The newly renovated Malcolm S. Forbes Rare and Iconic Artifacts Gallery provides a new opportunity for the Museum to highlight hidden gems from its vast collection of more than a quarter of a million objects and a wealth of archival materials and oral histories—only a small percentage of which can be displayed at any one time.
With the support of the Timothy Forbes Family, the Forbes Gallery includes more than 50 artifacts—from the one-of-a-kind to the ever-present, the personal to the universal—that are symbolic of the WWII era. The objects on display give fascinating insight into different perspectives of the war effort and reveal the stories behind some of the most monumental events in World War II.
The gallery also features Voices from the Front, a new interactive experience made possible by the generous support from Margie and St. Denis J. “Sandy” Villere that allows guests to hold conversations with more than a dozen members of the WWII generation.
About Malcolm Forbes
Malcolm Forbes was the third son of Bertie Charles Forbes, a Scottish emigrant who founded the now-iconic Forbes magazine. He enlisted in the US Army in 1942 and, despite having an Ivy League education, served as a machine gunner with the 334th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, on the front lines in Europe. Forbes rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and received a Bronze Star for actions in Germany on November 26, 1944, when he observed and reported an unprotected gap that the enemy could exploit to encircle his battalion; he was also awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded in combat. Both medals are on display in the Malcolm S. Forbes Rare and Iconic Artifacts Gallery, along with other awards and Forbes’s war-weathered field jacket.
Voices from the Front
The Forbes Gallery houses Voices from the Front, a new interactive experience that allows guests to hold conversations with more than a dozen members of the WWII generation. Facilitated by artificial intelligence, museumgoers can personally engage with veterans, Home Front workers, and other witnesses to the war well into the future. Voices from the Front puts real faces to history, offering unique and intimate perspectives and bridging the gap between generations.
Made possible through generous support from Margie and St. Denis J. “Sandy” Villere
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
In World War II—the war that changed the world—freedom hung in the balance. Americans answered the call to protect that freedom with 16 million men and women serving in uniform and an untold number of citizens of all ages doing their part on the Home Front. In US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, we honor their contributions.
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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
The John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion will offer up-close looks at WWII macro-artifacts, including the Museum’s patrol torpedo boat, PT-305, which returned to campus in 2022. The Pavilion also houses the STEM Innovation Gallery, a vibrant educational space for students and teachers alike that shows how science, technology, engineering, and math contributed—and advanced—in World War II.
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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.
