Unexpected in
New Orleans
The National
World War II
Museum
By Debi Lander
P
eople flock to New Orleans
to indulge in decadent food,
nightlife, music and fantasy.
Some are drawn to ghost and
cemetery tours, others by the
history and architecture of the
French Quarter. However, the
National World War II Museum is
perhaps the least likely attraction
you’d expect to find in New Orleans.
And, perhaps the best. No beads,
glitz or rolling good times - just
honest storytelling about a
horrifying war in the past. The WWII
museum is a world class institution,
one that deserves international
fame. You’ll find it in the Downtown
area just beyond the Pontchartrain
Expressway. I felt honored to have
spent a few a hours there. I suggest
you make it a full day.
My Dad fought in WWII, but today’s
Millennials have fewer connections
to the war and their children are far
110
removed. What is so important and
special about this particular museum
is the way it tells the story. They
th at t t hno o i in
and interactive displays in ways
that appeal to all generations. The
message is poignant and powerful:
the emotional tale of countless
struggles and lives lost battling for
freedom. Ye, the museum brings the
on i t to
in a ay that ro ot
understanding and appreciation.
ay r
n iron nt an
r t
person accounts, from the trenches
to the Home Front, read by Brad Pitt,
Tobey Maguire, Gary Sinise, Patricia
Clarkson, Wendell Pierce and others.
Enter the Solomon Victory Theater
to see Beyond All Boundaries, a 4D
journey through the war. Narrated by
Executive Producer Tom Hanks, the
experience is much more than sitting
back and watching a movie. The
a in ff t it ra y ha yo
in your seat, snow falls on your head
and a chill envelops your body. A
large wraparound screen shows
computer- generated imagery,
moving sets and scenery, multi-
The National WWII Museum in
r an r t o n on
June 6, 2000, as The National
D-Day Museum. Founded by historian
and author Stephen Ambrose, the
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
When the show ended, I had to
remain in my seat and compose
myself. If this presentation doesn’t
bring you to tears, I suspect nothing
will. I only wish everyone could
see it.
by what they learn.
n
on r
o ia y
designated New Orleans to be home
of America’s National WWII Museum.
Funding went through troubled
times, but numerous fund-raising
campaigns and corporate donations
a it o i
To ay yo
n an
array of buildings on the campus,