Chennault Aviation & Military Museum — Attraction in Monroe

We absolutely recommend the Museum if you have anywhere from an hour to all day to visit. The exhibits tell the military history of the United States through personal stories rich with photographs, letters, and memorabilia. The staff could not have been more friendly or helpful. Admission is free.

All the exhibits are compelling, but the WWII section has the widest range. It provides insights into fairly well-known units such as the Tuskegee Airmen, while revealing minor, obscure details such as aviation navigation aids used in Italy by my father (Captain Sol Courtman) as a B-24 navigator.

The most poignant exhibit involved the death of a local soldier, Robert "Jelly" Duffy. PFC Duffy was killed in action on December 27, 1944 in Belgium on the last day of Third Army's (commanded by General George S. Patton) campaign to relieve Bastogne. Looking at the actual Western Union telegram informing his parents of the death of their 21-year-old son gives you a visceral sense of the sacrifices that so many Americans have made for our country. We are so thankful to the Museum, its staff, and its contributors for preserving these...

There is a surprising amount to see at this free museum (I recommend a donation--they're worth it). The bulk of the displays are of local veterans and where they served and special circumstances of their service. What I liked in particular was the story of a member of the Army band. This veteran got equal billing with everyone else and there was no mention as to whether he saw combat or not. It shows that everyone's military contribution is important. I knew a bit about General Chennault, but this museum really helped put the pieces together. I was impressed to find that he married a Chinese bride and raised a family with her in a time when mixed marriages weren't really accepted in his hometown. If you're just going to walk through the displays, then you can get through in 30 minutes. If you're going to read the stories,...

The Chennault Aviation & Military Museum highlights northeast Louisiana's impact on aviation and military history. Displays are neatly organized with story boards that relate the histories of local servicemen and servicewomen as well as exhibits about larger scenarios. Plenty of artifacts are donations from folks who served in the conflicts. An extensive exhibit is dedicated to the life and times of Gen. Claire L. Chennault (a northeast Louisiana native) and his Flying Tigers fighter group. The museum docents are extremely personable and knowledgeable as they relate the story of General Chennault, the Selman Navigational School, and the birthplace of one of the largest airline companies, Delta Airlines. This is definitely a must-see museum if you are...