A new WWII photography exhibit in Naples opened May 5, 2026, at the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center. The exhibition, Caught on Film: The Wartime Photography of Ken Regele and the U.S. Army Signal Corps, will be on display through Summer 2026.
The Museum is located at 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Naples, FL 34110. Families can visit to see rare World War II photographs from the Museum’s Ken Regele Collection.
The exhibit documents the war from the Allied D-Day invasion through the liberation of concentration camps by United States Army divisions. For families in Collier and Lee Counties, it offers a local opportunity to connect history with powerful primary-source images.
What will families see at this WWII exhibit in Naples?
The exhibition features photographs taken by U.S. Army Signal Corps photographers during World War II. These images offer a behind-the-scenes look at the Western Front.
The photographs show what Ken Regele and his colleagues experienced, documented, and preserved. The Museum describes the collection as one of its most comprehensive photographic collections about World War II’s Western Front.
When the United States Army began operations in Europe, leaders needed to document events from the air, the sea, and the front lines. Signal Corps photographers worked alongside GIs throughout Europe.
As a cameraman, Regele recorded hundreds upon hundreds of feet of film. Military officers used that footage to analyze battles and make operational decisions.
The exhibit also explains how Signal Corps photographic teams worked in dangerous conditions. Many operated in the middle of major conflicts with only a camera.
Why is the Ken Regele Collection important for young learners?
The Ken Regele Collection helps visitors understand World War II through real images captured during the conflict. For older children and teens, the exhibit may support classroom learning about the war and the Holocaust.
Regele traveled across Europe with his Jeep, “Toots,” documenting wartime events. His work, along with that of other Signal Corps members, created a visual record that is still consulted today.
As the war in Europe ended, Corps members accompanying U.S. GIs documented the discoveries of Nazi concentration camps in Western Germany. Those photographs and film footage became evidence of the genocide now called the Holocaust.
The Museum notes that these images informed the world about the camps, their victims, and emaciated survivors. Parents should be prepared for emotionally difficult historical content.
The exhibit may be especially meaningful for families who want to discuss truth, memory, and the importance of preserving firsthand evidence. It gives your child a way to see how documentation shaped public understanding of history.
Where and when can you visit the exhibition?
Caught on Film: The Wartime Photography of Ken Regele and the U.S. Army Signal Corps opens Tuesday, May 5, 2026. It will remain on display through Summer 2026.
The exhibition is hosted by the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center in Naples. The address is 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Naples, FL 34110.
Key details include:
- Exhibition: Caught on Film: The Wartime Photography of Ken Regele and the U.S. Army Signal Corps
- Opening date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
- On display: Through Summer 2026
- Location: Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center, 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Naples, FL 34110
- Contact: Joan Hogan at 239-263-9200 or joan@hmcec.org
- More information: hmcec.org
Families in Collier and Lee Counties can also watch for local events and educational programs connected to museums, history, and family learning.
What photos are connected to the exhibition?
All photos are credited to the Ken Regele Collection of US Signal Corps photos at the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center.
Photo subjects include:
- Ike Meeting with the Troops
- Troops Landing on D-Day
- GIs Watching Contrails in the Sky
- GI Takes Aim at a German Sniper
- GIs Operating a Howitzer Shelling Enemy Forces
- Paratroopers Landing in Holland
- Ken Regele with his Jeep, “Toots”
- GIs with Buchenwald Concentration Survivors
These images may help families understand the range of wartime experiences represented in the collection. Some images may be difficult, especially those connected to concentration camp liberation.
How can parents prepare children for a Holocaust Museum visit?
This WWII photography exhibit in Naples includes historical photographs connected to war and the Holocaust. Parents should decide how much context their child needs before attending.
You may want to explain that museum exhibits preserve real history. Some photographs can be upsetting because they show the consequences of hatred, violence, and war.
The Museum’s mission is to teach the lessons of the Holocaust, inspire action against hatred, and promote mutual respect. Its exhibits and programs preserve survivor stories and support accurate Holocaust history.
Before visiting, families can:
- Call ahead at 239-263-9200 with questions about the exhibit.
- Review the Museum website at hmcec.org.
- Talk about respectful museum behavior before arriving.
- Allow time after the visit for questions and quiet reflection.
For families in Collier and Lee Counties, this exhibit offers a serious but important local learning opportunity. It can help older children understand how photographs preserve evidence and memory.