Welcome to the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial, a place where Cambodian history, memory, art, and culture come together. Explore our exhibitions and collections, learn from the stories of survivors and community members, and experience Cambodian heritage through music, dance, art, language, and cultural programs. We invite you to visit, learn, reflect, and discover how generations of Cambodians have preserved their stories and traditions and continue to carry them forward today.
our Mission is to build community through shared healing through art, language, memory, and histories.
what our community says about us
Carving Legacies: Preserving Cambodian Arts Across Generations
This short film features the Museum’s Carving Legacies workshop in 2025 where Cambodian American artists and community members came together to learn, create, and connect with their cultural roots. This is what cultural preservation and intergenerational learning look like in practice. And this is why your support for this year’s Giving Tuesday matters.
what we do
The National Cambodian Heritage Museum is a tribute to the rich heritage that dates back more than 4,000 years, and provides a permanent and secure home in Chicago for the culture that was almost lost during the Vietnam War and Cambodia’s own civil unrest.
Through permanent and temporary exhibits of vivid images, descriptive accounts, unique artifacts, and interactive media displays, the museum celebrates the remarkable Cambodian achievements and traditions kept alive through centuries of hardships.
The memorial museum educates visitors about Cambodian ancient and modern history, the refugee experience, and the Cambodian American community today.
LIVING MUSEUM MODEL
This museum is not a static institution, but an ever-evolving cultural agent where the community members actively take part in making its narratives. The narratives are also shaped through dialogues among Cambodians from different generations, and through dialogues between Cambodians and non-Cambodians.
Check out the current and previous exhibitions for the Cambodian and Chicago community.
Find tips and information to make your next visit to the museum a memorable one.
People of all ages can learn traditional Cambodian dance and music from master artists, as well as Khmer language classes taught by native Khmer speakers.
There are plenty of ways to support the Museum and make a significant impact on the lives of the Cambodian community via programs for the aging refugee population, cultural classes to preserve our heritage, and academic services for our youth.
SUPPORT US
Your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps.
