Found along Pier 86, a couple of blocks west of Times Square, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, also known as the Intrepid Museum, is a must-visit attraction in New York City for any one with an interest aviation and naval history, and even space exploration.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: Three in One
There is so much history found at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. While the most imposing of them all is the USS Intrepid, which has been converted into a museum, but there are other experiences too. Like the Submarine USS Growler and even a chance to tour the Concorde supersonic plane (on a guided tour).
Intrepid Museum
After getting tickets, as you enter along the pier, to the left is the former USS Intrepid, now a museum.
The aircraft carrier served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1974 before it was turned into a museum in 1982. It was the third of the Essex class carriers to be built and served all the way through WWII to the Vietnam War, where it served three tours of duty.
Approaching the aircraft carrier, you will be impressed by how large it is. The Intrepid is almost as long as the Chrysler Building is tall. It had a crew of 3,000 people – basically a small town.
You have to climb up the staircase or take the elevator at Tower 1 to reach the Hangar Deck, one of four decks that you can explore onboard the Intrepid museum.
Hangar Deck
The Hangar Deck was where the aircraft were kept onboard the USS Intrepid. It is divided into three several Hangar areas.
There are exhibits with information on who built the ship, what it was like to work on an aircraft carrier and the role of women in naval aviation during World War II.
One of the star exhibits on the Hangar Deck is the Grumman TBF Avenger, the U.S. Navy’s main torpedo bomber during World War II. It is also the only World War II aircraft onboard the Intrepid and has a Mark 13 torpedo on display under it.
Hangar 3 is the Exploreum, an area which is suited for children to explore and lear more about aircraft carriers.
Third Deck
The Third Deck offers a look into life onboard the USS Intrepid. One of these areas is the Enlisted Mess and the galleys or kitchens. In one day, the food served could have included up to 6,000 potatoes, 4,200 eggs and 9,900 slices of bread!
Amongst the other activities that sailors could do while out at sea was to study. This was one way for enlisted men to advance their careers.
Another interesting place to view is the Enlisted Berths. It will make you feel glad for wherever you have for your bedroom. The crew would slide in compartments with bunks stacked three high and held up by chains and posts. It must have been quite a challenging way to live while at sea for months on end.
Gallery Deck
Head over to the Gallery Deck to get a view of how the officers lived. There is the Officer Berthing as well as the Combat Information Center, which has been recreated based on research into what it used to look like (all the original sensitive equipment was stripped out by the Navy before the Intrepid was passed over to be turned into a museum.)
Flight Deck
This will be the highlight for many. There are more than 20 aircraft from different eras all lined up at the Flight Deck.
Some highlights on the Flight Deck include the F-14 Tomcat, made famous by the movie Top Gun, as well as other fighters like the F-111 and F-4 Phantom.
There is a Lockheed A-12, the precursor to the SR-71. It was the a high-speed, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft that was developed as part of a secret military program during the Cold War. It is the largest jet on the Flight Deck.
Bridge
You visit the Bridge at the island in the middle of the Flight Deck. This was were the Intrepid was controlled and steered. You will have to make your way up a series of steep stairs but it is worth it. Between 10 to 16 people would have been working on the Bridge at any one time.
Just beside the Bridge is the Captain’s Sea Cabin, where you can get a look at the Captain’s quarters.
This is the highest level of the ship that is open to visitors.
Space Shuttle Pavilion
At the rear of the Intrepid Museum Flight Deck is the Space Shuttle Pavilion. Inside it is the Enterprise, OV-101, a prototype that was built in 1976 and used for testing but never flown in space. However, it helped to pave the way for the flight of the first shuttle that went to space, Columbia.
You will be surprise by just how large the Enterprise Space Shuttle actually is.
As a tip, head up to the view deck just in front of the nose for a view of the entire shuttle.
Submarine Growler
Once done exploring the Intrepid Museum, it is time to move on to the USS Growler. The Growler is the only nuclear missile submarine in the United States that is open to the public.
When operational, the Growler carried the Regulus I nuclear missile. This type of missile was only used for five years. They required submarines like the Growler to surface before launching, making them especially vulnerable to attack. The Regulus I was replaced by ballistic missiles that could be fired from under the water.
Concorde
At the end of the pier is the Concorde. The aircraft on display, Alpha Delta, set a world speed record by flying from New York to London in 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds in 1996. It has been on display at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum since it was retired in 2003 and is on loan from British Airways.
If you wish to go inside the Concorde, you will have to join a guided tour which is available at a separate fee.
Visiting the Intrepid Museum
Find out more and how to purchase tickets here.
You may also be interested in other aircraft carrier museums in the United States.
