Where the Flag Flies Proudest: Sacrifice, Honor, and Freedom
Welcome to Part 3 of Where the Flag Flies Proudest! If you are just joining us, welcome — and if you missed Parts 1 and 2, simply click the arrows below to start at the beginning. For those of you who have been following along, welcome back! In Part 2, we traveled from the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg and Arlington to the shores of New York Harbor and the peaks of South Dakota’s Black Hills. Now we move forward into what many consider the most emotionally powerful chapter of American history. In Part 3, we honor the brave men and women of World War II and beyond, visiting the sacred places that stand as eternal tributes to their courage, sacrifice, and devotion to freedom.
Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial
We begin Part 3 where America’s involvement in World War II began — on the shores of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where on the morning of December 7, 1941, a surprise attack by the Japanese military changed the course of history and united a nation in a way nothing else could. No place better captures the weight of that moment than Pearl Harbor itself, where the echoes of that quiet Sunday morning can still be felt by every visitor who walks its shores. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it “a date which will live in infamy” — and standing here, it is impossible not to understand why.
The Pearl Harbor National Memorial consists of an open-air Visitor Center, two museums, and the USS Arizona Memorial. The USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials are nearby on Ford Island, a working military base. Interpretive wayside exhibits are scattered throughout the memorial, combining historical images from Pearl Harbor in 1941 with modern-day views to help visitors visualize the harbor as it once was.
To begin your visit, start at the Visitor Center, where exhibits showcase personal narratives, historical artifacts, and multimedia presentations. Before exploring, stop at the audio tour desk to purchase an audio tour narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis. This tour guides you through the Visitor Center’s two museums, provides narration aboard the USS Arizona Memorial, and continues along the shoreline for the “Path of Attack Tour.” Alongside Ms. Curtis’s narration, you’ll hear firsthand stories from actual USS Arizona and Pearl Harbor survivors.
Located in the O’ahu Court, the first museum, “Road to War,” details life on Oahu prior to the December 7 attack, as well as President Roosevelt’s correspondence with the Emperor of Japan. “Attack” chronicles the strike itself and its impact on the Pacific War. Both museums are free. Across from them, Theater 1 shows a 23-minute documentary recounting the events of December 7, 1941. Screenings begin at 7:15 a.m. and continue every 30 minutes, with the last showing at 4:15 p.m. Also located in the O’ahu Court is one of the two bells salvaged from the USS Arizona.
On display within the Visitor Center complex is a 19,585-pound anchor, one of three carried aboard the USS Arizona. The Virtual Reality Center offers five different experiences: walking the deck of the USS Arizona before the attack, witnessing the attack on Battleship Row, exploring the USS Arizona Battleship Memorial virtually (a good option when in-person tickets are sold out), witnessing the air raid from the USS Utah, and viewing Pearl Harbor from the cockpit of a Japanese fighter plane during the attack. Each experience costs $7.99 per person.
Outside the Visitor Center, Remembrance Circle honors the men, women, and children whose lives were cut short in the attack, ensuring their stories and sacrifice are never forgotten. At the center of the circle sits a bronze 3D map of Oahu, allowing visitors to see exactly where the attack unfolded.
Central to the memorial is the USS Arizona Memorial itself, which rests above the remains of the sunken battleship and commemorates the 1,177 crewmen who died aboard. The 45-minute tour begins at the theater validation desk and includes a safety orientation, a Navy-operated shuttle boat ride, time on the memorial, and the return trip to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Tours run every 15 minutes from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a lunch break from noon to 1:00 p.m. Tickets are free, but reservations on recreation.gov (up to eight weeks in advance, for a $1 fee) are strongly recommended, as they sell out quickly. Without a reservation, you can join the standby waitlist, though tickets aren’t guaranteed.
Another free option is the Ford Island Bus Tour, which requires reservations. This fully guided, 75-minute round-trip tour visits the USS Utah and USS Oklahoma Memorials. Because Ford Island is a working military base, access is restricted. The tour departs from the Visitor Center on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; arrive by 2:30 p.m. for check-in at 3:00, with departure at 3:30 and return by 4:45. Along the way, expert guides share powerful stories of bravery and sacrifice.
The best times to visit are early morning or late afternoon, when crowds are thinner. Bags — including purses, diaper bags, and fanny packs — are not allowed within the memorial. A bag storage facility is available at the entrance for a small fee. If you need to carry medical supplies, a clear backpack is recommended.
Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
Adjacent to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial is the Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, a tribute to the sailors of the Silent Service. Climb aboard the Fleet Submarine USS Bowfin to experience how confining and demanding submarine life truly was. Walk through the forward and aft torpedo rooms, the galley, the wardroom, and the control room, all restored to their 1945 configuration. Afterward, explore the museum’s three galleries, home to more than 4,000 artifacts telling the story of the U.S. Submarine Force from WWII to the present — including weapon system models, photographs, battle flags, recruiting posters, and even a dissected Poseidon missile. Outside, the Waterfront Memorial honors 52 submarines and more than 3,600 officers and crewmen lost during the war, telling the story of each lost submarine and listing the names of her crew.
The museum and park are open 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last entry at 4:15. Plan to spend 1.5–2 hours here. Tickets are $25.99 for adults and $14.99 for children ages 4–12, and include a free audio tour. Children under 4 are free but are not permitted aboard the submarine.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, located on Ford Island, is accessible via a complimentary shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Admission includes a free audio tour and access to more than 50 aircraft across Hangars 37, 79, and the Operations Building. Climb into the seat of a real F-5 Freedom Fighter jet, and visit the rooftop terrace for a clear view of Ford Island as it looked before and during the attack, with detailed plaques marking key battlefield locations.
Shuttles depart roughly every 15 minutes from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last shuttle back to the Visitor Center leaving the museum at 6:00. Museum hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. General admission is $29.99 for adults and $17.99 for ages 4–12.
Additional paid experiences include:
• Fighter Ace 360° Flight Simulator — Only 150 tickets sold per day for this dogfight simulation, “Thunder in the Pacific.” $10 per person (two-person minimum) or $21.99 for a solo flight.
• Ford Island Control Tower — The Tower View Experience ($10, 15 minutes, first-come first-served, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) includes roaming docents sharing stories about the surrounding sights. Guided Tower Tours ($20, 30 minutes, reservations required) offer focused historical narration at 9:00, 9:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 4:00. Both ascend 168 feet in a restored 1940s elevator to an observation deck with panoramic views of the entire Pearl Harbor battlefield.
• Guided Hangar Tours — An hour-long tour of Hangars 37 and 79, including the Restoration Shop, for $10 per person, first-come first-served, at 10:00, 11:00, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00.
USS Missouri Memorial
Also on Ford Island, the USS Missouri Memorial costs $39.99 for adults and $19.99 for ages 4–12. Admission includes your choice of a 35-minute guided tour or a self-guided tour covering the main deck (home to the ship’s most famous historical moments), below-deck crew quarters, and the command areas above deck, including the bridge, flying bridge, and captain’s at-sea cabin.
Exhibits throughout the memorial include Divine Wind: Kamikaze and the Battle for the Pacific, which tells the story of the kamikaze plane that struck the USS Missouri on April 11, 1945, and the pilot who was given a full military burial by the ship’s sailors. The exhibit features rare trench art from Missouri crewmembers alongside kamikaze artifacts — including farewell letters and poems from pilots to their loved ones — rarely seen outside Japan.
For an additional $32, visitors 10 and older can take the 45-minute Captain’s Tour, exploring the wardroom, radio central, captain’s in-port cabin, Combat Engagement Center, and Gun Turret #1. The Chief Engineer’s Tour ($32, 60 minutes) explores Broadway, Fire Room #4, Engine Room #4, and the aft plotting room — where you can even simulate firing the ship’s guns. Both tours are limited to 10 participants per time slot and fill quickly, so advance reservations are recommended. Participants must be able to climb steep stairs and navigate tight spaces independently.
The USS Missouri is accessible via complimentary shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the last shuttle leaving at 4:05. Visits take approximately 1.5–5 hours depending on how much you explore. Closed-toe shoes are recommended.
Multi-Site Passport
For $99.99 (adults) or $49.99 (ages 4–12), a 2-day Pearl Harbor Passport includes general admission to the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum (Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park), the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, a self-guided tour at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and one Virtual Reality Center experience. Note: it does not include a ticket to the USS Arizona Memorial.
For more information, visit:
• www.pearlharboraviationmuseum.org
Normandy American Cemetery & D-Day Beaches
Moving from the United States, we next visit the Normandy American Cemetery. Established on June 8, 1944 as the first American cemetery on European soil, it sits on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel. It is now one of 14 permanent American WWII military cemeteries outside the United States. The cemetery is free to visit and open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Upon entry, visitors pass through the Visitor Building, which opened in a wooded area on June 6, 2007 — 63 years after the Normandy invasion. One-third of the building is dedicated to exhibits detailing the courage and sacrifice of the American Armed Forces and their allies, featuring participant stories, photos, films, interactive displays, and artifacts. Guided tours of the cemetery are available, and cemetery guides can answer questions about the site and tour times. Just outside the visitor center, a reflecting pool overlooking Omaha Beach includes an engraved map of the D-Day landing beaches.
From the visitor center, make your way to the Garden of the Missing and Memorial. Facing the headstones, a 22-foot statue, “The Spirit of American Youth Rising From the Waves,” represents the youth of the D-Day troops and the heroism they displayed. On each side of the memorial stands a semicircular colonnade, each ending in a map — the southern map depicts the Normandy landings and movement inland, while the northern map shows Allied movements through Western Europe from D-Day until the German surrender. There is so much to see here that words alone can’t do it justice; it’s a place that truly needs to be experienced firsthand.
Behind the memorial, the Walls of the Missing are inscribed with the names of Americans who lost their lives in the invasion of Normandy and associated battles but whose remains were never found or identified. A bronze rosette marks the names of those who have since been recovered and identified. To the north, an overlook offers a panorama of Omaha Beach and the English Channel. A path leading down to the beach — now closed — was once used by soldiers advancing inland during D-Day.
Moving west past the reflecting pool and the flagpoles where the American flag flies daily, you’ll reach the burial area and a circular chapel. Shaped as a cross, the burial ground contains ten grave sections, five on each side of an east-west mall, with a central mall containing the chapel bisecting the graves. Across these 172.5 acres, 9,389 headstones — either a Latin cross or a Star of David — mark the resting places of our servicemen and women. Many brothers, and even a father and son, lie buried beside one another.
Entering the chapel beneath an engraved replica of the Medal of Honor, a black marble altar comes immediately into view. Soft yellow light from an amber window above settles upon the engraved inscription: “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish.” Along the window’s edges, 48 stars — representing the 48 states in 1956, since Alaska and Hawaii didn’t become states until 1959 — are arranged above an alpha on one side and an omega on the other. Directly above the altar, a Star of David with a dove at its center represents peace. The flags of the United States, France, Great Britain, and Canada flank the altar. A mosaic on the ceiling depicts America blessing her sons as they depart by sea and air to fight for freedom, and a grateful France bestowing a laurel wreath upon the Americans who died liberating Europe’s oppressed. The return of peace is recalled through the imagery of an angel, a dove, and a homeward-bound ship.
At the west end of the cemetery, two statues stand at either end of a small semicircle, framing a distant view of the church steeple in Vierville-sur-Mer. One, Columbia, representing the United States, holds an eagle; the other, Marianne, representing France, holds a rooster. Both figures carry olive branches of peace.
As of today, reservations are not required, though a pre-registration system is expected to be in place by the end of 2026, with reservations beginning in summer 2027. One hour before closing, a flag-lowering ceremony is held for visitors to observe. While there is no beach access directly from the cemetery, Omaha and Utah Beach are both accessible nearby.
On D-Day, Americans stormed Utah and Omaha Beaches, the British landed at Gold and Sword Beaches, and Canadians came ashore at Juno Beach. Each beach offers plenty to see and do, but for our purposes, we’ll focus on Utah Beach and Omaha Beach.
Utah Beach
The D-Day Museum at Utah Beach is built on the very site where American troops landed. Its rich collection of objects, vehicles, materials, and oral histories narrates the events of D-Day from preparation to execution and ultimate success. Highlights include an authentic B-26 “Marauder” bomber and the film Victory in the Sand, which relives the largest amphibious operation in military history. The museum is open 9:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. from May to September and 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. from October to April. Tickets are €10 for adults and €6.50 for ages 6–15; ticket sales close one hour before closing.
The Airborne Museum follows in the footsteps of the American paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. It’s located in the square of the church where paratrooper John Steele famously hung from the steeple during the night of June 5–6, 1944. The museum’s five pavilions each address a different part of D-Day: the Occupation Pavilion covers the German occupation and resistance in the Sainte-Mère-Église sector; the C-47 Pavilion immerses visitors in the world of American paratroopers, from their formation through embarkation for Normandy, including the pathfinders who marked the jump zones; the Operation Neptune Pavilion recreates the parachute drops of June 6, 1944, using hyperrealistic displays that let you board a real C-47 aircraft alongside paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division; and the Waco Pavilion focuses on gliders, covering their origins and design as well as the missions and logistics behind the D-Day glider landings, along with later operations in Provence, the Netherlands, and Germany. A final room, dedicated to the history of the museum’s gliders, closes out the visit. A Memorial Walk, paved with bricks engraved in tribute to American soldiers who fought in the Battle of Normandy, winds throughout the museum.
Tickets are €11.50 for adults and €7.50 for ages 6–16, with a family pass (2 adults, 2 paying children) available for €33; additional children are €5.50. Ticket sales close one hour before closing. The museum is open 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. May through August, 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. in April and September, and 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. October through March. It is closed in December and January. Expect to spend 2 to 2¼ hours here.
At the D-Day Experience, take your seat aboard an authentic C-47 aircraft converted into a flight simulator. After observing paratroopers preparing for the Normandy landings, relive the thrilling crossing of the English Channel in the simulator, then explore the rest of the museum to learn about the D-Day landings and the strategic importance of Carentan to the Allies. Continue to Dead Man’s Corner, a historic house turned museum offering the German perspective on the D-Day landings, then head outdoors to see artillery and defense equipment — including a Sherman tank and a German 88mm cannon — as well as the Airborne Wall, a unique place of remembrance.
Five visit options are available: a museum visit with flight simulator and 3D screening of the Battle of Carentan; a museum visit with flight simulator only; a museum visit with 3D screening but no simulator; 3D screening only; or a museum visit only. Prices range from €19.90 for adults and €15.90 for ages 6–17 (full package) down to €9 for adults and €7 for ages 6–17 (museum only). The simulator and cinema aren’t recommended for children under 6 and are prohibited for children under 4. The Experience is open 9:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. from April 1 through September 30 and 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. from October 1 through March 31. It’s closed December 24, 25, and 31, January 1, and for three weeks each January.
The Normandy Victory Museum, located just outside Carentan, brings to life the experiences of soldiers and civilians during the hedgerow battles of 1944. Through immersive scenography and meticulously recreated settings, the visit takes you on an emotional journey through the 100 days following the Normandy landings. A self-guided tour costs €9.90 for adults and €7 for ages 7–17, students, teachers, and visitors with reduced mobility; a family package for 2 adults and 2–4 children is available for €33. Hours range from 9:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. depending on the season.
Beyond the self-guided tour, the museum offers sensory guided tours (available in limited numbers from April through August) that let you handle artifacts and take part in educational experiments; reservations are required, and cost is €15 for adults and €12 for children. Three escape-room challenges are also available at €30 per team of 1–5 people, each set in a life-size bunker and requiring logic, observation, and cooperation to complete the mission and uncover the secrets of 1944; a minimum age of 12 is recommended. Finally, hop aboard a vintage Dodge for a guided tour of the landscapes marked by the summer 1944 battles. Starting from the museum and led by a guide passionate about history, you’ll explore the Normandy countryside and sites linked to the Liberation. Routes range from a short 45-minute tour around the museum to a 1.5-hour circuit following in the footsteps of the 101st Airborne. Prices start at €25.20, and each vehicle holds up to 7 participants.
Located north of Utah Beach, the WWII Museum presents a chronological path through the Second World War in Normandy. Walk along a reconstructed street from the Occupation, complete with shops and houses, and look out onto Utah Beach from within a genuine Atlantic Wall bunker that forms part of the museum. A 55-seat cinema shows the film From Cherbourg to Utah Beach. Tickets are €9 for adults and €6 for ages 6–14. The museum opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at either 6:00 or 7:00 p.m., depending on the season.
Omaha Beach
Pointe du Hoc is one of the most significant landmarks of the D-Day landings. This strategic point along the Atlantic Wall was stormed on the morning of June 6 by the men of Colonel Rudder. The site still bears numerous clearly visible shell craters. Although conservation work is underway, it remains open to visitors, who can explore an artillery battery complete with its command post, casemates, and shelters. The site is free to visit, and a mobile app is available with further insights and information.
The Overlord Museum, located at the roundabout leading to the Normandy American Cemetery, boasts a collection of more than 10,000 exhibits, including 35 vehicles, tanks, and guns. Tickets are €9.90 for adults and €7.50 for children ages 7–15 and visitors with disabilities. Hours range from 9:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. in summer to 10:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. in winter.
Le Bunker WN 89 de Géfosse is not to be missed. Every Sunday at 10:00 a.m., a colorful local guide named Luc Le Gleuher leads a tour of WN 89, a former German bunker in Géfosse-Fontenay, sharing the full story of this remarkably intact remnant of the Atlantic Wall. The tour is free.
A few additional sites worth mentioning: the Omaha Beach Memorial Museum, just 200 meters from Omaha Beach; the Batterie d’Azeville, 3.1 miles back from Utah Beach; the Batterie de Crisbecq, with its complex network of trenches and tunnels leading to bunkers that once housed an infirmary, kitchen, ammunition stores, dormitories, and an anti-aircraft command post, including the famous Saint-Marcouf guns; an airship hangar built by the French Navy as shelter for airships used to spot German submarines during the First World War, later used by Americans in WWII, who left behind numerous pieces of graffiti; the Maisy Battery, buried for 60 years, once used to fire on Allied troops across the beaches of Utah and Omaha; and the Maison de la Libération, the first house liberated on the morning of June 6, 1944 — where, on request, the story of the farm is shared along with unique testimony and little-known facts. An overnight stay can also be arranged for a fee.
For additional information, visit:
• www.abmc.gov/video/normandy-american-cemetery
• https://normandy-victory-museum.fr
• https://utah-beach.com/musee
• https://batteriedecrisbecq.fr
• https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/discover/d-day-and-the-battle-of-normandy/dday-landing-beaches/
Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial)
Heading back to the United States and our nation’s capital, we visit the Marine Corps War Memorial. Also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, it represents the nation’s gratitude to Marines and those who have fought beside them. While the statue depicts one of the most famous incidents of World War II, the memorial is dedicated to all Marines who have given their lives in defense of the United States since 1775.
On the morning of February 19, 1945, the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions invaded Iwo Jima — a tiny island 660 miles south of Tokyo — after an ineffective 72-hour bombardment. The 28th Regiment of the 5th Division was ordered to capture Mount Suribachi, an extinct volcano on the island’s southern tip. They reached the base of the mountain on February 21, and by nightfall the following day had nearly surrounded it entirely. On the morning of February 23, Marines of Company E, 2nd Battalion, began the grueling climb up the rugged terrain to the summit. At about 10:30 a.m., men across the island were thrilled by the sight of a small American flag flying atop Mount Suribachi. That afternoon, once the slopes were clear of enemy resistance, a second, larger flag was raised in the same spot.
Based on the famous photograph of six Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima that day, the statue features 32-foot-high figures raising a 60-foot bronze flagpole. By presidential proclamation, the flag flies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The M-1 rifle and carbine carried by two of the figures measure 16 and 12 feet long, respectively, and the canteen depicted would hold 32 quarts of water.
The figures stand on a rock slope above a granite base, with the entire memorial rising about 78 feet. A gold ring around the base bears the names and dates of every principal Marine Corps engagement since the Corps’ founding.
The memorial was dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on November 10, 1954, and is located in Arlington, Virginia, next to the Netherlands Carillon and Arlington National Cemetery. The grounds are open year-round from 6:00 a.m. until midnight, and from the memorial you’ll find a panoramic view of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and Capitol Building.
During the summer, the U.S. Marine Corps holds Sunset Parades at the memorial on select Tuesdays. These one-hour performances feature music from “The Commandant’s Own,” the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, along with precision drill by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. Pack a picnic and enjoy the views of the National Mall and downtown D.C. while you watch.
Netherlands Carillon
A few yards from the Marine Corps War Memorial stands the Netherlands Carillon, a gift from the people of the Netherlands and a symbol of freedom and friendship between the two countries since World War II. The carillon’s 53 bells hang within an open steel tower. Visitors can hear the bells chime during an automated daily performance, or time their visit for a live performance by a guest musician during the summer and fall months. Like the memorial, the Carillon is open year-round from 6:00 a.m. until midnight.
For additional information, visit:
• https://washington.org/DC-guide-to/marine-corps-war-memorial
• www.nps.gov/gwmp/learn/historyculture/usmcwarmemorial.htm
• https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/learn/historyculture/netherlandscarillon.htm
National Museum of American History
Our last stop is the National Museum of American History. This Smithsonian museum houses a collection of over 1.7 million objects that help tell the complex, ongoing story of our nation. It’s located on the National Mall at Constitution Avenue, N.W. in Washington, D.C., with the closest Metro stop at Federal Triangle on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines. The museum is open daily (except December 25) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and — like nearly every Smithsonian on the Mall — admission is completely free, with no tickets required.
This year holds special meaning for a visit here: 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and the museum is marking the occasion with a building-wide exhibition, In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness, showcasing 250 objects spanning the 1700s to today. It traces how Americans have pursued the promises of our nation’s founding — often against the odds, but always with the conviction that those promises were worth reaching for. A year-long series of special programs, performances, and hands-on activities accompanies the exhibit throughout 2026.
Beyond this milestone exhibit, the museum’s permanent collections offer something for every kind of history lover. The Star-Spangled Banner Gallery holds the original 30-by-34-foot flag that inspired our national anthem, displayed in a dedicated, dimly lit hall that feels almost reverent — a fitting tribute to the anthem it inspired. The First Ladies exhibit showcases inaugural gowns and personal items from the nation’s first ladies throughout history, while America on the Move traces the evolution of American transportation through icons like the John Bull steam locomotive and a rotating collection of classic automobiles. Food lovers won’t want to miss Julia Child’s actual kitchen, relocated in full from her Cambridge, Massachusetts home, alongside the Food: Transforming the American Table exhibit exploring how American eating habits shifted across the twentieth century.
Families traveling with young children will appreciate Wegmans Wonderplace, a hands-on space designed for kids ages 0–6, open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Budding inventors can also stop by Draper Spark!Lab, open Wednesday through Saturday, for hands-on making and tinkering activities.
Given the size of the collection, plan your time accordingly. A quick highlights tour hitting the Star-Spangled Banner, Julia Child’s kitchen, and the First Ladies gowns can be done in about 1.5 to 2 hours, but history buffs could easily spend a full day moving through the museum’s three floors. Free docent-led tours are available throughout the day for visitors who want expert commentary along the way.
As a Blue Star Museum, the National Museum of American History also offers free admission to active-duty military families each summer, from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day — a fitting gesture in a building devoted to telling America’s story.
A Nation’s Story, carried forward in the objects we’ve kept.
For additional information, visit
A Nation’s Story, preserved and remembered
From the sunken decks of the USS Arizona to the quiet crosses overlooking Omaha Beach, from the bronze figures raising the flag over Iwo Jima to the collections preserved within the National Museum of American History, Part 3 has traced the courage and sacrifice that carried America through its greatest test. Each stop tells a different piece of that story — a surprise attack that awakened a nation, a beach stormed to liberate a continent, a memorial honoring those who serve, and a museum entrusted with safeguarding it all for generations to come. Yet the story doesn’t end there. In Part 4, we’ll walk among the memorials and monuments of the National Mall, where so much of what we’ve explored so far finally comes together in the heart of our nation’s capital.