It’s no surprise to those who visit the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, that it’s the city’s most popular tourist attraction. Located on Magazine Street in the city’s Warehouse District, the museum is easily walkable from various other attractions and shopping options.
[Note that I received a free travel writer/agent pass to visit this museum.]
What’s at The National World War II Museum?
The National WWII Museum is made up of a number of levels and buildings. In fact, there are six buildings, starting with number 1, at the main entrance off of Andrew Higgins Blvd.
As you might expect with such a popular attraction, you can purchase tickets online before you enter in order to bypass the long lineups.
What Pass Package Do I Need?
While I had a travel writer/agent pass to the museum, the parts I covered are included in the Museum Campus Pass Admission Only. It doesn’t include the special exhibits, vaults, or guided tours.
With so much ground to cover, many people may find visiting too much for one day, so there’s an inexpensive Second Day Pass available.
What Do You See In The Museum Campus Pass?
The Dog Tag Experience is the recommended way to immerse yourself in history. It’s easy. Just pull a dog tag from one of the interactive stations throughout the museum.
Then, step into the L.W. “Pete” Kent Train Car Experience to have a real-life story assigned to you. As you go through the museum, you’ll be able to check in at the Dog Tag Stations to learn more about the person whose real story you’re following.
So, you can go through the buildings in order if you like, as there’s a natural flow to them.
- Louisiana Memorial Pavilion – start with the Arsenal of Democracy exhibit
- Solomon Victory Theater – this is an exclusive 4D experience that runs periodically through the day that requires additional tickets
- Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters
- Hall of Democracy
- US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center
- John. E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion (may be closed when you visit)
Fast Fact: Altogether, the museum takes you to 27 countries around the world, covering all the theaters of World War II. You’ll find lots of live footage at various displays, so you can see and hear what was actually said.
Many images have been blown up to provide backdrops and information, plus there are numerous artifacts throughout. There’s also an exciting entertainment and dining option with BB’s Stage Door Canteen (requires additional tickets).
According to the WWII Museum, 15 million people died in battle, 25 million were wounded, and 45 million civilians died as a result of the war. They note that these numbers vary widely with different sources, so the number of civilian deaths in China alone may be as high as 50 million. No one’s ancestors were untouched by death or loss.
How Long Does It Take To Tour The WW2 Museum In New Orleans?
Fast Fact: With nearly 20,000 square feet of exhibit space, it takes awhile to tour the WWII Museum in New Orleans! I had limited time, so only spent about half a day, which meant I ran through the exhibits.
For those who don’t want to watch videos or do the dog tag experience, it will take a minimum of 5 – 6 hours with just the basic ticket. This is the type of museum collection you can visit again and again and still take away new insights and information.
Linda’s Pick of the Displays
I particularly enjoyed The Arsenal of Democracy: The Herman and George R. Brown Salute to the Home Front. This exhibit is in Building No. 1 (Louisiana Memorial Pavilion) and consists of nine galleries that allow visitors to experience many insights into the history of WWII.
The National WWII Museum isn’t just information about the theaters of the war, rather it makes use of personal narratives, artifacts, and environments to highlight life in America during this period too.
The posters and newspapers of the time were particularly intriguing for me. Together, they’re a persuasive look at how the US government and media took the war to the people — the men and women who then signed up to defend our rights and freedoms.
For example:
- 150,000 women were in WAC (Women’s Army Corps)
- 88,000 in WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service)
- 59,000 Army Nurse Corps
- 20,000 in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve
- 13,000 in the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve
- 11,000 in the Navy Nurse Corps
- 1,000 WASPs (Women’s Airforce Service Pilots).
Then, of course, there were 5,304 merchant vessels built by US shipyards during WWII, and 268,252,000 lon gtons of cargo transported during the war. The Manhattan Project, the AlCan (Alaska) Highway, and the manufacturing required to wage a war, were also highlighted.
Linda’s Road Trip Tips
I visited this museum after the TBEX travel writer’s conference in Lafayette. From New Orleans I took the City of New Orleans train to Chicago, Illinois, then the Empire Builder train to Williston, North Dakota.
The WW2 Museum is in the Central Business District of New Orleans, but I stayed in the Garden District at an historic mansion — the Magnolia Mansion.
It was all right, although the decor of the room I had wasn’t comparable to the beautiful lobby! However, it was also walkable (1 mile) to the museum and moderately priced.
The museum was a short walk (.8 of a mile) to the New Orleans Amtrak Station, so very convenient. The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art are on the way to the Amtrak Station, if you’re interested in more attractions.
Who Should Visit The National WWII Museum?
It’s a given that anyone interested in WWII history will find the museum fascinating. However, it’s also one of those museums that’s significant in developing our understanding of the past in an effort to create a better future.
Indeed, it’s important that even those who aren’t really interested in history go through the museum to get an understanding of the impact of the war. So many things we see today, both negative and positive, have come through this shared global history.
How Do You Visit the National WW2 Museum of New Orleans?
The National WWII Museum is lcoated at 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA.
The National WWII Museum on the Web.
Days & Hours – Open year round except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Mardi Gras Day, and Thanksgiving.
Plan your visit to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans with Google maps.
Watch National WWII Museum videos on YouTube.
Read More Louisiana Museum Reviews
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- Incredible WWII Museum in Minnesota
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- Massive WWII Museum Collection in New Orleans
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