National World War II Museum

Wednesday temps: High 58º, Low 52º

Today's temps: High 63º, Low 48º

Today we went to the National World War II Museum in down town New Orleans. Museum admission is $26 plus we paid an extra $5 to see the 4D cinematic experience Beyond All Boundaries. The 4D movie was very powerful. The two main exhibits are the Road to Berlin and the Road to Tokyo. Each one walking you through the war as it unfolded in the European and Pacific theaters. There was also a exhibit on the Nazi Propaganda and how it helped to promote the rise of Hitler to power. The lobbies are filled with many of the various vehicles, tanks and aircraft used in the war.

A few things struck me. One was the maps showing the extent of the of the Nazi and Japanese occupation at the height of the war and how insurmountable it must have looked to the Allies. The second was the horrendous loss of life.

We learned the museum is located in New Orleans because of Andrew Higgins. Higgins was the founder and owner of Higgins Industries, the New Orleans-based manufacturer of "Higgins boats" (LCVPs) during World War II. At the end of the war, more than ninety-six percent of US Navy ships were "Higgins boats" It is believed that the contribution of Higgins and his boats was instrumental in winning the war for the allies.