World War II had many heroes, and it can be difficult to comprehend all of the sacrifices that were made and the victories that were won during the battle.
For years, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans has been aiming to cover the American experience in the war, and recently it began construction on a new area of the museum that aims to shed light on new aspects of the war. The Liberation Pavilion explores the end of the war and the postwar years. Exhibits in the pavilion will include stories of faith in wartime, liberators and liberation and examples of how the war shaped the modern world.
Owen Glendening, associate vice president of education and access at the museum, said The Liberation Pavilion aims to tell the story of the ways WWII shaped the world in a compelling and dynamic way.
“We’re reaching back into the war to find some of the most interesting stories that explain why World War II is relevant today,” said Glendening.
Also included in the pavilion will be a gallery that highlights the story of the Monuments Men, a little known group of soldiers who had a massive effect on the war.
Robert Edsel, museum board of trustees member and author of the book “The Monuments Men,” said in a news release, “This gallery will be a journey into the heart of the greatest treasure hunt in history.” Edsel’s non-fiction novel was recently adapted into a movie directed by George Clooney, starring Clooney, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett and John Goodman.
The film, which was released last week with a premier at the museum, tells the story of museum curators and art historians who fought to preserve art stolen by Nazis in the closing days of the war.
“Who would have thought that you would have been sending your museum curators to war? I think it exemplifies the American spirit of ‘Here I am, what can I do to make the best of this bad situation? I can go and help save the culture.’” Glendening said.
The gallery will take on the appearance of a German salt mine where the Monuments Men found some of history’s greatest works of art that had been hidden there by Nazis. The exhibit also covers the difficult process the Monuments Men faced in returning all of the stolen art back to its rightful owners.
The museum plans to finish the expansion in 2016, but until then guests can visit the museum to get a glimpse of the war’s impact.
“This gallery will be a journey into the heart of the greatest treasure hunt in history.”

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Courtesy of D-Day Museum.