Opening Saturday, October 17, 2026
Fleeing Hitler’s Nazi regime, Austrian refugees Max and Trude Heller escaped persecution during the Second World War and built a new life against all odds. Once safely settled in Greenville, South Carolina, the couple committed to giving back to the community as much as they could through decades of selfless service. The Hellers’ philanthropic impact is evident to anyone who has explored downtown Greenville, visited Furman University, or strolled along Heritage Green.
Max and Trude Heller: A Story of Courage, Community, and Coming Home , a semi-permanent exhibition, shares the Hellers’ story through a blend of physical and digital components, inviting visitors to create their own learning experience. Expanding beyond the limitations of gallery walls, this innovative approach allows the Museum to share more of the Heller family’s extensive collection of photographs and archival documents.
Visitors will explore Max and Trude’s early lives in Austria, their harrowing escapes from Nazi horrors, their arrival in Greenville, and their lives and careers in business, government, education, and service to their community. Maps, timelines, and other interactive elements bring their story to life on two digital screens. Remaining true to Upcountry History Museum standards, a curated selection of physical artifacts will offer a tangible connection to the people and experiences at the heart of the exhibition.
Support for this exhibition is provided by:
