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NOLA Life Stories: How Was The National WWII Museum Created?

WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio | By Thomas Walsh,
Mark Cave
Published June 18, 2015 at 10:00 AM EDT

Inspired by the stories of World War II veterans, the late University of New Orleans historian Stephen Ambrose wanted to build a museum that would honor their experience.

To help make this dream a reality, Ambrose turned to his friend and colleague at UNO, Gordon “Nick” Mueller: the two men hashed out their plans over glasses of sherry.

Originally envisioned as a small museum on UNO’s campus, devoted exclusively to D-Day, it has evolved into the Nation’s World War II Museum and one of the city’s top attractions.Nick Mueller looks back at the National WWII Museum's formative years.

Earlier in June, on the anniversary of D-Day, the National WWII Museum celebrated its15th anniversary. Commemorative speeches were presented by Mueller, Senator DavidVitter, and historian KeithHuxen. Click below to hear an excerpt from Mueller's speech.Mueller comments on the importance of the veteran's oral histories in the creation of the museum.

This interview was conducted by Mark Cave for the Historic New Orleans Collection.

NOLA Life Stories: How Was The National WWII Museum Created?

Tom Banks, Steven Spielberg, and Tom Brokaw were among the estimated 200,000 attendees at the museum's opening ceremony and parade on June 6, 2000.
The National WWII Museum /
Tom Banks, Steven Spielberg, and Tom Brokaw were among the estimated 200,000 attendees at the museum's opening ceremony and parade on June 6, 2000.

Copyright 2015 WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio
Louisiana News
Thomas Walsh
Thomas Walsh is an independent radio producer for WWNO. Each week he works to produce new editions of Louisiana Eats and All Things New Orleans, as well as Notes From New Orleans, The Farmer's Market Minute, and The Green Minute. Outside WWNO, Thomas is a volunteer disc jockey for WTUL, where he hosts a weekly live four-hour program broadcasting twentieth century classical music. Thomas has four years experience in audio engineering, and a BA from Trinity University in San Antonio where he double majored in communications and philosophy. Someday he will give away his entire collection of Grateful Dead concerts, which has swelled to unnecessary proportions in recent years.
See stories by Thomas Walsh
Mark Cave