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“Our cause was greater than anything else, and we haven’t had a greater cause since.”

HERSHEL “WOODY” WILLIAMS (1923–2022)

WWII Medal of Honor Recipient

OUR MISSION

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn.

OUR VISION OUR VALUES

In fulfillment of our designation by Congress as “America’s National WWII Museum,” we will:

• Inspire people, young and old, to embrace the lessons of this monumental global conflict from its stories of heroism, human tragedies, voices of liberation, and the fruits and responsibilities of victory.

• Create and maintain a world-class museum campus of pavilions and exhibitions.

• Engage worldwide audiences by providing access to our collections, exhibits, and oral histories through innovative outreach, distance learning, new media, and creative museum experiences.

• Interact with diverse communities to expand their understanding of the history and meaning of America’s role in World War II and its relevance for today and for the future.

• Become a place for people to understand and feel America’s strengths and values.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM

Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National WWII Museum, our institution has expanded in size, scope, and impact—from one exhibition hall focused on the D-Day invasion of Normandy to a seven-acre, seven-pavilion campus that explores the full story of the American experience in World War II. Now rated the top attraction in New Orleans and among the best museums in the world, the Museum honors those who came together to defeat the Axis powers. Our immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, dynamic educational resources, and expansive collection of artifacts and personal accounts help ensure that the WWII generation’s service, sacrifice, and victory inspire teachers, students, and lifelong learners on our New Orleans campus, across the country, and around the world.

Dear Friend,

The National WWII Museum in New Orleans has always been a place that encourages reflection and remembrance, a place that fosters curiosity and inspiration. It is a place that teaches history, broadening horizons and strengthening minds while standing as a testament to freedom. And it is more than a physical campus, extending its efforts beyond its walls so that all may learn about the American experience in World War II—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today.

Above all, it is a permanent home for the stories of the WWII generation, and it is a promise to pay tribute to their sacrifices while deepening public understanding of the war and the significance of their victory.

It’s hard to believe 25 years have passed since we first opened our doors. Our campus, our educational outreach, and our world have changed dramatically since then. So has our impact: We’ve welcomed more than 10 million visitors to date, reached more than 29 million people worldwide annually through our growing digital presence, and educated hundreds of thousands of teachers and students in all 50 states.

Even as we reflect on all our institution has accomplished, we know it is not a time to rest on our laurels—there is much important work to be done to advance the mission and vision of our Museum further still.

Since the Museum’s founding, education has been at the heart of our mission. We have always known that understanding the history and legacies of the war is essential to understanding the world we live in today. But as the WWII generation passes on, direct connections to the war fade, and there are fewer opportunities for young people to learn from those who experienced it firsthand. We can and must carry on their stories in a way that bridges the gap between generations—and, in turn, set the standard as the most accessible source for trusted knowledge on the American experience in World War II.

To achieve this vision, The National WWII Museum is launching the Victory’s Promise campaign, a new fundraising effort that will renew and expand our commitment to ensuring this monumental time in our nation’s history remains a source of inspiration and guidance.

This is a promise we are making to the WWII generation, to those who helped build this Museum, and to future generations. It’s a promise just as ambitious as the one made 25 years ago when we opened our doors. This Museum has the potential to impact every corner of the country—and world—in awe-inspiring ways, and I invite all of you to join me, to join us, in achieving this bold new promise.

Stephen J. Watson President & CEO

The National WWII Museum

One of the most enduring symbols of World War II, “V for Victory” signified hope, strength, and determination as our country came together like never before to ensure freedom prevailed. Today, The National WWII Museum remains steadfast in our promise to honor those who gave so much to achieve Allied victory and ensure the history of the war lives on. With the same spirit of unity and commitment our nation embodied during World War II, we invite you to join us in advancing our educational mission to tell the story of the American experience in the war.

OUR PROMISE

TO THE WWII GENERATION

We will remain committed to paying tribute to your service and victory. We will carry on your stories and ensure your place in American and world history is never forgotten.

TO THOSE WHO HELPED BUILD THE

NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM

We will build upon your investments in the Museum to expand our impact and widen the reach of our exhibits, collections, and historical expertise to more meaningfully engage with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

TO FUTURE GENERATIONS

We will keep the history of World War II alive so that all generations can be inspired by this pivotal time in our nation’s history and better understand the price of freedom.

CAMPAIGN VISION & GOALS

For 25 years, The National WWII Museum has served as the nation’s storyteller for the WWII generation. It is a sacred and enormous responsibility ensuring their service, sacrifice, determination, courage, and victory continue to educate and inspire new generations.

By launching our ambitious new $300 million Victory’s Promise campaign, the Museum will truly fulfill our national mission by reaching far beyond our New Orleans campus to capture new audiences and bring our wealth of WWII artifacts, expertise, and original content to more people around the world.

Through the campaign, the Museum will become the most accessible resource for trusted knowledge on the American experience in World War II by:

Engaging more visitors through the Museum’s world-class campus and traveling exhibitions;

Embracing innovation and technology to become a leading producer and distributor of high-quality WWII content and expand access to the Museum’s unparalleled collections, resources, and expertise; and

Inspiring students, teachers, and lifelong learners of all ages through educational programs and resources.

Our national standing, global reach, public mandate, and dedicated supporters make us uniquely prepared to pursue these bold objectives, grounding our efforts in the work and accomplishments that came before while pursuing new

“The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future.”

STEPHEN E. AMBROSE, PHD (1936–2002) Museum Founder

Engage

visitors

through

the Museum’s world-class campus and traveling exhibitions

Visiting a museum promotes critical thinking, historical empathy, and greater understanding of the world we live in today. To continue providing a first-rate experience that educates and inspires, the Museum must further invest in our campus and expand access. The Victory’s Promise campaign will ensure that the Museum’s engaging, interactive, world-class exhibits reach larger audiences in New Orleans and across the nation.

• Welcome 1 million visitors to the Museum’s campus annually by 2035

• Become an anchor educational institution in the community by offering free guided field trips for 50,000 Louisiana students annually by 2035

• Invest more than $100 million over the next 10 years in campus spaces and visitor experiences through proactive maintenance, new construction, and major renovations

• Reach 2 million visitors annually through compelling traveling exhibitions of all sizes to audiences nationwide

10-YEAR CAPITAL PROJECTS PLAN

Major graphics and special effects upgrades to Beyond All Boundaries, the Museum’s signature 4D experience

Complete renovation of The D-Day Invasion of Normandy, the Museum’s original exhibit

Reimagining the Final Mission: USS Tang Submarine Experience

Full-scale refreshes of signature permanent exhibits The Duchossois Family Road to Berlin: European Theater Galleries (opened in 2014) and Richard C. Adkerson & Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Road to Tokyo: Pacific Theater Galleries (opened in 2015)

Construction of the Floyd Education and Collections Pavilion, which will support exhibit production and macro-artifact preservation and house the new Sanderson Leadership Center

Additional campus upgrades including infrastructure improvements to Louisiana Memorial Pavilion and back-of-house spaces

Embrace innovation and technology to become a leading producer and distributor of high-quality WWII content and expand access to the Museum’s unparalleled collections, resources, and expertise

To truly fulfill our national mission, the Museum must multiply its reach a hundredfold by educating audiences far beyond New Orleans through a robust digital presence.

Understanding that there will always be public interest in World War II, we have an opportunity to engage audiences who might not yet know the Museum exists by making our digital resources more accessible and discoverable. The Victory’s Promise campaign will bring the Museum’s wealth of WWII content to more people, support students and teachers, and reinforce the Museum’s role as a historical authority.

• Upgrade online user experience, leverage new technologies, and better deliver high-impact original content to meet audiences wherever they are

• Create new content to provide the most comprehensive online history of World War II and garner 100 million annual digital engagements by 2035

• Enhance care, preservation, and access to the Museum’s collection of primary source materials, including a renewed commitment to the digitization of artifacts, archival materials, and oral histories

• Create centralized online Content Hub of high-quality K-12 educational resources while adapting and expanding distance learning programs

Inspire more students, teachers, and lifelong learners of all ages through educational programs and resources

As national test results increasingly show that the history and consequences of this global conflict are less understood as we become more removed from it, the Museum has a responsibility to better support teachers, who continue to cite World War II as a top teaching priority but often lack time, resources, and professional development. Through the Victory’s Promise campaign, the Museum will keep the dialogue and public memory of World War II alive by engaging K-12 and higher education students and faculty along with lifelong learners of all ages to deepen the collective understanding of the war.

• Educate 5 million K-12 students and 15,000 teachers annually on campus, across the country, and online by 2035

• Expand the teaching and study of World War II at colleges and universities through strengthened mentorship, support, and programming for faculty, scholars, and students

• Engage 300,000 lifelong learners annually through expanded Museum publications and programs, a book award, and conferences and symposia

• Promote strategic thinking and key leadership principles to new generations of American leaders through seminars, lectures, and interactive scenarios based on WWII events developed by the new Sanderson Leadership Center

“The Museum’s curriculum has been instrumental in facilitating opportunities for my students to practice essential skills such as critical thinking, writing, collaboration, and reflection ... I’ve integrated multiple lesson plans, videos, and pictures that I gathered during my time at the Museum, providing my students with rich and engaging content. With these new resources and perspectives, my students have been able to engage with the material in a more meaningful way, drawing connections between past events and contemporary issues, and fostering a greater sense of empathy and understanding.”

ANNAMARIE ALMAGER Teacher at Hobbs High School Hobbs, New Mexico

FUNDING THE VISION

To resource the Museum’s goals and initiatives, the Victory’s Promise campaign has a fundraising target of $300 million for three priority areas:

CAPITAL PROJECTS

EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS ENDOWMENT

With your support and commitment to our mission, the WWII generation’s stories of sacrifice, determination, courage, and unity will continue to educate and inspire for generations to come. Your generosity will have an important impact as we expand our outreach to help new audiences connect with this history and understand the significance of our victory.

JOIN US

We invite you to join us in shaping the future of The National WWII Museum and keeping the history of World War II alive. Learn more about our investment opportunities by calling 504-274-1250 or emailing alicia.franck@nationalww2museum.org.

“World War II defined our future. One must understand World War II to understand the world today.”

CHARLES R. SMITH (1925–2024) WWII Veteran