"Does anyone know why the principal Holocaust Museum is in Washington, DC, far removed from the land of the killings?
Forever wondering."
The U.S. Museum is not the "principal museum." Yad VaShaem was there much before the U.S. Holocaust Museum. Building the U.S. Holocaust Museum, a truly excellent, interesting museum which all should visit - it takes two days to go through properly or at least one full day - was intended to teach the history of the Holocaust, but also to teach the lesson for all peoples of all times. It's message is to remember, so as never to forget.
The Holocaust directly affected not only the limited number of survivors who came to U.S. shores, having lost their own families and having gone through a living hell themselves, but also affected the other millions of Jews throughout the world, who lost European relatives in the Holocaust - uncles, cousins distant and near, etc.
THE principal and original Holocaust museum was built in Jerusalem in 1953. But it's important for all generations to come that other Holocaust museums are build in cities throughout the world.
"Never Again"