A key architectural feature that unites the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion with the Solomon Victory Theater complex, the Horatio Alger Association American Spirit Bridge, dedicated in January 2017, symbolizes US troops’ journey across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to battle and staging zones. The exterior design of the bridge reflects the architecture of the surrounding pavilions, which represents the chaos of war with its gray, trapezoidal panels and obtuse and acute structural angles. Additionally, the design of the bridge’s interior recalls the look of a troopship, allowing the Museum to continue to immerse the visitor in the WWII experience. In addition to spanning Andrew Higgins Boulevard to link the two sides of the Museum campus, the bridge also plays a key role in the Museum’s WWII narrative for visitors, which begins in the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion at the Union Pacific Foundation Train Car and moves on to The Arsenal of Democracy: The Herman and George R. Brown Salute to the Home Front. The soundscape heard as visitors travel across the bridge from the pavilion to the Solomon Victory Theater complex is a prelude to the Ralph E. Crump, LTJG, USNR, US Merchant Marine Gallery, which explores how the matériel manufactured on the Home Front traveled to the far-flung theaters of war, which visitors experience in Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters. Visitors are then introduced to Beyond All Boundaries, the exclusive 4D experience that tells the epic story of World War II, followed by the 1940s-era entertainment in BB’s Stage Door Canteen, the warbirds of US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, and more.
The Horatio Alger Association American Spirit Bridge also represents the connection the association shares with the Museum—working to celebrate the American spirit, and honor individuals for their bravery and determination.
Future exterior projects on the Museum's campus will include the Bollinger Canopy of Peace, an architectural structure that will rise 150 feet above Founders Plaza and span the entire campus. Construction on the Canopy will begin in 2017 and conclude in 2018.
Museum Campus
Explore The Campus
Museum Campus Guide-
Louisiana Memorial Pavilion
The Louisiana Memorial Pavilion exhibits take visitors into the monumental efforts on the Home Front and to the beaches of Normandy—focusing on the thousands of men and women who made Allied victory in World War II possible.
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Campaigns of Courage
In a war where the terrain was as deadly as the enemy, this pavilion tells the story of American servicemembers abroad—and how they overcame unprecedented challenges on multiple fronts to win victory in World War II. In over 19,000 square feet of exhibit space, two extraordinary exhibitions bring visitors inside the epic story of the war in its most infamous settings, bringing to life jungles, beaches, mountains, and oceans in 19 immersive galleries.
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Solomon Victory Theater
The Solomon Victory Theater is home to Beyond All Boundaries, a 4D cinematic experience produced exclusively for The National WWII Museum by Tom Hanks—who narrates the film—and Phil Hettema.
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Hall of Democracy
The Hall of Democracy represents the center of the Museum’s expanding educational outreach initiatives—providing a space that will enable the institution to share its collections, oral histories, research, and expertise with audiences across the world.
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US Freedom Pavilion
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The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center
The official Hotel of The National WWII Museum, this stunning art-deco style property offers first-class accommodations, meeting spaces, and dining options providing a sophisticated lodging experience for guests.
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John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion
Now open, the John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion offers up-close looks at WWII macro-artifacts, including the Museum’s patrol torpedo boat, PT-305, which returned to her permanent home on campus in 2022. Museum visitors can observe the fully restored vessel from the Lester and Beverly Wainer PT-305 Viewing Terrace and learn of her wartime crew and tours of duty. The Pavilion also houses the STEM Innovation Gallery, an educational space that gives visitors the opportunity to engage in tactile learning and exploration.
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Founders Plaza
Founders Plaza creates an impressive entryway to the Museum campus, safe passage for Museum guests, and a pleasant setting for rest and reflection as part of the visitor experience.
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Bollinger Canopy of Peace
The soaring Bollinger Canopy of Peace, set to stand 150 feet tall, will unify the Museum's diverse campus and establish the Museum as a fixture on the New Orleans skyline.
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Liberation Pavilion
Three building levels will explore the closing months of the war and immediate postwar years, concluding with an explanation of links to our lives today.
