Louisiana Military Museum

The Louisiana Military Museum is the newest addition to the Secretary of State's museums division. It contains a military collection unique to the area. The museum chronicles our conflicts from the Spanish American War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and today's war on terror. The most voluminous part of the collection is weapons, from swords and muskets to heavy machine guns. Artillery pieces are also displayed on the grounds. All weapons are deactivated for safety.

The human story, however, is the best told through diaries, Bibles, medals, and kits of personal items. A young man donated his father's flight jacket; it was the only item that was returned when the pilot was reported lost in Vietnam. The enemy's human dimension is also evident, for example, through a German mother's medal awarded to her for bearing many sons for the fatherland.