15/01: National World War II Museum
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
It was raining this morning .... really raining. I took two dogs on a walk this morning and came back with two creatures that looked like drowned rats. Given the weather we decided that an indoor activity was in order and chose The National WWII Museum as our destination. It focuses on the contribution made by the United States to the victory by the allies in World War II and the Battle of Normandy in particular. You may think New Orleans is an odd place for a National World War II Museum, I know I did. The museum began as The National D-Day Museum (it was designated by the US Congress as "America's National World War II Museum" in 2003) focusing initially on the amphibious invasion of Normandy. The Higgins Boats vital to D-Day operations were designed, built and tested in New Orleans by Higgins Industries (see the connection now?)
One of the buildings had several planes hanging from the ceiling and military vehicles on the floor.
One of the exhibits is called Final Mission: The USS Tang Experience. The USS Tang sank 33 ships during it's short career. In this interactive exhibit, you became one of the crew manning a battle station. The sub comes across a supply convey of Japanese boats and attacks. Unfortunately, the last torpedo fired by the USS Tang made a circular run and hit and sunk itself.
Another special exhibit is Beyond All Boundaries a documentary narrated by executive producer Tom Hanks. The movie is advertised as 4-D --- the screen has some 3-D effects, objects appeared (like a guard tower) with film running behind them, your seat shook and it snowed bubbles. With the special effects you really felt like you were there in the trenches with the soldiers. Definitely worth the extra admission.
Walkways allowed you to walk above the planes hanging from the ceiling, allowing you to see the planes from a different perspective.
Harley-Davidson Corporation supplied a number of motorcycles that were used in the European campaign.
A look at other planes hanging from the ceiling.
One of the buildings had several planes hanging from the ceiling and military vehicles on the floor.
One of the exhibits is called Final Mission: The USS Tang Experience. The USS Tang sank 33 ships during it's short career. In this interactive exhibit, you became one of the crew manning a battle station. The sub comes across a supply convey of Japanese boats and attacks. Unfortunately, the last torpedo fired by the USS Tang made a circular run and hit and sunk itself.
Another special exhibit is Beyond All Boundaries a documentary narrated by executive producer Tom Hanks. The movie is advertised as 4-D --- the screen has some 3-D effects, objects appeared (like a guard tower) with film running behind them, your seat shook and it snowed bubbles. With the special effects you really felt like you were there in the trenches with the soldiers. Definitely worth the extra admission.
Walkways allowed you to walk above the planes hanging from the ceiling, allowing you to see the planes from a different perspective.
Harley-Davidson Corporation supplied a number of motorcycles that were used in the European campaign.
A look at other planes hanging from the ceiling.