Things to do in New Orleans – Tour the National WWII Museum

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The National WWII Museum, founded in 2000 as the D-Day Museum, is an unexpected yet impressive attraction situated on six acres in New Orleans’ Warehouse District.  The museum campus consists of several pavilions (five at last count) housing exhibition galleries, theaters, and restoration facilities. The museum is a private non-profit institution that serves to tell the stories of the men and women, at home and abroad, who participated in the war effort.

Louisiana Memorial Pavilion Artillery and Uniforms National WWII Museum New Orleans

The museum’s collection includes over 100,000 items and artifacts, consisting of photographs, personal mementos, diaries and letters, weapons, vehicles, aircraft, and uniforms (of both Allied and Axis forces), as well as a collection of memoirs and oral histories. Of these only a portion are on display in the various pavilions.

Your tour of the WWII Museum puts you in the midst of the war, where you can experience the battles and hear the personal stories of soldiers.

Douglas C-47 in Louisiana Memorial Pavilion National WWII Museum New Orleans

Begin in the atrium of the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion where you’ll walk below vintage aircraft, including a Douglas C-47 cargo plane, which flew several missions in the European Theater. You’ll also see a replica of a ‘Higgins boat’ (more on that later).

Train Car National WWII Museum New Orleans

From here, board the Train Car to begin your virtual journey, witnessing the farewells as servicemen and women head off to war.  You’ll be given the opportunity to select a service member and to follow his personal history at various points throughout the museum.

Louisiana Memorial Pavilion Japanese Weapons and Uniform National WWII Museum New Orleans

The remaining exhibits in this pavilion feel somewhat outdated when compared to the other pavilions on the campus. The simple displays of artifacts and information boards are located in various galleries, such as the Home Front Gallery, the D-Day Beaches Gallery, and the Pacific D-Days Gallery. The Louisiana Memorial Pavilion also hosts traveling exhibits and themed temporary exhibits in the special exhibit gallery.

Axis and Allies Leaders National WWII Museum New Orleans

Crossing the street you’ll visit the Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters Pavilion.  Here you’ll experience the Road to Berlin where you’ll find yourself in various combat scenarios across Europe.

The interactive, multi-media displays are set up in various galleries.

Italian Campaign Gallery National WWII Museum New Orleans

These include the Italian Campaign,

Air War Gallery National WWII Museum New Orleans

Air War,

Battle of the Bulge Gallery National WWII Museum New Orleans

Northwestern Europe: Invasion & Liberation, Battle of the Bulge,

Into the German Homeland Gallery National WWII Museum New Orleans

and Into the German Homeland.

US Freedom Pavilion National WWII Museum New Orleans

At the far end of the campus, you’ll find the U.S. Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, which houses an exhibit of aircraft, artillery, tanks, and personnel vehicles.  You’ll walk below, alongside, and above such warbirds as “My Gal Sal”, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, and a P-51 Mustang, representing those flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. You’ll also see a Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber (this one was briefly assigned to the aircraft carrier Enterprise),  and the nose section of a B-24D Liberator.

Model M4A3E9 Sherman tank National WWII Museum New Orleans

Vehicles on display include a Dodge WC-54 Ambulance, which saw post-war service with the French Armed Services, and a rare model M4A3E9 Sherman tank. Visitors to the U.S. Freedom pavilion also have the opportunity to take part in the Final Mission of the USS Tang Submarine (seating is limited; up to three showings per hour; NOT included with your General Admission ticket, but available as an ‘add-on’).

The museum also presents ‘Beyond all Boundaries’, a 4-D film narrated by Tom Hanks and featuring the voices of Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Bacon, John Goodman, and Wendell Pierce (just to name a few).  Hourly screenings of this film are held in the Victory Solomon Theater Pavilion.  Tickets for the film are NOT included with your General Admission ticket, but are available as an ‘add-on’. We highly recommend opting for the ‘add-on’.

There’s a lot to see and experience at the National WWII Museum and a visit here can take a while (3+ hours).  Plan accordingly, especially if there are other attractions you wish to see while in New Orleans.

US troops debarking from a Landing Craft Personnel c1943

Oh, and in case you were wondering why New Orleans, a city known for its adult entertainment and music culture, is home to a museum dedicated to WWII…It’s because New Orleans was home to Higgins Industries, a locally owned boat manufacturer who designed and produced the watercrafts, such as PT boats, supply vessels, and Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP), aka the Higgins boat, used in the war effort.

It’s been said that the contribution to the Allied Forces was so significant that General Eisenhower referred to company owner Andrew Jackson Higgins as “the man who won the war for us.”

Getting There:

The National WWII Museum is located at 945 Magazine Street,  near Lee Circle (main entrance on Higgins Drive).

The easiest way to get there is via the St. Charles Streetcar Line from Canal at Carondolet to St. Charles at St. Joseph.

From the St. Charles at St. Joseph stop, it’s about a 5-minute walk to the Museum.

Ticket Info:

Adult Admission (Museum Only) = $23.00; add a second day: + $6.00

Adult Admission (Museum + Beyond All Boundaries or Final Mission) = $28.00

Adult Admission (Museum + Beyond All Boundaries + Final Mission) = $33.00

Travel Tip:

If you’re planning to see any of the films or special shows, make your reservations in advance.


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  1. By Getting around New Orleans using Streetcars 13 Oct ’16 at 7:27 pm

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