More Than A Museum, An Experience.
The first thing I saw, this is from a table about the stuff you got when you were drafted. This hit me like a ton of bricks. My Fathers Boots.
My Fathers WW2 Boots, from an earlier story
I made it, after years of wanting to go, I went to the WW2 Museum in New Orleans. First off, this could be a two days, not two hours. But, it’s how I process things. When I go to boat shows I do a once over and then go deep. Like really deep on things. It’s sensory overload to dive deep at the start, and the WW2 Museum could trigger that right away. There is a ton of depth, and meaning that one feels.
SHUT THE F UP!
The Boatress and I did the tour together and had two completely different experience’s. For her it was very informative and eye opening on how wide and huge this war was. For me, who is obsessed with WW2 documentaries and being in deep on the Pre war, post war thing, was not as informed, but was fascinated by the stuff. To see much of it in full dimension. To be in the presence of a real artifact can be quite moving. So to feel that was powerful, and worth a more in depth visit. Like I said, one could easily spend days there.
Jeep Manufacturing
The room is veery cool and captures a feeling
Jeeps are a reoccurring thing throughout the museum
And guns, lots of guns, small ones, medium ones, ong ones, short ones and large ones
I had the good fortune as a kid to grow up near major museums, in Germany, France and in Washington DC. I would ride my bike, yes a Gitane 10 speed to the Smithsonian. And spend the day. So Museums are not new to me, but there is a trend to have people experience the museum. To tour through it all, in an entertainment sort of way. The Spy Museum is that way. The WW2 Museum is more like that, than the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian is more pure, less entertainment, and more about the purity of the artifact. Both ways are powerful.
Dog tag machine
The most powerful aspect of the WW2 Museum is how overwhelming the War was, and how it touched every part of life. And the museum captures that big time. From a kitchen at home during the time, to the end of it all and its ramifications. I suppose in a way, there is something there for everyone, because everyone has a connection to this horrible war.
I was very happy to see some of the uniforms and how people personalized them. No fancy screen printing, or stitching, just hand drawn
Some amazing aircraft
Insane – There is a Nose of one of these to walk through, as well as a Submarine. You feel that for sure. YIKES.
I was surprised by the age of the crowed there. Younger, 20-30 year olds. Mmmmm somehow the museum got more young people involved…. Maybe they are doing something right. Maybe it’s not just about the artifacts, but the experience. Feeling it, rather than seeing it. Like someone told me at Lake Dora this year when I said it was nice to see you. The reply, “It’s better to be seen than viewed”. And maybe that sums it all up about Museums are our small little slice of history in the Woody Boat community. More seen, less viewed.
Kilroy was here.
HERE is a link to the story on my Fathers Boots.
If I ever get back there I will go through that museum. I know I will enjoy the experience and feel a part of my Dad and two uncles that are there in spirit. God bless that generation!
If you are ever in central Ohio, a trip to the Motts Military Museum in Groveport is an amazing private museum created by Warren Motts who still is present. The museum begins with the Revolutionary War and continues through the present day.
USS KIDD at Baton Rouge
I’ve been waiting for your coverage, and how awesome a tribute on the anniversary of D-Day no less. I’m also enthralled with WW2 history having a dad who got his wings in the Marine Corp at El Toro and a step father who was a navigator on B-29’s. Both were on Tinian at the same time coincidentally. And my initials VMF reflect my dad’s assignment to a (V indicating airborne) Marine Fighter squadron like Pappy Boyington commanded in the “Black Sheep Squadron”. My stepfather had a collection of B-29 nose art photos which are somewhere in a box. Additionally, we live not far from Camp Toccoa where 4 Paratroop Infantry Regiments (501, 506, 507, 517) trained, Easy Company (of HBO’s Band of Brothers fame) commanded by Colonel Sink being the most famous having jumped the night before D-Day invasion. I’ve run the Currahee Mountain trail in competition many times commemorating the PIR’s training runs. I also own a military Dodge M-37 troop carrier, so I’m kind of a war history buff that, of course, includes a fascination with small naval vessels like the PT boats and the crash and rescue boats built specifically by Elco, Chris Craft but also Higgins and others (don’t forget the Canadian Fairmiles).
An interesting fact that I learned from a WWII veteran who was a paratrooper who went in on D-Day. Since he was flown in on one of the gliders (also known as a huge, slow moving target) he was not eligible for the additional “jump pay” that other paratroopers got. He never felt that was fair since they were all falling from the sky. He told me this while I was assisting him at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Columbus where I’ve been a volunteer since 2014. He didn’t need a wheel chair; just wanted someone to walk along with him in case he felt unsteady as he went to his appointment.
My father was an Army medic in the South Pacific in WWII, but he almost never talked about it. Its affect on him was profound, as was WWI on his father.
I must now go there. I should have figured you for a Gitane…I was a Peugeot guy, 10, but had a Gitane 15. Back from going boating! Going again.
John in Va.
Jst got back from another visit to France and Normandy for the 3rd time, in my life, the Museum in Caen was amazing, and very moving… I will go back there again, that is another two day visit with so much to experience. Normandy could easily be a two week experience. but lets talk about boats- specifically the SS Jeremiah O’Brien in San Francisco. The last fully operational, unaltered Liberty Ship, made 11 round trips to the Normandy Beaches, plus steamed there in ’96 for the 50th anniversary of D-Day. https://jeremiahobrien.org. Please become a member and help support them.
All that is absolutely fascinating and I love it. Maybe it’s just me but it seems like since we are near the end of the largest woodyboats and parts auction of the last several years there could be some comments about the action going on there. The interest level, which boats are more interesting which are not. The sleepers that are acquiring little bidding.
The finished hulls vs the project’s. How many will even take on a project these days..
The amount of hardware on auction, possibility from hulls that are rotting in a field somewhere or burned alive..
Would be nice if they would put any missing or replace incorrect hardware with the appropriate boat…Make a more complete package, when it’s in the next room.. jus sayin’
The fact the some of the hardware is mixed and being offered as it’s function compare to the manufacturer…