Destinations: Beyond Bourbon Street

Opened in 2000 and originally focused only on the D-Day invasion, the museum is now a six-acre world-class facility that tells the history of “the war that changed the world.” Congress has designated the museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, as the official World War II museum of the United States, and Trip Advisor has listed the museum as the number one attraction on its list of more than 300 things to do in New Orleans.

With the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of World War II being celebrated this year, the museum should attract even more attention.

The Big Easy might not seem the obvious location for a World War II museum, but two University of New Orleans history professors, including famed Band of Brothers author Stephen Ambrose, first championed the museum more than 40 years ago. The fact that by the end of the war Higgins Industries manufactured 20,000 Higgins boats in New Orleans was an additional connection.

Located only about a mile from the French Quarter in the historic Warehouse District of downtown New Orleans, the museum takes on the daunting challenge of telling the history of the war in the European and Pacific theaters, and on the home front. It documents the war and the price of freedom in a way that will be remembered for generations to come.

Several pavilions focus on different aspects of the war effort, and since it has been enlarged over the years, the layout can be a bit confusing. Some advance planning will make the museum easier to navigate.

Enough military aircraft are displayed overhead in a four-story aviation gallery to satisfy most warbird enthusiasts, but visitors are encouraged to look beyond airplanes, ships, and other war machines and learn about the worldwide conflict on a personal level.

With surviving members of the Greatest Generation now in their 90s and 100s, only a few World War II veterans are available to relate their war experiences in person. However, a unique feature of the museum allows visitors to select a soldier or sailor to follow through the war with an electronic dog tag that can be swiped at exhibits to access individual stories. Exhibits are packed with creative displays.

Lakefront Airport, which is only nine miles from the museum, juts out into Lake Pontchartrain and is served by two FBOs. With downtown parking at a premium, avoid renting a car if possible. Moored very close to Lakefront Airport is the world’s only fully restored combat veteran PT boat in operation today, the museum-owned PT-305. The boat is available for tours and rides on Lake Pontchartrain.

The historic art deco Lakefront Airport terminal building, opened in 1934, was originally used by the airlines when it was the main airport serving New Orleans. It has been restored since 2005, when Hurricane Katrina deposited four feet of water inside and even more on the field.

The larger Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, served by the airlines, is about 15 miles away from the museum, making Lakefront Airport the better choice if you plan to fly in yourself.

Tom Snow is a pilot and contributor to the AOPA Travel Pilot newsletter.