Best World War II Museums and Sites in the U.S.
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World War II History Lives All Across America
One of my most impactful experiences in a museum was visiting a World War II Museum my junior year of high school. The visit not only left a lasting impact but also solidified my choice to follow a career in history. Reading about the stories of ordinary people living their ordinary lives, only to have everything changed so quickly by the events of World War II, was a disturbing thought, but it moved me in a way I still remember.
While few famous battles took place on United States soil, World War II related sites are abundant throughout the states. Places of memory, military training, industry, and resilience can be found in nearly every region. The sites featured below are not comprehensive, but they offer a strong starting point for understanding the broad picture of the war and how it shaped the American landscape.
World War II on the American Landscape
Key notes
- World War II affected every aspect of American life
- The U.S. landscape is filled with WWII-related sites
- Preservation focuses on memory rather than original structures
To say World War II affected citizens of the United States would be an understatement. Nearly every part of American life changed when the U.S. entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. In the years leading up to it, the U.S. economy and its citizens had suffered greatly in the wake of the Great Depression. Through the demands of the war effort, the economy grew rapidly to meet the need for weaponry, machinery, food, medical care, and more.
Domestic life changed entirely as men were sent to the war front and women stepped into industrial and professional positions. While the United States won World War II in 1945 as part of the Allied Forces, the suffering and loss it caused were permanent, yet many American families found ways to rebuild and move forward with remarkable resilience.
Preserving sites related to World War II or any major historical event is incredibly complex. Not only did most of the military events take place internationally, but many of the sites used in the war effort, such as factories or training camps, were created solely for wartime needs and were repurposed once the war ended.
So how do you preserve a site like that? You preserve the memory. Most locations now include some form of interpretive exhibit to educate the public and help keep alive the stories of those who served during the war.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs. National Archives.
The Best WWII Museums in the United States
This list is by no means comprehensive, but it highlights some great places that offer a broad overview of World War II.
National WWII Museum — New Orleans, LA
Opened in 2000, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans can be described more accurately as a campus and consists of 7 buildings which each tell a unique story about the heroes, tragedies, and the complex events of World War II. The museum is located in the Central Business District at 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 and is open every day from 9am-5pm.
Parking can be found in the Museum’s parking garage at 1024 Magazine Street and cost for admission can range from $9 to $36 depending on experience selected.
Make sure to visit these exhibits and experiences:
- The Arsenal of Democracy: America Besieged and United But Unequal: These two exhibits highlight the events on the morning of Pearl Harbor and how World War II affected race relations in the United States.
- The Freedom Theater: A multi-media experience that helps visitors understand the severity of the war.
- The U.S. Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center: This showroom is home to six restored World War II planes.
- Beyond All Boundaries: A 48-minute immersive 4D cinematic experience that tells the stories of those who served.
The size of the museum cannot be understated. If you are planning on seeing everything, but have a limited amount of time, the museum offers a three-hour itinerary and a two-hour itinerary which will help immensely with seeing the museum quickly while making sure to see the highlights. The museum also offers a guided tour that can be booked in advance.
National Museum of the Pacific War — Fredericksburg, TX
Originally opened in 2009 and recently re-opened after undergoing major renovations for the George H. W. Bush Gallery. The museum is located at 311 E. Austin St., Fredericksburg, Texas 78624.
Admission for the museum ranges from $16-$26 and hours are Wednesday through Monday (closed Tuesday) from 9am to 5pm.
Experiences to make sure to see include:
- Pacific Combat Zone: In addition to housing one of the most comprehensive collections of Pacific War related items in the United States, the museum also has living history experiences where visitors can engage with live re-enactments of historic battles.
- George H.W. Bush Gallery: Recent renovations now allows visitors to experience immersive and interactive exhibits by following the stories of nine virtual characters who are inspired by real individuals. Guests have a chance to follow a character and see how their lives were changed by the war.
The National Museum of the Pacific War offers unique ways to learn and experience the Pacific War. New galleries are interactive but also have historical depth.
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum — Washington, D.C.
The oldest museum on the list and one of the most visited museums in the world, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum opened in 1976 and features multiple floors of exhibits. The museum is currently undergoing partial renovation and will be fully opened in summer of 2026. However, there are additional exhibits at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is located at Jefferson Drive between Fourth and Seventh streets S.W. and is open every day except Dec. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free, but timed-entry passes are required to visit.
Exhibits and experiences to see include:
- The Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall: Displays some of the museum’s most iconic objects.
- The Northrop Grumman Planetarium: Learn about space while experiencing the stars through immersive shows.
- World War I: The Birth of Military Aviation: While the World War II exhibit is being updated, learn about the foundations of military aviation through emerging technologies and tactics.
The National Air and Space Museum is a great way to view World War II aircraft in a broader context.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs. National Archives.
Historic Military Bases, Training Grounds & Battle Sites
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
On December 7, 1941, the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces permanently altered the course of World War II. The Pearl Harbor Historic Sites document, preserve, and share the stories of those who were stationed at the base, as well as the lasting impact of the attack.
- Address: 1 Arizona Place, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818
- Hours: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Pearl Harbor Historic Sites include the following:
- USS Arizona Memorial
- Free Admission but requires a timed ticket reservation
- Open daily from 7am-5pm
- The website recommends allowing at least 2 hours
- Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
- Admission ranges from $14.99-$25.99
- Open daily from 7am-5pm
- The website recommends allowing at least 2 hours
- Battleship Missouri Memorial
- Admission ranges from $19.99-$39.99
- Open daily from 8am-4pm
- The website recommends allowing at least 2 hours
- Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
- Admission ranges from $17.99-$29.99
- Open daily from 9am-5pm
- The website recommends allowing at least 1.5 hours
If you are looking for one ticket that includes admission to every site, a “Passport to Pearl Harbor” pass is available.
Fort Benning, Georgia
In the fall of 1918, Fort Benning was established in response to the United States War Department’s need for a larger site to house an infantry school. At the start of World War II, the installation expanded with the creation of an officer candidate school and an airborne training center.
Throughout the war, the Fort served as both a major training ground and a venue for demonstrating weaponry and tactics to civilian and military leaders in the United States and abroad.
The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center sits adjacent to Fort Benning and highlights the history and experience of the American infantry.
- Address: 1775 Legacy Way, Columbus, Georgia 31993
- Hours: Tuesday through Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Features artifacts from every major conflict in American military history
Fort Knox, Kentucky
While Fort Knox is best known for housing the United States Bullion Depository and its famously strict security, it also served an important military role during World War II. The installation functioned as a major training ground for tank crews and armored divisions. It also housed prisoners of war from Italy and Germany, some of whom are buried on the grounds.
The General George Patton Museum sits adjacent to Fort Knox and highlights the life and military career of General George S. Patton Jr.
- Address: 4554 Fayette Ave, Fort Knox, Kentucky 40121
- Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- No Fort Knox visitor pass is required
- Parking lot can be accessed directly from Dixie Highway
Camp Shelby, Mississippi
Camp Shelby was established in 1917 as a training center for World War I troops. During World War II, it became the second-largest military base in the United States, with more than three quarters of a million personnel trained, inducted, or demobilized. The base also housed German prisoners of war.
Throughout the war, the Fort served as both a major training ground and a venue for demonstrating weaponry and tactics to civilian and military leaders in the United States and abroad.
The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum honors those who trained at Camp Shelby as well as the broader contributions of Mississippi residents who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.
- Address: Building 850, Camp Shelby, Mississippi 39407
- Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Admission: Free
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs. National Archives.
The American Home Front: Factories & Civilian Stories
Rose the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, California
The Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historic Park celebrates and educates about the stories of American civilians on the WWII home front. Housed in a historic Oil House used for fueling Ford’s assembly lines, the historic park features over 20 historic WWII home front sites.
- Address: 1414 Harbour Way South, Suite 3000, Richmond, California 94804
- Hours: Open every day from 10am – 5pm
- Admission: Free
Willow Run Bomber Plant, Michigan
Willow Run B-24 Bomber Plant was designed by architect Albert Kahn and constructed in 1941 by the Ford Motor Company. The plant was to serve as a mass production site of the B-24 Liberator military aircraft and the U.S. government contributed $200 million to the project. While originally difficult to start, the plant was eventually able to produce a B-24 every hour.
The Michigan Flight Museum highlights the role of the Willow Run B-24 Bomber Plant, aviation history, and houses aircraft from World War I to the Gulf War.
- Address: 47884 D Street Belleville, Michigan 48111
- Hours: Open every day from 10am-4pm
- Admission: Admission ranges from $10 – $13
Manhattan Project, New Mexico
The town of Los Alamos was forever changed by the Manhattan Project, a U.S. atomic-bomb program created to develop the world’s first atomic weapon. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park features town museums that discuss the history of the area while incorporating the changes created from the Manhattan Project.
The park has the Bradbury Science Museum and the Los Alamos History Museum.
- Address: 475 20th Street Suite C, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544
- Hours: Open Sunday and Monday from 10am – 3pm and Friday and Saturday from 10am – 3pm
- Admission: Free
Historian Tip
All of the sites listed above are very in‑depth and cover a lot of narrative. If you have the time, give yourself a few hours so you can really see everything. Museums and historical sites that deal with intense topics take time to digest and understand, but when you move through them thoughtfully, they can leave a lasting impact.
Here’s How I Approach My Visits:
When something catches your attention, slow down and read the exhibit carefully. After you’ve read it, even more than once if needed, imagine what it was like to be someone living through that moment. Ask yourself: How would I have responded in this situation? What pressures or choices shaped people’s decisions? What might it have felt like to experience this firsthand?
By taking the time to read, imagine, and visualize daily life in that era, you build a more human-centered understanding. It shifts the focus from memorizing facts to connecting with real people and their stories. The experience becomes deeper, more emotional, and ultimately more memorable.
Conclusion
World War II reshaped the United States in ways that are still visible across the landscape, from museums and memorials to former bases, factories, and home front communities. Visiting these places offers more than a history lesson. It provides a chance to connect with the people whose lives were transformed by the war and to understand the resilience, sacrifice, and complexity of that era. By exploring these sites and the stories they preserve, we keep the memory alive and ensure that the lessons of World War II continue to inform and inspire future generations.