A new interactive garden at The Children’s Museum of the Upstate honors the life and legacy of Trude Heller.
Heller was a Holocaust survivor and educator who spent her life giving back to the Greenville community. She was married to former Greenville Mayor Max Heller for 69 years. Trude Heller passed away in 2021.
Trude Heller Children’s Garden includes interactive elements and a scavenger hunt for children to enjoy. It also features a mural by artist Adam Schrimmer with Blank Canvas Mural Co. The garden is located next to the front entrance of The Children’s Museum of the Upstate.
“This garden is a living tribute to Trude Heller’s legacy of resilience, love and community spirit. It will inspire generations of children to learn through play and to grow with curiosity, kindness and compassion,” said Lauren Luneckas, CEO of the Children’s Museum of the Upstate.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, the Heller family, elected officials and community leaders came together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication for the new Trude Heller Children’s Garden on Sept. 18.
Trude Heller Children’s Garden represents the first completed phase of Heller Heritage on the Green, a $2.2 million project to memorialize the legacy of Max and Trude Heller at Heritage Green.
“The garden is special and will be enjoyed by many,” said Francie Heller, daughter of Max and Trude Heller. “My father’s last comments were, ‘Let’s have a function to bring the community together.’ My mother’s words were, ‘Please share my story,’ and here we are. It is so meaningful that their wishes have brought us together for this purpose.”
Read more about Heller Heritage on the Green
The project will add an interactive digital exhibit detailing Max and Trude Heller’s journey to Greenville at the Upcountry History Museum. Letters sent to Trude Heller from those she taught on her Holocaust education tour will also be displayed at the Hughes Main Library in an exhibit titled “Dear Mrs. Heller.”
The arts and culture campus’s accessibility, safety and overall aesthetic will also be enhanced as part of Heller Heritage on the Green. Site improvements will be completed, including a new pedestrian walkway with upgraded landscaping, new lighting, mosaic art and gathering spaces.
“This really should be the jewel in Greenville’s crown, that everybody who comes to this city wants to come to this spot, visit our cultural institutions and enjoy the exterior space,” said Susan Shi, one of the project’s committee chairs.
Approximately $1 million has been raised so far for the $2.2 million project. This includes a $400,000 gift from the Heller family.
For more information, visit hellerheritageonthegreen.org.
