House of Terror

On Saturday we went to the House of Terror with our partner Scott. It was an experience that we had been anticipating for some time. The travel guru Rick Steves says that it is a "must see" when in Budapest.

A quote from the brochure will provide the best explanation: "The 'House of Terror' is a museum now, but it was witness to two shameful and tragic periods in Hungary's 20th century history. It was truly a house of terror. In 1944, during the gruesome domination of the Hungarian Arrow Cross Party, this building, known as the 'House of Loyalty,' was the party headquarters of the Hungarian Nazis. Then between 1945 and 1956, the notorious communist terror organizations, the ÁVO (State Security Office) and its successor, the ÁVH, (State Security Authority) took up residence here. 60 Andrássy Boulevard has become the house of terror and dread. This museum commemorates the victims of terror, but it is also a memento, reminding us of the dreadful acts of terrorist dictatorships."

This museum is filled with artifacts, photographs, restored offices, and video recordings; some of the videos are original news documentaries, some are original propaganda films, and many are interviews from "survivors" or family members recorded as recently as 2002. The basement has been restored to model the cells, torture rooms, and interrogation rooms from that time.

The visit to the House of Terror was not so pleasant, but served as a necessary reminder of the sins of the past. It is good for us as Americans to have a deeper understanding of the difficult history that Hungary and its people have had.