National World War II Museum, Museum Store Entrance, Solomon Victory Theatre. This building houses 2 gift shops, the American Sector Restaurant, and the Stagedoor Canteen Theatre. Photo by Nolabob – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about the National World War II Museum, New Orleans


 

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in 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.

Additionally, The US National World War II Museum in New Orleans tells the story of the war, focusing particularly on amphibious attacks. Using a combination of artifacts, photos, documents, information panels, stories, and films, the National World War II Museum looks at everything from the Pacific to the African and European theatres.

1. The National World War II was formerly known as National D-Day Museum

National World War II Museum New Orleans Exterior August 2012. Photo by Creative Commons – Wikimedia Commons

Formerly known as National D-Day Museum, the collection commemorates the battles of Normandy and World War Two.

 In Stephen Ambrose’s D-Day, June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II, he writes, “Time magazine reported on June 12, 1944, that “as far as the U.S. Army can determine, the first use of D for Day, H for Hour was in Field Order No. 8, of the First Army, A.E.F., issued on September 20, 1918, which read, ‘The First Army will attack at H-Hour on D-Day with the object of forcing the evacuation of the St. Mihiel salient.'” (p. 491)

In other words, the D in D-Day merely stands for Day. This coded designation was used for the day of any important invasion or military operation.

For military planners (and later historians), the days before and after a D-Day were indicated using plus and minus signs: D-4 meant four days before a D-Day, while D+7 meant seven days after a D-Day.

2. The Museum’s star piece is the Higgins Boat

Stage Door Canteen at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana USA. Photo by Nolabob – Wikimedia Commons

The Higgins Boat is the Museum’s star piece. The iconic amphibious warfare boat was used to deliver Allied troops onto the beaches of Normandy (and subsequently featured in any number of Hollywood productions).

The Higgins Boat was designed and built in New Orleans, hence the city being chosen for the museum to be established.

3. The museum got its current name – National World War II Museum in 2006

Entrance to the National WWII Museum New Orleans Dec 2015. Photo by Creative Commons – Wikimedia Commons

The museum got its current name in 2006 after an act of Congress two years prior officially designated the museum as “America’s National World War II Museum,” formalized an affiliation with the Smithsonian, and slightly widened its scope.

4. The Museum lies on a 6-acre land and is divided into various sections

The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo by Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States – Wikimedia Commons

Spread over 6 acres, the museum is divided into different sections that show different aspects of the war.

That is from the home front in ‘The Arsenal of Democracy’ to ‘The Road to Tokyo’, which tells the story of the war in the Pacific.

5. Its focus is on military history although it reflects on the years before World War II in the US History

Model of the USS Magoffin at National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. The photo was taken in October 2019  by Dwkaminski – Wikimedia Commons

The museum retains its focus on military history, although it skips ahead two years into the war. This is particularly to focus exclusively on the United States’ involvement via immersive, high-production exhibitions.

Amongst its main attractions, the National World War II Museum has a fully restored C47 plane, a PT 305 boat, and a Sherman tank.

6. The main exhibits at the National World War II Museum are divided into different sections

TBF Avenger (foreground) and B-17E (My Gal Sal) at the National World War II Museum (Freedom Pavilion) in New Orleans, Louisiana. The photo was taken by Nolabob – Wikimedia Commons

The main exhibits at the National World War II Museum are divided into the Home Front, planning for the D-Day beaches, and a range of Pacific invasions. It is said that the National World War II Museum is the only one to deal with all such operations.

7. The Museum is located in New Orleans’s Historic Warehouse District

National WWII Museum Dec 2015 – D-Day. The photo was taken by Creative Commons – Wikimedia Commons

The Museum is located in New Orleans’s Historic Warehouse District on Andrew Higgins Drive between Magazine and Camp Streets.

Andrew Jackson Higgins and the 30,000 Louisiana workers of Higgins Industries designed, built, and tested 20,000 Higgins boats in southeastern Louisiana during the war.

Dwight Eisenhower once claimed that Higgins was “the man who won the war for us.”

Why New Orleans? , One may ask. New Orleans is home to the LCVP, or Higgins boat, the landing craft that brought US soldiers to shore in every major amphibious assault of World War II. 

8. There is ample parking in the National World War II Museum

Walking around the National WWII Museum New Orleans Dec 2015. Photo by Creative Commons – Wikimedia Commons

The Museum’s paid parking garage is located at 1024 Magazine Street on the left side. Parking is available at the Museum’s new multilevel parking garage, located at the corner of Magazine and Poeyfarre Streets.

9. The National WWII Museum is the top-rated tourist destination in New Orleans

M4A3 tank at the National World War II Museum, New Orleans. Sherman tank Draftee. The photo was taken by Lynn F – Wikimedia Commons

The National WWII Museum is the top-rated tourist destination in New Orleans and falls number 2 among the top tourist attraction sites in the U.S

It is also an unforgettable way to experience World War II—from industrial efforts on the home front to the combat experience of the American service member abroad.

It offers a compelling blend of sweeping narrative and poignant personal detail.

10. Other great things to see while in the National World War II Museum include immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts 

National WWII Museum Dec 2015 – A vertical view. Photo by Creative Commons – Wikimedia Commons

The Museum features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories to take visitors inside the story of the war.

The Museum unleashes the story of why World War II was fought, how it was won, and what it means today. Beyond the galleries, the Museum offers unique access to experiential history, including an opportunity to tour and ride on an authentically restored PT-boat, and tours behind the scenes to handle artifacts alongside Museum curators.

One also gets to see an impressive collection of restored and working macro-artifacts to discover. The Museum is always open early from 8:30 a.m.-to 5:00 p.m.

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