![\"National](\"http:\/\/burgersdogspizza.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/ww2-museum-150x150.jpg\")
Bring tissues.\u00a0 Lots of them.\u00a0 If you have any heart at all, you will cry at the National WWII Museum<\/a> in New Orleans.\u00a0 Odd, I lived in New Orleans, and never visited.\u00a0 It opened in June of 2000 at the “National D-Day Museum” conceived by two local scholars, Stephen E. Ambrose and Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, PhDs.<\/p>\nAn act of Congress in 2004 designated the facility as “America\u2019s National WWII Museum.”\u00a0 Comprised of exhibits detailing the operations in both the European and Pacific theaters, as well as related activity on the homefront, the museum is housed in multiple specially built structures, and the staging of the exhibits goes way beyond what most are used to seeing in historical museums, with lifesize dioramas, airplanes and vehicles, professionally made videos with historical coverage and much more.<\/p>\n
Inside the Campus<\/h3>\n
After paying your admission, you start your self-guided (guided are also available) tour by being handed a plastic card with a dog tag number on it.\u00a0 It’s a lot of ground to cover, but the museum is well planned, with benches, washrooms and water fountains throughout if you need a break.\u00a0 I’m personally not much of museum person (except for dinosaurs and science) and I spent over four hours there and could have easily extended the visit.<\/p>\n Need a break in the middle? Have a bite to eat or an adult beverage at the “American Sector” cafe, with a complete lunch and dinner menu<\/a> available.\u00a0 Local and traditional American favorites are available, sandwiches and entrees, as well as appetizers, salads and a brunch menu on weekends.\u00a0 Lighter fare and sweets area available at Jeri Nims Soda Shop<\/a>.\u00a0 BB’s Stage Door Canteen offers live music of the era on weekends (additional charge), as well as cuisine and beverages for a pre-dinner show if one is so inclined.<\/p>\n At New Orleans Lake Ponchartrain, book a ride on fully reserved PT Boat from WWII.\u00a0 Built in New Orleans by Higgins Industries, the patrol-torpedo (PT) boat PT-305 was a critical asset for the US Navy during World War II, serving in European waters from 1944 to the end of the war. The ship served many other uses after the war and was found festering in dry dock in Houston and acquired by the museum in 2007.\u00a0 Tours only are offered Wed, Thur, Fri, and Sun at various times.\u00a0 Rides are Saturdays only, children under 12 not permitted.\u00a0 Advance purchase of tickets<\/a> for rides is highly recommended.\u00a0 A short video on the restoration effort is below.<\/p>\n Besides buying admission tickets, there are lots of ways to financially support this worthy endeavor, including straight out donations, annual memberships, or sponsoring a “brick” to honor a loved one who served.\u00a0 Consider a gift to the museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"National](\"http:\/\/burgersdogspizza.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_20200309_0002-150x150.jpg\")
Each number represents the story of a single person from the war, including members of the allied and axis forces, POWs, internees in prison camps both overseas in the US.\u00a0 You can swipe your card at many stations throughout the museum to get updates on “your person,” and review it when at home at a special website, “The Dog Tag Experience<\/a>.”\u00a0 \u00a0Myh assigned person was Charlotte Weiss, a member of a Jewish family in Teresva, Czechoslovakia.<\/p>\nEats and Such<\/h3>\n
Off-Campus<\/h3>\n
Support<\/h3>\n