There is good reason the museum is the top tourist attraction in New Orleans. It masterfully brings to life WWII which is arguably the most significant event of the 20th Century and chronicles its terrors and triumphs for purposes of education. The museum and its captivating exhibits offer an informative tribute that honors America’s contributions and generosity to the war effort, featuring the unprecedented mobilization of its industrial base, providing free military aid to foreign nations, and memorializing the men and women who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. It also offers important insight into the efforts of the Allies who fought alongside America. The museum is housed in multiple expansive galleries filled with military war equipment, weapons, uniforms, artifacts, and much, much more. Unless visitors have a particular focus, say the war in Europe or the war in the Pacific, we suggest planning a better part of a day to visit the museum. Military and history enthusiasts may require more time. We are a Marine Corps military family. We spent six hours touring the museum, starting with the film Beyond All Boundaries narrated by Tom Hanks and ending with the European War gallery. The film is a “must see” regardless of the reasons you may visit the museum. The sound effects and stage props put viewers on the front line. The seats vibrate and rattle as tanks crash though obstacles, jolt back and forth as flak shells burst around American bombers on a bombing run over Germany, and snowflakes (small white bubbles) fall from the ceiling as American forces counterattack in the freezing cold and snow against German forces in the Battle of the Bulge. The film ends with the liberation of concentration camps in Germany and an elderly Holocaust survivor is carried away on an army field stretcher because he is too frail and weak to stand or walk. With tears in his old eyes he is seen grasping his hands in prayer and repeatedly murmuring “thank you, thank you, thank you” to the American soldiers carrying him from his prison. For us, the film underscores the pride and spirit we’ve always had for our military and country. The museum experience and education are priceless. We were so overwhelmed by the scope and size of the museum, we intentionally skipped the Pacific War gallery (where Marines predominately fought and died) to force us to return to the museum in the future, which we are already planning to do. A visit to the museum is worth every penny for admission and every minute of your time.
