This extensive, heart-wrenching museum presents an admirably nuanced and thorough analysis of the biggest war of the 20th century. And its exhibits, which are displayed in three grand pavilions, are amazing. Wall-sized photographs capture the confusion of D-Day. Riveting oral histories tell remarkable stories of survival. A stroll through the snowy woods of Ardennes feels eerily cold. The experience is personal, immersive and educational. Don't miss it.
How did this fascinating place land in New Orleans, not Washington, DC? The reconstructed LCVP or ‘Higgins boat,’ on display in the Louisiana Pavilion, provides the link. Originally designed by local entrepreneur Andrew Jackson Higgins for commercial use on Louisiana’s bayous, these flat-bottomed amphibious landing craft moved tens of thousands of soldiers onto Normandy’s beaches during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.
The museum continues to open in several stages across three pavilions. The new Campaigns of Courage Pavilion spotlights the European and Pacific theaters. Inside, the new Road to Berlin galleries cover European battlefronts. A reconstructed Quonset hut – with a bombed-out roof – brings the air war powerfully close. The Road to Tokyo galleries, opening in December 2015, will highlight the Pacific theater. Visitors can personalize their explorations by registering for a dog tag, which connects them with the same WWII participant at various exhibits.
The Louisiana Memorial Pavilion covers D-Day in four galleries: The Home Front, Planning for D-Day, The D-Day Beaches and The D-Day Invasion in the Pacific. Don’t miss the German Enigma machine. A restored Boeing B-17 bomber is visible from catwalks in the US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center. Here you can join an immersive submarine experience inspired by the last patrol of the USS Tang .
Across the street, the movie Beyond all Boundaries takes a 4-D look at America’s involvement in the war on a 120ft-wide screen. Get ready for rumbling seats and a dusting of snowflakes!
