Safe Haven Museum and Education Center

Mission:

The Safe Haven Museum and Education Center is dedicated to keeping alive the stories of the 982 refugees from World War II who were allowed into the United States as "guests" of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. These refugees were housed at Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York, from August 1944 until February 1946.

About Us:

The maelstrom that was World War II created millions of fugitives, fleeing for their lives from the horrors of war.

Their journeys took them from many countries across Europe to comparative safety behind Allied lines.

A continent away, Oswego, New York, on the shores of Lake Ontario, was destined to play a unique part in World War II and in refugee history.

Here you will find the Safe Haven story - how a President's decision altered the lives of 982 refugees and the small community that gave them shelter and hope.

You can also learn about the new Safe Haven museum, created to honor the refugees who came here and the people who welcomed them into their midst.