Docked along the Hudson River at Pier 86, the USS Intrepid, a former aircraft carrier, is one of the most unique museums that you can visit while in New York City. The aircraft carrier museum is a must-visit for military buffs and can be an exciting day out for families with kids.
USS Intrepid (CV-11) has a long and storied history. It is of World War II vintage and was built and commissioned in August 1943, in time to join the action in the Pacific Theatre.
During her service in World II, she was torpedoed and hit by Japanese kamikaze aircraft. She survived and carried on her service up till the Vietnam War. She also has a connection to the United States space program as she was the recovery ship for Mercury and Gemini space missions.
USS Intrepid Museum: A History-Filled Experience Onboard The Aircraft Carrier
We visited the USS Intrepid Museum in New York City and it was an interesting and eye-opening experience.
What you should know is that the USS Intrepid Museum is made up of several zones.
There is the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier museum along with a Submarine Growler and British Airways Concorde at the end of Pier 86.
These are all included in the admission price. However, there are additional fees if you wish to go into the Concorde, accessible only on a tour.
We will focus on the experience onboard the USS Intrepid.
Boarding the USS Intrepid
The USS Intrepid is as high as a tall building and you will need to take an elevator to reach the decks from the pier.
There are two main decks that you can use to board the aircraft carrier: the hangar deck and the flight deck.
We recommend visiting the hangar deck first as there are exhibits there that provide context to the aircraft carrier.
Hangar Deck
Entering into hangar deck, we found ourselves at the forward section of the ship.
One of the first exhibits that we came across was the ship’s bell.
There are also displays that explain about aircraft carrier operations, such as how planes land on the flight deck, guided in by navigational equipment.
One of the airplanes on display within the hangar deck is the Grumman/Eastern Aircraft TBM-3E Avenger.
The Avenger was the U.S. Navy’s standard torpedo bomber throughout World War II and was found on the USS Intrepid throughout the war. Avengers from the Intrepid participated in the sinking of Japanese battleships Yamato and Musashi.
Two other aircraft on display within the hangar deck include the North American FJ-3 Fury and the Douglas A-4B Skyhawk.
Both of these types of aircraft operated from the Intrepid. The Fury in 1957 during a NATO exercise and the Skyhawk during its combat deployment to Vietnam from 1966 to 1969.
Exploreum Hall
At the rear of the hangar deck is the Exploreum Hall. This is an interactive space that caters especially to families and kids.
There are many different hands-on activities such as being able to take over the helm of a ship, or get into the cabin of a helicopter.
Kids can crawl into a sailor’s bunk, try out flight simulators or watch a 4D movie about the Intrepid’s service.
Gallery Deck
When done examining the exhibits at the hangar deck, you can head to the front of the ship and make your way up the stairs to the Gallery Deck.
Here, you can explore various areas of the Intrepid that have been open for visitors to explore.
There are the officer staterooms, where the ship’s officers had their living quarters. You can contrast this with the enlisted sailors sleeping arrangements and berthing compartments that can be found on the third deck.
Obviously, the officers got better quarters and living spaces with proper bunks.
Another area that has been opened up the public is the fo’c’sle.
This is the area at the very front of the ship and you can view the chains that connect the anchor to the ship in the anchor chain room.
If you continue to make your way up the gallery deck, you will end up on the right side of the carrier and be able to view the various guns mounted for the ship’s protection. These are anti-aircraft guns that would have provided protection for the ship against aerial assaults.
Continuing along the gallery deck level and you will find yourself at the Combat Information Center.
This was the brains of the ship during a battle. From here, radarmen would man the radar and keep track of the airspace and sea around the ship. Trained radarmen would be able to identify from the blips on the green radar screen whether the object was a friend or foe.
The ready room, typically used by pilots, was originally located just below the flight deck.
On November 25, 1944, twenty-six radarmen were waiting in a ready room for their upcoming shift in the Combat Information Center. Two kamikaze planes plunged through the flight deck and a bomb exploded in the gallery deck, killing all twenty-six men in the ready room.
This exposed how vulnerable the ready rooms were and they were shifted further below decks.
Flight Deck
Leaving behind the Gallery Deck, you will emerge onto the open-air flight deck of the Intrepid.
The flight deck acts as a display showcase of military aviation with planes that span across different countries and eras.
The Island
However, before even checking out the aircraft, you may wish to check out the island.
The island is the structure that stands out above the flight deck. This is the command center for flight deck operations and is also used for the overall command of the ship.
Here, you will get a sense of the true scale of the carrier operations as you climb up the steep ladders to reach the upper levels of the island.
You can enter the navigation bridge and view the chart tables and radar equipment. Peek into the captain’s quarters, located close to the bridge so that he can respond quickly to any emergency.
From the bridge, you can also survey across the length of the Intrepid and get an overview of the various aircraft on display on the flight deck.
Aircraft Collection at the Intrepid Museum’s Flight Deck
The aircraft collection on the flight deck includes bombers and attack aircraft, fighters, trainers, multi-role aircraft and surveillance planes.
There is plenty to see for aviation enthusiasts, whatever the inclination.
These include classic fighters such as the F-14, given a boost in profile by the Top Gun movies, and the MiG-17. There is also the F-8K Crusader, the fastest airplane to be flown from the Intrepid, the F-4N Phantom II and the AV-8C Harrier.
One of the standout aircraft is the Lockheed A-12 high speed reconnaissance aircraft. The pre-cursor to the famous Blackbird spy plane, the Lockheed A-12 was used for strategic reconnaissance over North Vietnam.
Space Shuttle Pavilion
At the rear of the flight deck stands the Space Shuttle Pavilion.
Inside is Enterprise, NASA’s prototype space shuttle. You can get a good view of the orbiter by walking underneath it.
Or climb up the steps to the viewing platform for an elevated view from the front.
Inside the Intrepid’s Space Shuttle Pavilion, there are also collections of objects and archival material related to the space program.
The USS Intrepid also has a link to the space program as it served as the recovery vessel for the Mercury-Atlas 7 and Gemini 3 space capsules.
Submarine Growler and Concorde
As if all that was not enough, there is even more to explore as part of the Intrepid Museum facility.
Docked along Pier 86, opposite from the USS Intrepid is the former submarine USS Growler. This is the only American guided missile submarine that is open to the public.
Space is tight inside the USS Growler so you may have to queue and wait your turn to get inside the submarine.
At the end of Pier 86 is a British Airways Concorde, once the fastest commercial airliner in service. If you wish to go inside on a tour, an additional fee is required.
Visiting the Intrepid Museum
The Intrepid Museum makes for a wonderful day out for those who are interested in military history. It is a great opportunity to take in and appreciate the service of its ship and the brave crew that served on board.
Before you leave the New York attraction, you will make your way through the gift shop where you can pick up a souvenir from your visit. There are patches, toys, model aircraft, t-shirts, books and more available.
Pick up something to remember your time visiting the USS Intrepid Museum.
Where: Pier 86, West 46th St, New York, NY 10036, USA
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