Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: What to Expect

As a space nerd, I was super excited to see the Space Shuttle Enterprise on the flight deck of the USS Intrepid during a trip to New York City. I’ve been to the Big Apple numerous times, but never realized this jewel was available.

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Complex has a little something for everyone. From the space shuttle, to jets, planes, submarines and a taste of America’s history. Here’s what you can expect during your visit.

The Space Shuttle Pavilion on the Flight Deck

Even though there are lots of things to see on and around the USS Intrepid, I recommend making your way up the stairs to the flight deck of the ship. On the far end, you’ll enter the Space Shuttle Pavilion and be wowed by the mysteries of space travel.

Standing above you is the Space Shuttle Enterprise. Though this particular shuttle never flew in space, it was used to test and prepare the program for more than 100 space shuttle launches. I’ve seen the Space Shuttle Endeavour inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center soon after its final launch. For some reason, I was still surprised at the size of the Enterprise.

Make your way up the stairs to look the Enterprise in the eye and grab a selfie or even a group photo. Wander the pavilion and learn about all the milestones of the space shuttle program and the different shuttles built and flown by NASA. There are even educational shows to help explain the science of space travel to kids.

The Aircraft Collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum has planes and jets on both the flight deck and the hangar deck. So you’ll definitely get your fill of cool planes on your visit.

On the flight deck you can see an A-12, F-14, and a MiG-21 PFM, to name a few. Not sure what types of planes those are? It doesn’t matter – they simply look cool.

The hangar deck offers fewer planes, like the TBM-3E Avenger (pictured above). But you can also see ejector seats, a mock up of a Mercury space capsule, and the light contraption used to guide planes in for a landing on the carrier.

The hangar deck also offers a short film experience on Kamikaze pilots. Enjoy some time learning about the history of the USS Intrepid and the eras of its time in service.

Explore the Gallery Deck and Third Deck

Despite all the history, planes and space shuttle on the USS Intrepid, one of the neat aspects of touring an aircraft carrier is learning what life is like aboard a floating city.

The Gallery Deck offers insights into the sleeping arrangements onboard so you can compare officer and enlisted men sleeping arrangements. Visit the anchor chain room, and don’t miss your chance to sit in the gunner’s seat while you’re in the area.

The ready room and Combat Information Center bring you into the battle scene. Look at radars and communication equipment used on the ship.

On the third deck, your exploration wraps up with views of where the sailors prepared meals in the kitchen and dined with crew mates.

Climb Through the USS Growler Submarine

Near the entrance of the museum is A View from the Deep – an exhibit about submarine life. After wandering through the exhibit, which includes a chance to don some headphones and see if you can identify underwater sounds (as per the photo above)

Once aboard the USS Growler, make your way through the missile hangar and down the stairs to the forward torpedo room. As you climb through each part of the submarine, you’ll see navigation, the control room, the officer’s quarters and the engine room.

Could you imagine living in such closed quarters for long periods of time? Not I!

Before you leave, head back to see the British Airways Concorde airplane. It’s not parked on the ship, but on the nearby pier.

The Details

Address:  Pier 86, 12th Ave. & 46th Street, New York City, New York (West side of Manhattan)

Cost: $33 for ages 13-64; $24 for ages 5-12. $31 for Seniors (65+). Kids under 5 are free. U.S. military and veterans are also free. The museum is also part of the New York CityPASS.

Hours: The museum opens every day at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. During peak summer seasons (April 1 to Oct. 31), the museum is open on weekends and some holidays until 6 p.m. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Early tours may be available at 9 a.m. Check the website for details.

How Long: Plan on about 2+ hours to see everything aboard the ship.

Website:https://www.intrepidmuseum.org/

Phone: (877) 957-SHIP (7447)

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