Library to Display Anne Frank House Replica

By Bobbi Zane

A walk-through replica of the house occupied by Anne Frank during the Holocaust will be on display at the Julian Library from April 11 to 21. The exhibit is designed to tell the story of the Holocaust from the viewpoint of a young girl who experienced its horror.

The Frank family and others spent 25 months hiding in an apartment in Amsterdam. While in hiding, the girl who aspired to be a writer kept a diary of her daily experiences of growing up and the family dealing with the threat that they might be exposed and sent to a concentration camp to die, which actually happened.

The diary was found in the house by a friend who had helped the family while they were in hiding. When published in 1947, the journal exposed the horror of the Nazi occupation.

"The Diary of Anne Frank" is one of the most well-known accounts of the Holocaust. It has been translated into 67 languages and has served as a basis for plays and movies.

Visitors walking through the attic exhibit will get a glimpse of what it was like to spend more than two years in hiding, with no opportunity to get out. Even though they occupied a prison of their own choosing, the families tried to maintain normal lives with dreams and hopes. Anne's diary reveals these on a daily basis.

On display are two rooms of the apartment, Anne's bedroom, which she shared within another person, and the kitchen/family room where the families gathered.

Furnishings in the rooms are based upon contemporary photographs.

The exhibit was originally created last fall by the San Diego Chapter of the Association of Jewish Libraries and staff of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center for the annual San Diego Jewish Book Fair. It is now touring San Diego area schools and libraries.

The exhibit consists of a 17-minute film depicting the life of Anne Frank, followed by a walk-through of the house. Volunteer docents Shari Winicki and Laurel Grandquist will conduct free public tours between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. from April 11 to 15. The size of the groups are limited and advance reservations are required. Call (760) 765-0370.