Your Guide to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is one of my favourite museums in New York. In a city filled with so many, this museum is extremely memorable – mostly due to the fact that its housed on an actual air freighter. Yes, you read that correctly. The USS Intrepid is permanently marooned nowadays at Pier 86 in the Hudson River. While this vessel saw conflict at the height of World War 2 and beyond, today it offers a chance to learn about US military history through an incredibly immersive setup.

You won’t just learn about the role of the aircraft carrier at the Intrepid Museum though – this vessel provides a truly comprehensive overview on craft that traverse the sea, air and space. You’ll see incredibly fast fighter jets, tour a claustrophobic submarine and even get up close to an actual space shuttle while touring the Intrepid. I was blown away by just how much I was able to see on my visit.

• There’s so many cool things to do in New York. If you’re spending a few days in the city, check out my recommended itinerary and guide HERE.

Intrepid Museum – The Basics:

• Where? Pier 86, W 46th Street, New York
• When? The Museum is open daily from 10.00am to 5.00pm
• Admission: General Admission for adults (13 years and over) is $33.00 USD. Children cost $24.00 USD (those 4 years and under get in for free). You can pay extra for additional attractions. The Intrepid Museum is also included in the attraction line up for the New York CityPass and Sightseeing Pass.
• How to get there: The Intrepid Museum is docked along the west coast of Manhattan and is a short walk from Midtown (approximately 15 minutes west of Times Square). The nearest subway station is Times Square-42nd Street.
• Website: https://www.intrepidmuseum.org/

About the USS Intrepid

As the fourth ship in the US Navy to carry the Intrepid name, the USS Intrepid that contains New York’s Sea, Air and Space Museum today was commissioned in 1943, at the height of the Second World War. The Intrepid was initially stationed at Pearl Harbour and eventually saw action throughout the Pacific during the global conflict. Its most famous campaign was the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which was the largest naval skirmish of the entire War. The Intrepid survived kamikaze bombings by Japanese forces, and even took four direct hits that failed to sink the vessel (though many crew and personnel were killed).

The Intrepid continued to serve the US navy after the end of World War 2, primarily being used in minor campaigns in the early years of the Cold War. It also played a role acting as a support vessel in the 1962 Mercury-Atlas Space launch (hence its ties to space!). The Intrepid returned to military service during the Vietnam War, before being decommissioned in 1974. Throughout its active tenure, over 50,000 men served onboard.

Believe it or not, the legendary vessel was almost dismantled following its retirement from service. A campaign led by Michael D Piccola of the Odysseys in Flight non-profit saved the carrier from that fate and in 1982 it opened as the Museum of Air, Sea and Space (though it did serve a brief stint as FBI headquarters following the attacks of 9/11). Today, the USS Intrepid is recognised as a National Historic Landmark.

Tips for Visiting the Intrepid Museum

I spent approximately half a day at the Intrepid Museum. I didn’t actually expect to be there that long, but there was more to see than I thought. Your admission ticket doesn’t just include entry to the aircraft carrier and the various exhibits contained within, but it also gets you into a special part of the museum centred around the Enterprise Space Shuttle. You’ll also be able to venture inside the Growler submarine, which is docked alongside the museum’s main pier. If you want to pay extra, you can also take a tour of the super fast Concorde plane and enjoy motion simulators that take you on an immersive journey through military campaigns.

I’ll cover all that in more detail below, but what I’m trying to say is be prepared for the Museum to eat up a chunk of your day. I visited in the afternoon and it wasn’t too crowded. If possible, try to avoid weekends (though other attractions in New York will be more packed with tourists then, so its not the worst plan). As always, purchase your tickets in advance – either on the Museum’s website, or by purchasing a multi-attraction pass such as the CityPass or Sightseeing Pass.

The Museum’s audio guide is excellent and is also included with your admission. Pick it up as soon as you board the freighter. If you plan to follow the tour comprehensively (which I did), it takes about 2 hours. Otherwise, you can just use it in the areas of the freighter that are of specific interest to you. Note that the audio guide is purely focused on the Intrepid, not the other parts of the museum that I’ve mentioned above.

On Board the USS Intrepid

As the Museum’s centrepiece, you should start out your visit on board the Intrepid aircraft carrier itself. The vessel is comprised of a number of levels containing different exhibits.

The Hangar Deck

You’ll enter the Intrepid on the Hangar Deck, which is the Museum’s main exhibition space. There’s a myriad of objects and displays throughout the level, with the first part able to be broken down into two main themes. Along the vessel’s port (left) side, the displays are dedicated to the technical side of the carrier, where you’ll learn about it’s steam catapults, torpedoes, propellors and much more. Meanwhile the starboard (right) side explores the Intrepid’s human history, with sections dedicated to the memory of those who served aboard the vessel. Moving further into the hangar level, you’ll find an assortment of aircraft, such as the TBM-3E Avenger from World War 2, and a multimedia presentation that highlights the kamikaze attacks against the Intrepid.

Further yet, you’ll reach the Exploreum, a fully interactive section of the deck which is especially popular with families with young children. One of the main highlights here is an actual Bell 47 helicopter that you can climb inside. There’s also really cool (and educational) exhibits that demonstrate the skills involved in navigating submarines and aircraft.

At the very rear of the Intrepid’s hangar deck, you’ll find the motion simulators. You’ll have to pay extra ($11 each) if you want to have a go on these multi-sensory adventures. I had a go on the Stories of Intrepid simulator, which is an 8 minute 4D experience, documenting some of the campaigns in which the vessel served. You can also try the G-Force Encounter which emulates the experience of flying a supersonic jet!

The Gallery Deck

The Gallery Deck (upstairs from the Hangar) is comprised of two distinct sections (you can’t go between them and have to access them separately from the Hangar or Flight Decks). This part of the Intrepid Museum is about showcasing the areas where crew members slept and worked while aboard the carrier. You’ll tour areas such as the Ready Room (where pilots were brief before taking to the skies in their fighters) and the Combat Information Center (where intelligence was gathered by radar and other means, and strategies were devised).

Also part of this level is the Fo’c’sle, which is the most forward part of the ship. In this area you’ll come across the Anchor Chain Room (and believe me, they are HUGE!) as well as the berthing areas for officers serving aboard the Intrepid.

The Third Deck

Downstairs from the Hangar Deck, the Intrepid’s Third Deck primarily consists of the areas of the ship where ordinary crew members lived their daily lives. The Mess Deck down here is where meals were prepared and the crew dined while aboard the freighter. Its been completely restored to its original appearance. There’s also a small cafeteria here where you can grab a bite if you get hungry during your tour of the ship.

The General Berthing has also been restored, which is where over 3,000 enlisted sailors and Marines slept at a time while stationed on board. Needless to say, they didn’t have much (or anything) in the way of privacy! While here, you can learn about how crew members kept cool and clean while serving their cause.

The Intrepid’s Flight Deck

One of the coolest (possibly literally in the winter months) parts of the Intrepid is the Flight Deck. Obviously located above all the other decks, this is the open air section of the carrier where aircraft used to land during the ship’s years in action. Today, the Flight Deck hosts a permanent collection of over 24 aircraft restored aircraft that you’ll definitely want to check out. The collection of planes is a representation of all five of the US armed forces (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard), as well as an assortment of international craft. They’re all so varied and unique, though I think the one that stood out to be was the black coated Lockheed A-12 (Blackbird) from 1967. Equipped with high power cameras, the military craft was capable of taking photos at heights beyond 80,000 feet.

In addition to the collection of aircraft, you can also access the Intrepid’s Bridge from the Flight Deck (after climbing a bunch of steps). The Navigation Bridge contains a series of charts and other navigational instruments and you’ll learn about how the Intrepid’s crew navigated the oceans while cruising on duty.

An unadvertised attraction of the Flight Deck is the stunning view offered of the Manhattan Skyline from the deck. Spend some time taking in the fresh air before continuing on with your tour.

The Enterprise Space Shuttle Pavilion

So far you would have seen elements of the sea and air, but where’s space represented at the Intrepid Museum? Well, head to the rear of the Flight Deck and you’ll enter the Space Shuttle Pavilion. Entering this special exhibit takes you beyond the atmosphere into the realm of space travel. The pavilion is centred around the MASSIVE space shuttle Enterprise. While the Enterprise itself never went to space, it played a key role in launching NASA’s shuttle program, being used to perform atmospheric flight tests in the 1970s before future shuttles ventured beyond our planet.

The Intrepid Museum acquired the Enterprise in 2012, and it was transported to New York through a series of carefully planned flights atop custom modified 747-planes. Quite the feat! Today, its one of only four remaining NASA shuttles. Upon entering the pavilion, my mind was blown, walking underneath the 122 foot long, 76 foot wide shuttle. When you manage to draw yourself away from it, you can also take in a series of educational exhibits that document the life of astronauts in space, in addition to matters such as shuttle design and flight testing. There’s also a myriad of displays focusing on the physical dimension of space – you’ll learn about galaxies, nebulae, the Hubble Telescope and so much more.

The Growler Submarine

The Growler Submarine is docked at the Museum’s entrance pier and is included in your admission. Its the only American guided missile submarine that is open to the public. Stepping inside is a memorable, if slightly claustrophobic experience (especially when it comes to the doorways). The Growler dates back to the Cold War, when it was stationed off the east coast of the Soviet Union from 1958 to 1964. Its primary function was one of deterrence against the USSR from unleashing a nuclear attack upon the US, and it achieved this by carrying a powerful Regulus I missile.

Prior to boarding the submarine (there may be a queue at busier times of day), you’ll pass through a brief exhibit that documents the historical context, providing information about the escalation of tensions throughout the Cold War between the world’s superpowers. There’s also an interactive station that focuses on the sonar technology that submarines use to identify objects in their vicinity. From there, you’ll head inside the sub and pass through its various chambers, seeing control rooms, living spaces, torpedo storage and more. You’ll definitely gain an appreciation for how hard it must be to be stationed on one of these vessels for any period of time, what with the lack of space on board!

The Concorde

You’ll also see the super impressive Concorde aeroplane on the Pier at the Museum’s entrance. Upon hearing that the Concorde was at the Museum, I remembered learning about it in school and was interested in seeing it first hand. This “built for speed” commercial airliner crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a record 2 hours, 52 minutes and 56 seconds on February 7, 1996. It had actually been flying since 1976, and was operated jointly by British Airways and Air France. Environmental protests and a tragic crash on takeoff in Paris in 2000 led to the Concorde fleet being grounded and eventually retired from service in 2003, however there’s no questioning the innovation behind this super fast jetliner.

You can view the Concorde from the outside and walk underneath its standout design as part of any trip to the Intrepid Museum. If you want to go inside though, you’ll have to book a special tour (which costs $7.00 for adults). The tour lasts 20 minutes, with new tours departing every half hour. You should book your time at the same time that you book your Museum tickets to avoid disappointment (though if there’s availability, you can also buy tickets at the Museum). On board you’ll see the luxurious cabins and even get to sit in the first class section for a few minutes.

With so much to see at the Intrepid Museum, you can hopefully now understand just how easy it is to spend half a day at this amazing New York Landmark. If you’re interested in military history, engineering, science or anything remotely associated with the stuff on display here, visiting the Intrepid while in New York is a no-brainer. There’s arguably no Museum in the city that is more immersive than this one. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, and I hope you will too! If you’ve been to the Intrepid Museum which part did you find the most interesting? Let me know if you were blown away by this New York attraction as much as I was!