HOUSTON, TX (March 17, 2005) - In commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust Museum Houston in collaboration with the Armenian National Committee of Texas will present an exhibit examining this horrific time in history recognized as the first European genocide of the 20th century. 

The exhibition will open for display at Holocaust Museum Houston's Morgan Family Center Central Gallery on the evening of March 29, 2005.

Although the Armenian Genocide is one of the earliest genocides of the 20th century, as time passes, it receives less and less attention. 

Said Vatche Hovsepian, a member of the Houston Armenian community, "We are pleased to be working with Holocaust Museum Houston to bring attention to this terrible period in the history of man and to honor the memory of those who died during it."

Holocaust Museum Houston Associate Director of Education Richard Grisham added, "The Armenian genocide is a foreshadow to what occurred during the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.  This exhibit explores yet another example of the suffering caused by the inhumanity of man throughout time."

Since the establishment of the Ottoman Empire, which was created by Ottoman Turks after seizing Constantinople in 1453, the relationship between the Armenians and Ottomans wavered between relative quiet and conflict.  But the end of the nineteenth century brought a much higher level of nationalism to the Armenians, which was resented by the Ottomans and began to spur discrimination, violence and, ultimately, a major government pogrom from 1894-1896.

As the early twentieth century gave rise to new political activity in Turkey, the Committee of Union and Progress, known as The Young Turks, began to form.  This group became increasingly agitated by the demands of the Armenians, and resentment increased of American and European support of Armenians in Turkish affairs.

In 1915, using the cover of World War I, the new Turkish government began its massacre of the Armenian population of Turkey.  One and a half million Armenians lost their lives as a result of this targeted and intentional campaign of violence and cruelty.

Armenia was eventually divided between Turkey and the Soviet Union in the early 1920's.  Armenia now exists free of Russian rule but as a small remnant of an ancient place.

The current government of Turkey continues to deny that any genocide occurred.