National World War II Museum in New Orleans

As a fan of World War II history, I was excited to visit the National World War II Museum during a business trip to New Orleans. After spending a few hours exploring the history, personal stories and artifacts, I want to bring my family to the Big Easy just so my kids could experience it, too.

Everyone should visit the National WWII Museum and hear the personal accounts from servicemen and women throughout the world. It’s more meaningful than anything you’ll get out of a textbook.

Here’s what you can expect at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.

Why is there a World War II museum in New Orleans? Great question. The Higgins Boat, which was the boat used for amphibous landings like D-Day, was designed, built and tested in New Orleans. As a result, a national D-Day museum opened in 2000. Over time, the museum has grown to what it is today.

Getting to Know the National World War II Museum

The earlier in the day you can start your visit to the National WWII Museum the better. There is so much to see, and you don’t want to run out of time.

Start in the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion Atrium. Here’s how you should begin your experience.

• The Main Lobby: After picking up your tickets, hop on the train car and feel it heading down the tracks. Listen to some personal accounts and a great introduction to the museum. If you haven’t looked at the artillery gun, motorcycle or Higgins Boat, you may want to explore that while you’re in the lobby. And don’t miss the planes overhead.
• Dog Tags: Be sure to grab and activate a Dog Tag card. You choose a serviceman or servicewoman when you register your card. Throughout the museum, tap your card and pick up the receiver to listen to the story of who you selected in that portion of the war.
• Operation Overlord – D-Day Invasion Exhibits: Get a sense of what June 6, 1944, was all about. As you walk through the exhibit, you’ll see weapons, videos, and even walk-throughs of the largest military invasion. Take your time in this exhibit – there’s a ton to see.
• Arsenal of Democracy: While the war was raging across Europe, Africa and the Pacific, there was a different kind of war going on at home. See how the events around the world impacted the United States and led it to declare war. From the assembly line to the newsstands, Americans were impacted, but stepped up to the challenge.

Campaigns of Courage: The European and Pacific Fronts

My grandpa, Leo Carlton, was a WWII co-pilot based in Italy. He flew B-24s and was shot down over Germany during his 10th mission. His plane landed safely in Germany, less than a 1/2 mile from the Swiss border and he and his crew became prisoners of war (POWs). His story is something I treasure.

That’s probably why I was really excited to walk through The Road to Berlin exhibit.

In the Campaigns of Courage exhibit, hear personal accounts of those on both fronts of the war, while walking The Road to Berlin and The Road to Tokyo.

The Road to Berlin: Starting with the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, Allied troops fought one battle after another. Eventually, they arrived in Berlin and the war on the European front came to an end. Germany Surrenders!

The Road to Tokyo: The attack on Pearl Harbor brought America into the war. It was a long a hard-fought battle from island to island across the pacific. In time, the war on the Pacific front came to an end, bringing World War II to an end.

Beyond All Boundaries: The 4-D Film Experience

I hope everyone gets the chance to see the Beyond All Boundaries film. It’s narrated by Tom Hanks (my factor actor, by the way). The 30-minute experience plays every hour, with a seven-minute introduction preceding the film.

Tickets for Beyond All Boundaries go quickly and are NOT included in the general admission ticket. But it’s worth buying the $7 ticket. The earlier in the day you can book your ticket for the show later in the day, the better.

After the seven-minute intro, you enter the theater and wait for the presentation to begin.

At one point during the presentation, it starts snowing in the theater. There’s also the sound of gunfire, flashes of light and more. So just be ready for an experience as opposed to simply watching a short film.

The Boeing Center and the USS Tang’s Final Mission Experience

Since my grandpa flew B-24s, I was excited to see the plans on display in the Boeing Center. A fuselage from a B-24 was on the ground floor. A B-25 (looked pretty similar to a B-24) hung from the rafters.

Also on the first floor is the USS Tang’s Final Mission experience. The experience is not included in general admission, so he’s a little of what you can expect if you decide to buy a $7 ticket.

When you arrive in the Boeing Center, head to the ticket desk about 10 minutes before your start time. You will receive a card assigning you to the controls of the submarine, the USS Tang. I was assigned to fire the torpedos.

Once inside the exhibit, find your assigned area and be ready for orders. During the experience, you’ll see flashing lights, and be in the dark at times as well. Watch the screen overhead to see what’s going on above the surface during the battles.

Be sure to explore the upper floors of the Boeing Center. There are small rooms to listen to oral histories. There are uniforms of the various branches of the military. One floor up, you can get a little closer to the planes hanging in the rafters. Each plane even has a touch screen nearby so you can take a virtual tour inside the cockpit and learn more about the planes.

The Details

Address: 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Cost: General admission tickets are $28 for adults, $24 for seniors (65+) and $18 for student and military (with ID). WWII Veterans are free. Beyond All Boundaries and the USS Tang Final Mission Experience are an additional $7 each, per person.

Hours: The National World War II Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s closed on Mardi Gras, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day.

Website: https://www.nationalww2museum.org

Phone: (504) 528-1944

Disclosure: I received two complimentary admissions to The National World War II Museum in New Orleans for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

Looking for other things to do in New Orleans? Check out the Haunted History Tours.

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