2000 New Orleans opens National D-Day Museum By K. PICA KAHN New Orleans Correspondent World War II was a time filled with agony, with strife and with stories. Many of these stories are now preserved in the new New Orleans National D-Day Museum. Electronic maps, mini-theaters, photomurals, text panels and reproductions of artifacts from the war will be shown in the museum's four interactive galleries.
Visitors can listen to personal accounts and stories of wartime experiences.
In the Warehouse Arts District of New Orleans, the museum houses two World War II planes, a Sherman tank, a German staff car, a concrete sentry box, weapons, uniforms and other items from the war. Historian Stephen Ambrose is the central figure in the creation of the museum. The biggest military parade the U.S. has experienced in 40 years was scheduled to roll through the city for an audience of honored veterans and a host of celebrities. Activities were scheduled Saturday, June 3, culminating in a celebration at the New Orleans Arena June 5. In 1994, McDermott Inc. made a contribution which enabled the Museum to purchase the collection from the Muse de la Libration in St. Lo, France.