The National WWII Museum

We stopped in New Orleans to see The National WWII museum. 

Driving a motor home in downtown NOLA is not something you want to do and parking is prohibitively expensive. The folks at the KOA campground told us of a place to park for free and how to access the St Charles street car to get downtown. This worked out great and is how we got downtown each of the three days we were there. 

The WWII museum is just a short walk from Lee Circle and the street car stop there.

You can see the Lee Circle monument from this view from the museum

The National WWII Museum is a constantly growing museum dealing with the various theaters of battle in WWII. The war in Europe as well as the Battle for the Pacific are well documented. They don't sugar coat the horrors of war and there are some VERY graphic images of death and destruction. Examples of a wide variety of aircraft and military vehicles are on display.

You enter and purchase tickets while being sheltered by a C47 transport aircraft with invasion stripe markings

The museum is in New Orleans because of the story of this landing craft

The museum is difficult to see in just one day. They offer a second day pass for just $6.00 which is money well spent

A beautifully restored Stuart tank was on display

The Boeing building houses a variety of WWII aircraft including a B17 named "My Gal Sal"

"My Gal Sal" never made it to Europe to fight in the war. While flying her from the factory to Europe her crew became lost over the North Pole and crash landed on the ice cap. They were later rescued, but the plane was left to the elements. Decades later it was found, removed from the ice and restored.

This image makes me think of my Uncle Don Wilson who was a waist gunner on a B17 during the war.

Exhibits of the various weapons used are on display

The timeline of the war is shown in various displays. This particular one covered the Battle of the Bulge

German BF-109 fighter aircraft

St Charles Streetcars

The RV campground in New Orleans told us that the best way get around downtown New Orleans in a motorhome is not to attempt it. They suggested we drive to a location called River Bend and park the RV next to the railyard across the street from Cooter Browns Tavern and pick up the St. Charles street car a block away and ride it downtown. This advice worked out very well and is how we got around for the three days we were there.

The St Charles line is comprised of antique streetcars from the early 1900's. These have been restored and are classics of streetcar design. You can purchase a "Jazzy" pass for $3.00 and ride as much as you want for the next 24 hours.

The streetcar travels thru the Garden district of New Orleans and offers a great sightseeing viewpoint of great architecture and fabulous homes. 

You can see our motorhome in the center of the image while we stand at the street car stop

They are very popular in the afternoon and one often has to wait for a streetcar with room