Travel notes, photos, videos, and comments from all over the world. I may earn income from purchases of advertised products or clicking links. Please follow via email. Thanks Geoff Sutton of Sutton Travels blog and YouTube
Britain has been a part of the world's wars for centuries. The Imperial War Museum in London is worth a visit to understand the life of soldiers as well as the lives of those at home. Because the wars involved many world powers, there's much to learn about other nations as well. Of course, the machinery of war is also on display in the air and on the ground. Well worth a visit.
The presence of RAF planes hanging from the ceiling illustrate the size of the museum.
There are tanks and other large war machines and vehicles on display.
A number of story boards and posters explain or illustrate various exhibits.
From the simulated trench exhibit during the WWI centennial.
Exhibits include allied nations
Hours: The museum is open 10 - 6 daily except for 24, 25, 26 December
Admission: Free
Refreshments: A Cafe is available.
Toilets: They were well maintained when I visited.
Exhibits: These vary so check the website for details
Storage: Only small lockers are available.
Accessibility: See the website
Locations: This post is about the London site. There are other locations--see the website
It's hard to know where to begin in sharing a few photos of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. The size of the museum is massive. A few photos of huge objects may help imagine how large it really is.
One standout attraction is the German U-Boat 505, which was captured 4 June, 1944. The full size original submarine is on display along with film, story board, and models depicting life in a sub. Tours are available but were all booked when I arrived.
Planes are here too. You can walk through a Boeing 727, see World War II planes, and view the exhibit about the beginnings of flight.
And there's a large model railway display featuring city, lakeside, and mountain sections.
There's so much more to see and do with many interactive exhibits friendly to children of all ages.
Location: The Museum of Science and Industry Chicago is near Lake Michigan BUT it is not on the Museum Campus. It's further South at 5700 Lake Shore Drive Chicago IL 60637. I used the Metra line train near my hotel on Michigan Ave.
Admission: It's expensive for those of us from out-of-state. I bought a City Pass to save on costs at five attractions. Some exhibits or events cost extra. Check the website for details. Map link.
Crowds: It did not take long after opening for lots of groups of children to arrive. The museum is so large that it did not feel crowded.
Hours: Open daily 9:30 - 4:30 with various exceptions so you will need to check the website for the latest.
Food: I was allowed to bring my own lunch and eat in designated areas . There are places to purchase lunches and snacks.
Friendliness: All the staff I spoke to were friendly.
Maps: A map of the museum is online and paper copies are available to visitors.
At the National World War II Museum there are two buildings I haven't covered in previous posts: US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center and the John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion.
As the name suggests, the Boeing Center is mostly about planes. There is a theater on the first floor, a gift shop, and kiosks where you can explore stories of pilots. The size of the building is impressive and of course necessary given the size and number of planes on display.
Flyng Fortress
Kiosks allow viewers to examine stories of WW II personnel. I looked up Louis Zamperini and a few others. Zamperini ran in the 1936 Olympics and served as a bombardier in the Pacific before his plane went down. He survived the Pacific Ocean in a raft and two years as a POW. His conversion and story of forgiveness inspires many.
The Restoration Building has a few examples of restored equipment on the main floor. If you have time at the end of your visit, its worth browsing the collection to learn more about some specialized equipment.
