Wednesday, February 1, 2017: New Orleands (WW II Museum) and MS Gulf Coast

Spoke with Jack last night and said I may skip the National WW II Museum (a branch of the Smithsonian) because the museum is is downtown New Orleans and I was really tentative about finding parking for the RV, even though it is relatively small.  But this morning, I checked google earth and it does look like there are some surface lots, so at least I have a chance - obviously, parking garages do not work when you are 11' high.

So, decided to drive the 8 miles to downtown and see if I could find something.  Hit some traffic, but not too bad and arrived about 8:40 at the lot I had scoped out.  Unattended lot with pay stations, so I drove around and spotted a corner parking spot that backed up into the traffic flow around the previous row. Shoot, I might fit in there and even with me extending past the end of the space, people could still fit around me!  Wo-hoo!  Next problem was getting close enough to the nasty railing (and dropoff) on my right to fit into one space.  Damn, I'm good.  So, parking all day for $9 (early bird) and I get to see this highly acclaimed museum spread over three massive buildings.

I started the tour by boarding the "train," off to my designated military embarkation.  While aboard, I learned a bit about the museum and adopted the identity of a World War hero.  I had his "dogtag" and anywhere in the museum, I could log in and find out where he was and what he was doing. The lobby had a Higgins landing craft (the museum was located here as Higgins was born here and designed the D-Day landing craft), Sherman tank, and B-17, along with other bomber and fighter aircraft.

 First up was the Tom Hanks narrated 4D film, Beyond All Boundaries, bringing to life the history of WW II, but on my way there, they had an exhibit about the Merchant Marines!  My Dad was in the Merchant Marines for six years, spanning WW II and beyond and even though the Merchant Marines experienced higher losses than the other branches of military services by delivering troops and materiel for the war, they were not granted veteran status until 1988.

Dad worked in the engine room (considered to be the mostly deadly place to be in case of attack) and would have worn the uniform on the right.

After the movie, I experienced the last dive of the most decorated submarine, USS Tang.  Unfortunately, after the best record in the war, their own torpedo launch circled back, sinking the boat with no survivors.

The museum is a must-see.  The artifacts, recreated scenes, and movies that tell the two stories are fabulous:  The Road to Berlin and The Road to Japan that highlight the European and Asian wars we fought simultaneously.

Finished up about 1pm, admittedly I rushed a bit through the last exhibits...(if you come, plan to stop and have lunch to give yourself a much-needed break and plan on spending the whole day).

Headed east and took the scenic route along the Gulf Coast shoreline in Mississippi.

 Stopped in Gautier at a state park.  Originally, I was going to see the Sand Cranes here, but their tours are only Wednesday and Saturday mornings.  So, will have to skip the Sand Crane Reserve and tomorrow will head east and finally get back to my home time zone.