Veterans Day 2022 falls on Thursday, November 11. The intent of this article is to honor The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The museum contains an expansive collection of more than 250,000 artifacts and over 9,000 personal accounts supporting major exhibits. Rated as the number one attraction in New Orleans, why had I not made a visit before this year? After all, I have been to New Orleans more times than I can count.
This article does not even scratch the surface on what this massive and astonishing museum has to offer but hopefully will inspire you to include a visit on your next trip to New Orleans.
I had only allocated a couple of hours to this attraction but ended up spending several hours here and feel as though I rushed through.
Designated by Congress as the official "WWII Museum of the United States", it is located in downtown New Orleans and contains six pavilions housing historical exhibits, a period dinner theater, and restaurants.
With immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories, it will take you inside the story of the war that changed the world, why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn.
The physical address of the museum is 945 Magazine Street and covers an area of six acres. The main entrance and ticket counter is located in building number one – The Louisiana Memorial Pavilion.
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| WWII Museum campus map |
You are going to find a number of ticket options available to you. I visited with a small group of friends and opted for the ‘Museum Campus Pass Package’. This ticket was a campus pass along with a ticket to the 4D film Beyond All Boundaries. I will discuss the film a bit later in this article.
Ticket prices during my visit September, 2021:
$36.50 Adult
$32.50 Seniors 65+
$25.00 Military
$25.00 Students
$ 7.00 Children 5 and under
$00.00 WWII Veterans
The museum doors close at 5pm so any reservations made after 3pm should expect an abbreviated visit.
Please note that all ticket sales are final and no refunds offered. Tickets expire after their assigned date.
A first time visit to this museum can be intimidating and almost overwhelming. Here are suggestions for a full day and also a half day visit.
Get your ticket and head to the L.W. "Pete" Kent Train Car Experience to begin your museum tour. Make sure you register your dog tag either on board the train car or at the kiosk after exiting. Follow your WWII participant’s story at kiosks throughout your museum experience and online after your visit.
L.W. "Pete" Kent Train Car Experience - Building 1 first floor-ticket booth on right
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| L.W. "Pete" Kent Train Car |
If you purchased tickets that include Beyond All Boundaries and/or Final Mission: USS Tang Submarine Experience, plan your visit around your showtime(s). Beyond All Boundaries lasts approximately 48 minutes, while Final Mission lasts 15 minutes.
Highlights, as your time allows:
- The newest exhibit, The Arsenal of Democracy: The Herman and George R. Brown Salute to the Home Front, draws on personal narratives and suggestive artifacts to highlight facets of WWII-era American life through an first-hand narrative.
- The immersive Richard C. Adkerson & Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Road to Tokyo: Pacific Theater Galleries and The Duchossois Family Road to Berlin: European Theater Galleries in the state-of-the-art Campaigns of Courage pavilion.
- US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, the stunning home of seven restored WWII planes.
- A delicious meal at The American Sector Restaurant + Bar or treats at The Jeri Nims Soda Shop
Get your ticket and head to the L.W. "Pete" Kent Train Car Experience to begin your museum tour. Make sure you register your dog tag either on board the train car or at the kiosk after exiting. Follow your WWII participant’s story at kiosks throughout your museum experience and online after your visit.
If you purchased tickets that include Beyond All Boundaries and/or Final Mission: USS Tang Submarine Experience, plan your visit around your showtime(s). Beyond All Boundaries lasts approximately 48 minutes, while Final Mission lasts 15 minutes.
Highlights, as time allows:
- The Arsenal of Democracy: The Herman and George R. Brown Salute to the Home Front
- Choose one of the Richard C. Adkerson & Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Road to Tokyo: Pacific Theater Galleries or The Duchossois Family Road to Berlin: European Theater Galleries.
- US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, the stunning home of seven restored WWII planes.
The campus consists
of six buildings. I was able to peruse five of
the six buildings in a half-day visit but feel that a full day would have been more
appropriate. Your tickets will allow exit and re-entry privileges
for the day of purchase only. Feel free to leave for lunch, take a short break and then return.
BUILDING #1
Building 1 - Louisiana Memorial Pavilion
You are going to want to start here. This features the newest permanent exhibit that tells the story of the war experienced on the home front. The building also includes the museum's original D-Day exhibit, macro-artifacts, special temporary exhibits, and the L.W. "Pete" Kent Train Car Experience—the perfect place to begin your journey into the WWII story. Make sure to register your dog tag either on board the train car or at the kiosk after exiting.
This pavilion exhibits the monumental efforts on the home front as well as the beaches of Normandy. It focuses on the thousands of men and women who made Allied victory in World War II possible.
Located on the
second level of Louisiana Memorial Pavilion is the museum's newest permanent
exhibit, The Arsenal of
Democracy: The Herman and George Brown Salute to the Home Front. This
tells the story of the road to war and the indelible contributions from the home
front. The museum's original exhibit, The
D-Day Invasion of Normandy, opened in 2000 and is locatd on the third
level.
Exhibits: Arsenal of Democracy
Infamy: Pearl Harbor remembered
Arsenal of Democracy - Building 1 Arsenal of Democracy - building 1 Arsenal of Democracy - building 1 Arsenal of Democracy - building 1 Arsenal of Democracy - building 1 Infamy:Pearl Harbor remembered - building 1 Infamy:Pearl Harbor remembered - building 1 Infamy:Pearl Harbor remembered - building 1 Infamy:Pearl Harbor remembered - building 1 Infamy:Pearl Harbor remembered - building 1
BUILDING #2
SOLOMON VICTORY THEATER
Solomon Victory Theater - building 2
See, hear, and feel the epic story of World War II in the exclusive 4D experience Beyond All Boundaries, narrated by Tom Hanks.
Exhibits: Beyond All Boundaries 4-D theater
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| Solomon Victory Theater - building 2 |
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| Solomon Victory Theater - building 2 |
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| Solomon Victory Theater - building 2 |
BUILDING #3
CAMPAIGNS OF COURAGE:
EUROPEAN AND PACIFIC THEATERS
Campaigns of Courage - building 3
Follow in the footsteps of the citizen soldier in 360-degree displays that take visitors through key settings in World War II. The galleries serve as an immersive timeline and provide a service member's view of the war.
Exhibits: Road to Tokyo
Road to Berlin
The Road to Tokyo - building 3 The Road to Tokyo - building 3 The Road to Tokyo - building 3 The Road to Tokyo - building 3 The Road to Tokyo - building 3
BUILDING #4
HALL OF DEMOCRACY
Hall of Democracy - building 4
The newest pavilion to open at the museum, The Hall of Democracy focuses on subjects not presented in other exhibits and also provides a more in-depth coverage of the subjects that are in the permanent exhibits.
Exhibits: Soldier|Artist – Trench Art in World War II
Trench Art - building 4 Trench Art - building 4 Trench Art - building 4 Trench Art - building 4
BUILDING #5
US FREEDOM PAVILION:
THE BOEING CENTER
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| US Freedom Pavilion - building 5 |
Exhibits and interactive experiences portray the picture of a nation mobilized for war—those who answered the call of service and those who supported our fighting forces by producing planes, ships, tanks, and other vital machinery in unprecedented numbers.
This is the story of America at war—on land, in the air, and at sea—told in a way that will fully engage the senses, the mind, and the heart.
Exhibits: Warbirds
Vehicles of War
USS Tang submarine experience
Laborde Services Gallery
What Should You Do?
Warbirds - building 5 Warbirds - building 5 Warbirds - building 5
Vehicles of War - building 5 Vehicles of War - building 5
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| USS Tang Submarine Experience - building 5 |
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| USS Tang Submarine Experience - building 5 |
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| USS Tang Submarine Experience - building 5 |
BUILDING #6
JOHN E KUSHNER RESTORATION PAVILION
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| John E Kushner Restoration Pavilion - building 5 |
Provides an up-close view of priceless WWII artifacts. You will be able to see firsthand an LCPL boat, LVT4 amphibious warfare vehicle, Howitzer, and other artifacts which played an important role in winning World War II. Previously, the pavilion was home to PT-305, a Higgins Industries PT boat restored by Museum volunteers over nearly a decade, which is now housed on Lake Pontchartrain. New to the pavilion is the STEM Innovation Gallery, which focuses on how problems were solved during World War II through ingenuity and innovation.
John Kushner Pavilion - building 5 John Kushner Pavilion - building 5 John Kushner Pavilion - building 5 John Kushner Pavilion - building 5
Exhibits: Bollinger Canopy of Peace (under construction)
Liberation Pavillion
Bollinger Canopy of Peace Architect Rendition - building 6
Liberation Pavilion - building 6 Liberation Pavilion - building 6
If you can only do 1 thing during your visit – DO THIS – purchase a ticket to see “Beyond All Boundaries” in the Solomon Victory Theater, building two.
Beyond All Boundaries is a 4D journey shown daily in the Solomon Victory Theater with hourly screenings starting at 10:00 am. Final showings are at 4:00 p.m.
The experience is preceded by a seven-minute pre-show, narrated by Tom Hanks.
Advance tickets are highly recommended and you should arrive 10 to 15 minutes prior to your scheduled seating time.
Elements
of Beyond All Boundaries
may aggravate certain medical conditions. These elements include loud noises,
flashing lights, fog effects, and sudden chair movements. Stationary seating is
available upon request.
The experience also contains images of a very graphic nature, including archival footage from the battlefields of World War II that may be too intense for younger viewers. Parental guidance is suggested.
This film was outstanding and I would encourage everyone to include this experience in your visit.
For further information contact The National World War II Museum at 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, phone 504-528-1944 or email: info@nationalww2museum.org
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