outstanding educator with the Idaho Human Rights Educator of the Year Award. This is an individual who is making a meaningful difference by helping students grow in understanding, compassion, and connection.

Do you know an educator who creates a sense of belonging for every student? Someone who brings people together and fosters a learning community where everyone matters?

We invite students, families, colleagues, and administrators to nominate them! All Idaho educators—preschool through university-level, including classroom teachers, learning coaches, instructional guides, and community educators—are eligible.

The award recipient will be selected based on:

A deep commitment to human rights education
A collaborative approach
A lasting impact on students and the community

The 2025 Idaho Human Rights Educator of the Year will be honored at our Change Your World Gala on October 11, 2025.

Let’s lift up the educators who help create a more human, more hopeful world.

Nominate an educator today at tinyurl.com/HREY25

Be a Part of Building Our Future

The Wassmuth Center for Human Rights is 100% dependent on donations. We need your help to continue the valuable work being done in classrooms and communities throughout the state.