Jackson Barracks Military Museum

How I almost got detained by the government, and not because of the coronavirus!Took a long bus ride from the edge of the French Quarter to visit the Jackson Barracks Military Museum in the Ninth Ward, an area not recommended to outsiders, let alone tourists. Hours 10am-4pm Monday-Saturday. The museum is located on the premises of the Jackson Barracks, a military base. Only personnel with a valid up to date government issued ID with picture are allowed entry. When I first came, I didn't have my latest ID, and was turned away. Came back 2 hours later with a Global Entry card, and after being documented, was allowed entry onto the base. The Jackson Barracks Military Museum depicts the history of the Louisiana Militia and National Guard from early 1700s colonial settlements to 21st century deployments. Replicas of soldiers in uniform from the early 1700s, a British cannon used at the Battle of New Orleans, Civil War cannons, a Spanish American War deck gun of the USS New Orleans, a 1917 Cadillac staff car, a French Renault Tank, Stuart Light Tank, a Norden Bombsight. the cockpit of an F-4 Phantom Jet, a Huey red cross helicopter used in Vietnam, a Humvee in Desert Storm camouflage, and Hurricane Katrina rescues in 2005. Photography is allowed only inside the museum. Unlike in previous years, no pictures allowed outside, as military on heightened alert status, following assassination of top Iranian general in January. Stan,the museum curator, was kind enough to donate some his time to escort me outside to take pictures of the numerous armored equipment, including a WW2 M4 Sherman tank, an M113 armored personnel carrier, an Iraqi Zeus quad 23mm anti aircraft battery, a WW2 90 mm skyscraper anti aircraft gun, an M47 Patton Tank, a an M48 tank used in Vietnam, and a WW2 P61 Black Widow twin engine night fighter. All pictures taken so that none of the surrounding buildings were showing. An abundance of military tanks, armored personnel carriers, anti tank guns, anti aircraft guns, tank destroyers not seen in the WW2 Museum in downtown New Orleans. Made it safely back to the French Quarter, after taking a long bus ride through the ninth ward, with vacant lots, and boarded up buildings. Not your normal tourist visit.

The Jackson Barracks Military Museum does exactly what it sets out to do--document and exhibit the long and storied history of Louisiana's National Guard. I was really impressed at how well done the museum was, especially after finding out that it had essentially been ruined after Katrina. The evidence was very much there, as many of the weapons looked as if they had spent a good bit of time submerged. But that's what a museum is for, right? To show history in all its splendor and ruin?Unlike so many museums that are simply glass cases full of artifacts, the design of this museum told a clear story. And unlike so many museums, the trust factor was a notch higher than I was used to; I could get to within an eyeball's distance from the door handle of the Huey helicopter inside, for instance. Or the Renault tank, which is surprisingly small.Admission to the museum is free, and it's a wonderful way to spend a few hours--honoring our former and active duty Guardsmen and Guardswomen.