Why Museums Are Among the First Targets in War—And What That Means for Us

The Hermitage Museum, WWII. Getty Images

When cities fall under siege, invading forces often go for more than just infrastructure or military strongholds. They target something quieter—but equally vital: museums.

From the ransacking of Baghdad’s National Museum in 2003 to the systematic looting of art across Europe during World War II, history has shown that cultural institutions are among the first casualties of conflict. Why?

Because museums do more than display objects. They preserve identity.

Museums hold the stories, symbols, and artifacts that define a people’s legacy. To erase a culture, you don’t just silence its language—you destroy its memory. An occupying force knows this. By dismantling or stealing the records of who a people were, they aim to control the narrative of who those people can become.

The Kuindzhi Art Museum in Mariupol was left devastated after Russian attacks in April 2022.

This global pattern casts a long and sobering shadow over the work we do at the Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum. In this tumultuous period, we are reminded: we are not just caretakers of paintings or papers. We are defenders of history.

Ours is a history that has often been ignored, misrepresented, or deliberately suppressed. Every photograph, every sculpture, every handwritten note from a local civil rights leader tells a story that someone, somewhere, might rather forget. That’s what makes this museum a vital place in our region. It’s not just about remembering—it’s about resisting erasure. Just a thought tonight for your consideration. Good night and good luck.