It's a first-of-its-kind museum.The Victims of Communism Museum set to open in Washington DC on June 13, 2022. The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) is opening the doors of its new museum to the general public. Located in downtown Washington DC at McPherson Square (900 15th Street NW), the Victims of Communism Museum memorializes the more than 100 million people murdered by communist regimes. Today, it is estimated that more than 1.5 billion people still live and labor under communist governments that are actively hostile to democracy as well as human and civil rights. With 9,494 square feet of space, the Victims of Communism Museum offers exibits as well as room for conferences and other events.  The three main galleries on the first floor inform visitors about the origins of communism, how the poisonous ideology operates, and how people trapped in communist regimes have resisted historically and continue to resist today. Located near McPherson Square in downtown Washington DC, it's easily accessible by Metro or car and is mere blocks from the White House. The first gallery documents the rise of communism under Vladimir I. Lenin and his bloody Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 and the formation of the communist international, or comintern, which exported "the revolution" globally...In the second gallery, visitors will learn about communist's reign of terror taking hold internationally, following Lenin's death...In the third gallery, guests will discover how resistance movements took hold in Asia, Europe, and South America...An interactive feature called "Conditions Under Communism" lets guests test their knowledge about the grim realities befalling these nations. The second floor has a room dedicated to rotating temporary exhibits. The current exhibit highlights the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. On its website, VOC points out :  "The real examples of socialism today are China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, Vietnam, and now Venezuela. We must contend with these regimes and the threats they pose to free people-and we must struggle for the freedom of the more than one billion people held captive by these regimes. The museum opening comes amidst a push to teach about the horrors of communism at a level of significance comparable to how the rise of the Nazi Party is taught. Dr. Lee Edwards, co-founder and chairman  emoritus of VOC, explained why this museum is so desperately needed.  "Beginning with the collapse of the Soviet Union in December of 1991, people begin to quickly forget the legacy of communism and the sway it held over millions of people around the world." Yet, "communist ruling parties still control a fifth of the world's population." Edwards says that the museum is intended "to serve as both a memorial to those who died from [communism] and a beacon of hope for those who resist it."