Does anyone know how the D-Day museum fared through the hurricane?

Hello jahost,

I believe that these reports are sufficiently definite to answer the question.

"National D-Day Museum, New Orleans, LA (as of 9-7). Richard Pyle with
the Associated Press reported that their New Orleans bureau sent a
reporter and photographer to the museum and found it intact and with
no apparent damage."

"Hurricane Katrina - First Reports" (last updated 9-7-05)
American Association of Museums
http://www.aam-us.org/aamlatest/news/HurricaneFirstReports.cfm

"D-Day Museum Condition: Received email from New Orleans Police
Officer that many paper documents are ruined or missing, but the
'heavy metal' on the ground floor is o.k."

"Katrina and the museums" [post by Brad Byers on September 7, 2005]
Cronaca
http://www.cronaca.com/archives/003775.html

So if even if it was looted (perhaps explaining some missing
documents), as stated on the blog cited by rainbow, these new reports
indicate that the museum is still essentially there.

- justaskscott


Search strategy:

Searched on Google News for:

"d-day museum"

Searched on Google Web for:

"d-day museum"
katrina
"pat ricci"

Browsed American Association of Museums web site.

---

Clarification of Answer by justaskscott-ga on 09 Sep 2005 20:21 PDT

In addition to an 9-8-05 update to the American Association of Museums
statement, you might be interested in this report:

"D-Day Museum" (2005-09-08)
Interdictor
http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/58740.html

---

Clarification of Answer by justaskscott-ga on 09 Sep 2005 20:24 PDT

Sorry, the citation for that report should be:

"D-Day Museum" (2005-09-08)
Survival of New Orleans Blog [The Interdictor]
http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/58740.html

Here is a newsgroup thread on the topic, without any definitive
information as of this time.

Online discussion, "OT: Status of the D-Day Museum in New Orleans ?"
<rec.models.scale> via Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.models.scale/browse_frm/thread/6a3a2d0d629bedf8/a293d987f621357f

Hello Jahost,

Nothing direct that I have been able to find related to the D Day
Museum. You might check
  http://www.nola.com/
but the only museum related material in the "breaking news" is related
to the New Orleans Museum of Art (which apparently did OK even though
most of the park is flooded). Look in the 08/05 archives for the
specific article.

There was another article I read related to the Aquarium - apparently
it had some equipment smoking enough that people thought the building
was on fire. Sorry - I can't seem to find the reference.

As others have mentioned, that part of the city should have done OK
with respect to flooding. There MAY have been a problem with looting,
especially if the building was unattended. There are attended
buildings in that same general area that were OK - see
  http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/
for a blow by blow account of an ISP operator in a building a few
blocks away. His building is still connected to the internet, complete
with web cam, getting fuel and supplies.

  --Maniac

I have found conflicting information about the current fate of the
museum.  I will continue to monitor the news to see whether I can
learn something definitive.

THanks so much.  Appreciate you all checking this out.  My husband and
I were just there.  What a wonderful museum.  So much memorabilia. 
Hope it is not lost.

Blessings
jahost

Sadly...

New Orleans: Confederate Memorial Hall Update 

"Sam Hood, who is a member of the board of directors of Confederate
Memorial Hall, sends us the following news: He has spoken to Mrs. Pat
Ricci, curator of the hall. She reports that as of yesterday (Aug. 31)
the museum is apparently not flooded.

A major concern remains security. His reports indicate that the
National D-Day museum directly across the street from the Confederate
Museum has been "gutted and trashed by looters."

Sadly, we are informed that the homes of every member of the Museum's
staff are under water. The entire staff is now homeless and will have
nothing to return to. Sam informed Mrs. Ricci of the efforts of all
the readers of this site to inform the Civil War community of their
plight and she has asked that all of you be thanked."

http://thepresentpast.blogspot.com/

Best regards,
Rainbow

I had seen the material posted by rainbow.  (I believe that the second
paragraph provides information about the D-Day Museum, but not the
third.)  I've also seen this, in reply to similar information
concerning the D-Day Museum:

"If you're connected to the Times-Picayune Orleans blog, post 8210
reports the D-Day is fine.  Maybe you heard something more recent?"

"New Orleans Links" (September 1, 2005) (Comment by Dynamist) [find
"D-Day" in page for this and related posts]
Reason: Hit & Run
http://www.reason.com/hitandrun/2005/09/new_orleans_lin.shtml

Unfortunately, post 8210 is no longer available on the Times-Picuyane
forum to which this commenter apparently refers.

There's also this post:

"...  I did talk to a friend of someone who works at the D-Day Museum
today and they apparently have no damage ...... yet."

Online discussion, "Anyone Heard from Barry Vedros or ..." (started Aug. 31, 2005)
<alt.toys.gi-joe> via Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.gi-joe/browse_frm/thread/1bb1203d06530fff/2e03a718754b13c1?

I light of these posts, I would consider the status of the D-Day
Museum uncertain as of yet.

I'm happy to report that the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans came
through the hurricane with no flooding and no structural damage. The
priceless artifacts, displays and oral histories were not damaged in
any way -- not even the paper documents another writer mentioned.  The
only losses sustained were from some vandalism and looting in the Gift
Shop and a nearby storage building. Like other New Orleans
institutions, we are currently closed but look forward to re-opening
in the months ahead as residents and visitors return to the city. The
National D-Day Museum, designated by Congress as America's World War
II Museum, celebrates the courage, determination,
iinventiveness,teamwork and sacrifice of the WWII generation. Those
very characteristics will ensure the successful rebuilding of New
Orleans, and The National D-Day Museum will play an integral part in
its bright future.
Thanks to all for your interest and concern.
Clem Goldberger
Senior Director of Marketing
The National D-Day Museum