Special to
L’Observateur

The Regional Military Museum of Houma will open the doors on a major new expansion Thursday.

The new, 12,000-square foot facility will house real, working military jeeps, weaponry and a true-to-size World War II Avenger Torpedo Bomber model that once hung in the National World War II Museum.

C.J. Christ, founder of the Regional Military Museum and veteran of the Korean conflict, began working on the museum in the early 2000s.

After meeting with local veterans and collecting a large amount of memorabilia, the museum first opened its doors in 2008.

The museum quickly became a home for artifacts and the stories of many military families.

Today, more than 4,000 items have been collected, including uniforms, metals, weapons, photos and President Dwight Eisenhower’s Air Force One plane.

The new three stories tall, glass-and-steel building, located at 1154 Barrow St., will provide much needed space for new exhibits, displays, and a library of military history.

“Our museum is dedicated to the brave men and women throughout our country’s history who have defended our great nation,” Christ said. “Our museum is not a static, but a living history.”

Call 985-873-8200 for more information.