NEW ORLEANS (April 4, 2018) – The National WWII Museum welcomed 100,592 visitors to its campus in March 2018, shattering the institution’s previous monthly record of 84,858 visitors set in March 2017. In addition to breaking its monthly visitation record, the Museum also experienced its highest volume of school group visitation in a single month with 9,350 students (K-12 and college) visiting the Museum on field trips from March 1 through 31. In all, The National WWII Museum has welcomed nearly 6.5 million visitors and more than 715,000 students since opening its doors on June 6, 2000.
“Surpassing 100,000 visitors in a single month is a major milestone for our institution – it speaks to the ongoing relevance of the Museum’s mission and the quality of visitor experience provided by our tireless staff and volunteers,” said Stephen J. Watson, Museum President & CEO. “We take great pride in welcoming guests from all over the world and sharing the epic story of World War II with them, and it’s especially gratifying to know that we’re impacting so many students. Reaching school children is key to keeping the lessons of World War II alive so that the sacrifices made by our servicemembers will never be forgotten.”
As one of the premier tourist destinations in the world, the Museum currently spans five pavilions featuring several permanent exhibits, including The Arsenal of Democracy: The Herman and George R. Brown Salute to the , Richard C. Adkerson & Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Road to Tokyo: Pacific Theater Galleries, The Duchossois Family Road to Berlin: European Theater Galleries and the institution’s original exhibit The D-Day Invasion of Normandy. In addition to visitation milestones achieved last month, the Museum also hosted a groundbreaking event for the Bollinger Canopy of Peace, a $14 million architectural structure that will unify the distinctive campus and become an iconic element on the New Orleans skyline.
Additional stages of the Museum’s expansion plan include The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center, an elegant property that will feature 230 guest rooms and more than 18,000 square feet of conference space to support the institution’s expanding visitation and educational programs; the Hall of Democracy pavilion, which will house academic and outreach programs as well as additional exhibit space; and the Liberation Pavilion, focusing on end-of-war and postwar experiences, as well as the war’s meaning for citizens today.
The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world – why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means – so that future generations will know the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National WWII Museum, it celebrates the American spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifices of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and served on the . The 2017 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards ranks the Museum No. 2 in the world and No. 2 in the nation. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit nationalww2museum.org.