National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial

In October 2004 The Cambodian Association of Illinois, established the Cambodian American Heritage Museum & Killing Fields Memorial to preserve Cambodian culture, facilitate the general public’s understanding on genocide and human rights and to heal and bring Cambodian-Americans together to move beyond survival to self-sufficiency. The Killing Fields Memorial, which is the only memorial of its kind outside Cambodia, commemorates the 3.4 million people who died in the genocide during the Khmer Rouge regime. It provides a space and opportunity for survivors and the younger generations to come together and begin the dialogue on bridging generation gaps and healing. Finally, the museum is a place of celebration and the triumphs of survivors and the culture that was saved from near obliteration.