World War 2 Museum in New Orleans

Visiting the World War II Museum is an activity that you should not miss if you are in New Orleans; it is a direct access to all the experiences that the recruits lived during their service in the war. It also shows the origin, progress and end of what has been one of the most important war conflicts in the history of the world. Make this one of the essential activities to do in New Orleans.

The best option

New Orleans The National WWII Museum

Buy your ticket to discover on your own the experiences of World War II.

Enter this journey into the past that lets you know the true price of freedom.

From $38 at Hellotickets

With general admission to the World War II Museum you can start your tour and visit each of the pavilions that make up the museum at your own pace. You decide how much time you want to spend to get to know the scenes of the war inside the museum.

Don't worry about not having a guide. Here you have all the necessary information about the activities and experiences offered by the museum, so you make sure you are not missing any of them.

Recommended if... you want to enjoy the experience to the fullest and see everything the WWII Museum has to show you, without rushing or rushing.

On the Hellotickets website you can book online tickets to the National Museum of World War II with an approximate price of 28 euros although it may vary depending on age and some other conditions that allow you to opt for special rates:

• Seniors over 65 years: tickets from 25 €.
• Students with university ID: tickets from 18 €.
• Military (veterans, retired or active): tickets from 18 €.
• Veterans of World War II: completely free tickets

Tickets to access the National WWII Museum are included in the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass. There are two New Orleans Sightseeing Pass options, Day Pass and Flex Pass; both options include museum admission. The option you choose will depend on the number of activities you want to do in the city.

The main advantage of these tourist passes is that they allow access to a greater number of attractions and recreational activities in New Orleans. It is also a more economical option. But if your interest is specifically this visit to the museum, Hellotickets will always be your best ally.

If you are traveling to New Orleans with children, don't think that visiting a museum is exclusively for adults. Even one that tells the story of what happened throughout history can be of interest to children, as long as it is adapted, of course, to the language of the kids and makes them learn while having fun. That's why the National World War II Museum in New Orleans offers two special admission options for children:

• Grades K-12: special tickets starting at €18.
• Children under 5 years old: special tickets are free of charge

On the other hand, what better plan for the whole family if you are traveling to New Orleans during the cold winter?

The museum is located in an easily accessible area of New Orleans. You can get there either by bus or by using the streetcar. Please note that the streetcar, while a more convenient option, will take you farther from the museum than the bus. The bus stop closest to the museum is only two blocks away, while the distance from the streetcar station to the museum is almost five blocks.

Its location is very close to Harmony Circle, one of the most popular historical and tourist attractions in New Orleans. It is also surrounded by three other museums that will serve to further collect moments of cultural and artistic enrichment. Just one mile from the famous French Quarter, an iconic part of the city that you can't miss.

The time you may need to take a look at the National WWII Museum is approximately 2 hours. That would be the regular time for a visit that does not include in the itinerary watching the 4D movie that they show in the Victory of Solomon Theater. However, if you want to enjoy this kind of attractions that the museum has to offer, it is likely that your visit could extend up to 4 hours. But don't worry, I assure you that every minute you spend discovering the scenes of war will be worth it.

In any case, whether you have three days to visit New Orleans or if you have four days in the city, this museum is a must.

The National World War II Museum opens its doors to the public beginning at 9:00 a.m. and remains open throughout the day. Closing time is 5:00 p.m., offering visitors 8 hours of entertainment and historical enrichment each day.

The Louisiana Memorial Pavilion offers visitors the recreation of a 1940s-inspired train station in honor of Leroy Wayne "Pete" Kent. There is no better way to begin your journey on this adventure into World War II.

This introduction is the most fitting for visitors as they begin the Museum experience as if they were new recruits heading off to be part of World War II. The more you identify with the experiences of the soldiers in the army, the more you will understand the true meaning of being free today, and all that the world paid to be free.

The permanent display at the Arsenal of Democracy is designed to tell visitors how the effort and unity of American citizens were the building blocks for victory on the Home Front. This exhibit will serve to bring you closer to the patriotic sentiment that emerged during the war. The desire to participate increased in the population, to such an extent that there were huge queues for enlistment. If you don't want to miss a single detail, you can buy a guided tour of the Arsenal of Democracy.

A multimedia projection tells the story of the commitment shown by the Brown brothers during the war. The engineers who, through their company, accepted the challenge of massively building part of the war arsenal, composed of patrol boats and destroyer escorts. They had never built a ship before the conflict, but that was no obstacle for them. In their efforts to contribute, they went on to build more than 300 warships.

The third floor of the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion contains the display of the weapons and uniforms of the German equipment faced by the crewmen and soldiers who participated in the invasion of Normandy. The beginning of Operation Overlord, also called Operation Neptune, marked the beginning of the European liberation from Nazi occupation.

The D-Day exhibit displays the ships used in the amphibious assault that took place simultaneously on Hitler's Atlantic Wall; five beaches key to the reduction of Nazi control over Europe. A section of the museum not to be missed for anything.

One of the most acclaimed activities at the National WWII Museum is Beyond all Boundaries, the 4D projection narrated by Tom Hanks. The film unfolds as the special effects and chair movement are activated; it creates such a real sense of the moment that you can feel like you are part of the war.

The screenings begin at 10 am and run until 4 pm. To access it you will have to buy a ticket at the box office, this performance is not included in the general admission but will be worth a look. It is an experience that can be a little loud because of its high sound effects, you should take precautions if you go with very young children.

The gallery honoring the work of the merchant marines uses audiovisual content to show museum visitors some images of the crew that risked their lives to confront the latent threat of the Japanese. Their contribution, working hand in hand with the warships, guaranteed the protection of the cargo throughout the Pacific and Atlantic crossings, being a key piece in the defense of the German attacks suffered when approaching the Gulf of Mexico.

You probably remember what happened with the Japanese and Pearl Harbor. Japan pretended to be in peace agreements with the United States while devising a surprise attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base. An action that aroused the fury of the American people and produced a desire for revenge that would go beyond any obstacle. The distance between the countries did not stop the counterattack that marked the decisive point that turned the course of the war upside down.

One of the events that took place during World War II and that generated great repercussions throughout its development. It triggered an imminent response from the United States, which was not only attacked by Japan, but Germany and Italy declared war as well. One cannot avoid mentioning this fact every time the war is mentioned. In this exhibition you will feel part of the pilots sent to avenge the Japanese betrayal.

The Campaigns of Courage building shows the grim reality of the sacrifice that millions of American patriots had to make to fight against the enemy Axis powers. With audiovisual and interactive material it recreates part of the drama and personal stories of the American soldiers during the war.

Those who have seen this exhibit know the obstacles that the military went through and all they had to do to survive and win the war; frozen roads, bombs destroying roofs of houses, landscapes with audios that give a touch of realism to the projection.

The Hall of Democracy contains a special exhibit that displays artifacts, videos and significant discoveries about World War II that are not available in any of the other buildings that make up the museum. It also probes in depth some aspects noted in other pavilions. It was created to encourage repeat visits by tourists. With intermittent demonstrations that increase curiosity and the desire to return to the museum.

Noeli's Traveller Tip

If you visit the National WWII Museum again within 7 days of your first visit, admission can cost as little as 7 €.

The George Bush tribute gallery is located in the Freedom Pavilion of the museum and has a huge number of warplanes on display. It should be emphasized that Lieutenant Bush was the youngest pilot at the time, inspiring new generations with his achievements.

Entering the submarine USS Tang will take you back to 1944, when her last wartime patrol took place. An experience of another level where you will be subjected to another amazing scenario that tested the courage and bravery of many sailors. Just imagining what it must have felt like to be there in the middle of such a huge military conflict, makes you admire the daring of those who dared to be in those circumstances.

Being inside a submarine in the middle of the war meant risking a lot, because in that scenario you were completely susceptible to enemy attacks. The Marines had to perfect their defense mechanisms and develop new submarine warfare techniques. The USS Wahoo was one of the submarines that initiated maritime combat techniques, led by officer Richard O'Kane. Later, these techniques were applied by the USS Tang.

During the war, several vehicles were used to transport soldiers from one battlefield to another; in the case of the wounded, the ambulance took them from the conflict zone to the camps in an attempt to save their lives. Getting the soldiers there in time was often the deciding factor in whether they lived or died in the battle. The vehicles on display at the National World War II Museum are:

• Dodge Ambulance
• Landing Vehicle
• Sherman Tank
• Stuardo Tank
• Half-track

The National WWII Museum puts its visitors to the test with an interactive activity called What would you do...? It is designed for a simultaneous participation of 36 people. It is a kind of quiz that exposes you to the decisions that a person in the midst of wartime conflict might face. The dynamic is strategically created to ask ethical and moral questions that expose the decision-making capacity of those who participate. The best way to put yourself in the shoes of a war soldier.

Museums are not the only source of historical knowledge that New Orleans offers its visitors. It also offers Plantation escapades and tours, which date back many years and offer a unique tour, filled with stories of families who worked for years on the Plantations as slaves. Be sure to go to at least one of the Plantations, you won't regret it.

You can also sign up for one of the Best Swamp Tours in New Orleans where you will get an inside look at the city's Creole roots. Undoubtedly, one of the top 10 guided tours of the city.

But another essential of New Orleans is to know the gruesome stories that hide its streets with the typical ghost tours in New Orleans or the New Orleans Cemetery Tours.