The education team at The National WWII Museum is working to update this program. Operation Footlocker reservations will open again for the Fall 2023 semester. Check back then for more information!

Traveling Artifact Trunks

The National WWII Museum has launched Operation Footlocker, providing schools across the country with unique hands-on opportunities to explore the history and lessons of World War II by analyzing WWII artifacts. These traveling trunks are designed to supplement WWII education in the classroom.

Each footlocker comes loaded with about 15 actual artifacts from World War II (not reproductions!). Of course, no weapons or ammunition are included. But there are ration books, V-mail letters, dog tags, sand from the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima, wartime magazines, a high school yearbook from the early 1940s, and many other artifacts, both commonplace and surprising. Footlockers come complete with white cotton gloves for handling the artifacts and a teacher’s manual that describes each object and contains directions for conducting artifact “reading” sessions.

Because of the fragile nature of some artifacts, we recommend the program for grades 5-12 and beyond. Turn your students into history detectives as they ponder the origins and uses of these real pieces of WWII history!

Cost: $75

If needed, have your finance officer assign a vendor number to the Museum before your request. We are happy to provide any required information.

Footlockers will be shipped via UPS and will include a prepaid return shipping label.

Footlockers can be kept at your school for one week.

Download the Operation Footlocker Teacher Manual in pdf format.