The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, US, has unveiled the new US$3.2m (£1.9m) John E Kushner Restoration Pavilion to enable visitors to view its conservation work.

Members of the public have the chance to experience a permanent, behind-the-scenes look at how the attraction restores and preserves Second World War artefacts. It forms part of an ongoing US$300m (£182.6m) expansion of the National WWII Museum and is named after John E Kushner, a local enthusiast of Second World War history.

The 14,000sq ft (1,301sq m) facility was part funded by the US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, and will offer free daily tours starting in July. Meanwhile, the attraction has also confirmed that it has acquired part of the historic Atlantic Wall defences completed by Nazi forces in 1944 to protect Europe's west coast.

Three segments have been secured by the National WWII Museum - each measuring 5.5ft (1.7m) tall, 35ft (10.7m) long and 18in (45.7cm) thick. The parts of the Atlantic Wall have been acquired from the Utah Beach Museum in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, France, which is set to undergo a Nicolas Keleman-designed expansion.