The National WWII Museum is now open. Following Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards’ proclamation and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s safe reopening plan, the Museum will operate at reduced capacity while enacting new safety measures, including advance online ticket purchases, social distancing guidelines throughout pavilions and galleries, and enhanced sanitizing and cleaning protocols. The reopening will be particularly meaningful on Memorial Day as we honor our fallen military personnel who valiantly served our country.

To help ensure public safety and avoid crowds, timed ticket reservations will be required. It is strongly recommended that Patriots Circle Members reserve Museum admission online in advance. Tickets are now available for advanced reservation.

While we are grateful to reopen, our priority is the health and safety of our visitors, local community members and our entire Museum family. Over the past eight weeks, we’ve carefully developed reopening guidelines with the help of more than 20 national organizations, peer institutions across the state and country, the American Alliance of Museums and various local health experts. Our Operations staff have also worked hard to gather necessary safety supplies, including masks, gloves, plexiglass sneeze guards, touchless sanitizing stations and directional signage. These new procedures will ensure we’re meeting the highest public health standards, while maintaining the excellence of the Museum’s visitor experience. For more details on all our new procedures and enhanced cleaning protocols, click here.

The John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion, L.W. “Pete” Kent Train Car Experience, BB’s Stage Door Canteen, Final Mission: USS Tang Submarine Experience and The Jeri Nims Soda Shop will remain closed during the first phase of reopening. The Museum’s 4D experience Beyond All Boundaries will continue to run hourly at a reduced capacity and with theater doors, railings, seats, and armrests disinfected before each showing. The American Sector will open for counter service, and tables will be assembled so guests can eat at a proper distance.

The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center, which has remained open during the Museum’s closure, will continue to provide safe and convenient accommodations for campus visitors along with dining options at Rosie’s on the Roof and Provisions.

During the initial reopening phase, The National WWII Museum is asking campus visitors to adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Timed admission tickets are available now and should be secured online prior to arrival.
2. Please social distance when you are on the Museum’s campus—maintain a minimum distance of six feet from those outside your party. Look for markers indicating where to stand.
3. Museum galleries and exhibits will be capacity controlled. Once you have entered an exhibit, please continue forward in one direction. Do not walk back in the opposite direction.
4. We are requiring the use of face coverings for all staff, volunteers and visitors. Free masks will be available at the Museum entrance if you do not have one.
5. Hand sanitizer stations are positioned around campus. Please use them and the washing stations in our public restrooms.
6. Take the stairs if you can. Elevators are reserved for those who cannot take the stairs. Once inside the elevator, please stand as far apart as possible from others.
7. Oversized bags and luggage are not allowed in the Museum’s galleries. Coat and bag check are temporarily unavailable; please only bring smaller items you can carry around campus during your visit.
8. In accordance with official city guidelines, seniors and people with serious medical conditions should consider visiting us at a safer time, during a later phase of the city’s reopening.
9. If you are not feeling well, please enjoy our online content from home and plan to visit another day.

Current changes to your Member visit:

1. Your Patriots Circle Membership privileges and the number of allowed entrances will still depend on your current Membership level. However, you will need to secure a specific time slot in advance of your visit.
2. Any additional guests not covered under your Patriots Circle Membership will be required to purchase a timed ticket in advance as well. The Museum is offering free admission to medical professionals and first responders who helped make reopening possible, half-off admission to Louisiana residents on Mondays, and will again participate in the Blue Star Museums program by offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve. All three offers will run from reopening through Labor Day (Monday, September 7, 2020).
3. We highly recommend that you go online to secure your desired arrival time and date ahead of your visit. We cannot guarantee that your desired time slot will be available if you and your guests arrive at the Museum without pre-securing tickets ahead of time.
4. If you have any family members or friends who would like to become Charter or Patriots Circle Members, we encourage them to do so online ahead of their visit.
5. If you need to renew your Membership, we encourage you to do this online ahead of your visit as well.
6. You and your guests’ free admission to Beyond All Boundaries will still be available at a reduced capacity. However, you will need to secure a specific time slot for this experience in advance of your visit. Final Mission: USS Tang Submarine Experience will not be in operation during our initial phase of reopening.
7. When you arrive at the Museum, please proceed to the Member Check-in/Pre-Purchased Tickets counter in the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion. At that counter, you will present the email confirmation of your ticket reservation to receive your Member buttons, which you will need for your visit.
8. A stylus pen will be distributed upon check-in, which will allow you to interact with touchscreens throughout the campus, including your listing on our Honor Roll of Charter Members in the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion.

We certainly understand that these temporary changes will require some getting used to. Please feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions and visit the Plan Your Visit page on our website for additional information and updates to our procedures.

We greatly appreciate your continued support of The National WWII Museum, and we look forward to welcoming you soon.