Saving the Reality:

A Local Museum’s Pursuit and Devotion in Preserving the Sacrifice of those who served in the Largest and Most Destructive Conflict in World History

Travis RolandMuseum of World War

Two

“History is not how you wish it had been, it’s the way it actually was”…

Museum Founder Kenneth W. Rendell

Agenda

• What People Are Saying• About the Director• Museum and Floor Plan• The Museum’s Mission• Why Is the Museum So Special?• Virtual Tour(s)• Other Items of Interest• Goings On and What’s Ahead• Schedule a Tour• Questions and Answers

What People Are Saying…• “Personal repository of the Holy Grail of WW2”…

Tom Hanks

• “Most Comprehensive Collection of World War Two Artifacts in the World”…Imperial War Museum

• “Ken Rendell is the world’s greatest collector”…Steve Ambrose

• “The Museum of WW2 simply has no equal”… Phil Reed, Director of Churchill Museum

• “Virtual Reality dominates our lives. This museum is doubly refreshing.. Authenticity is not only the room, it is demanded… every item is authentic, and real”…John Eisenhower

The Founder and Director: Ken Rendell• Born in 1943 (Somerville, MA)

• Founder and President of Museum of WWII

• Author of Many Books as well as Pioneering articles on Forgery

• Began Collecting in the 1950s (Coins, Stamps, Letters)

• Built an Archive and Documents business (NY, LA, Tokyo)

• Testified on the infamous Jack the Ripper / Hitler Diaries (1990s)

• Built and developed Bill Gates personal paper library

• Involved with the founding and design of the National Dday Museum

The Museum & Floor Plan

Opened in 2000

Nonprofit 501(c)(3)

Located in Natick, Mass

10,000 sq. feet of display

space

8,000 artifacts on display

Staffed by Volunteers

Acoustic Guides Available

Admissions by Set Schedule only

$25 suggested donation

The Museum’s Mission• Hands on Approach

• Offers a personal and true understanding of WW2

• Meant for People who have an interest in the subject matter

• Interact with History, Heroes and Vilians, Soldiers and Victims

• Not meant to Glorify War

• Make Sure that the Memories do not pass into the mist

• Focus of Causes and Consequences of the conflict

• Makes People Think and Identify with the People who were there

• People to Come Away with Their Own View of WW2

Why Is the Museum So Special• One of a Kind:

• The Earth Shattering ‘75 Documents that Changed the Course of History

• Diplomacy • Treaty of Versailles (1 of 5)• Treaty of Munich (1 of 1)• Japanese Declaration of War and Instrument of Surrender

• Top Secret• Only Surviving Dday & Iwo Jima Invasion Plans• German Invasion Plans of Britain, France, Russia & More

• Celebrity

• Personal Effects of the War’s Top Leaders and Generals

• Comprehension:

• Every facet of the war is covered

• Archives:

• World’s biggest document / archives collection

• Interactive:

• Patrons allowed to handle many artifacts

Virtual Tour

Virtual Tour: 1919 - 1939

Virtual Tour: German War Machine

Virtual Tour: Enigma

Virtual Tour: Battle of Britain

Virtual Tour: Resistance

Virtual Tour: Holocaust

Virtual Tour: Americas Entry

Patton, Rommel & Montgomery

Virtual Tour: Eastern Front

Virtual Tour: Dday / Bulge

Virtual Tour: The Pacific

Virtual Tour: Other Items of Note• Hitler’s and Churchill’s Artwork

• Letters Home from Eisenhower and Rommel to their Wives

• Patton’s Battle Map of Sicily

• Fabric from Hitler’s Couch from the Bunker

• Rosevelt’s Inaugural Top Hat

• Traveling Suitcase of Herman Goering

• Alpert Speer’s Uniform

• Hitler’s Address Book and Last Will

• Montgomery’s Battle Maps of El Aleman and Normandy

• Japanese Balloon Bomb

• Medals (Knights Cross, MOH, etc.)

• Enemy Propaganda

• Photographs

• German U Boat Map of New England

• POW, Nuremburg, Enola Gay artifacts

Goings On and Events• Monthly Guest Speaker Series

• Expanded Hours of Operation

• Dday Anniversary (6/14) French Consulate Commemoration

• Revolving Displays:

• Monuments Men

• Enigma Display

• The Kings Speech

• French Resistance

• Ongoing Acquisition(s) of new artifacts weekly

• Major Plans to Rip/Replace Museum on Existing Site

• Rudolf Hess Papers Acquisition and Announcement

• Recent NPR, ABC, Fox, BostonGlobe Articles

Schedule a Tour:• Groups up to 50 Accepted

• Best Days are Wednesday and Saturday

• Hours are 10-2pm

• Have waivers filled out prior to tour

• Boy Scouts, History Classes etc encouraged to inquire

• Go to:

• http://www.museumofworldwarii.com/ and email for date/time

Questions?