Intrepid Museum

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The USS Intrepid was hit by five kamikaze attacks and one torpedo during World War II.

2. 2

   The ship earned the nickname 'The Fighting I' during its active service years.

3. 3

   The onboard Concorde, G-BOAD, flew from London to New York in under three hours in 1996.

4. 4

   The Growler is the only guided missile submarine open to the public in the United States.

5. 5

   The museum's flight deck serves as a popular location for amateur astronomy events due to its open view of the sky.

6. 6

   The Enterprise shuttle was never used for space flight but conducted critical atmospheric glide tests in the 1970s.

7. 7

   The ship was used in the production of the 2007 film 'I Am Legend'.

8. 8

   The Intrepid recovered astronauts from the Gemini III and Mercury-Atlas 7 space missions.

9. 9

   The museum maintains an extensive collection of oral histories from former crew members.

10. 10

    The ship's anchors remain attached to the bow and were originally designed to hold a vessel displacing over 40,000 tons.

Overview

The Intrepid Museum is a maritime and aerospace history institution located on the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, permanently docked at Pier 86 on the Hudson River. The museum features the Space Shuttle Pavilion, which houses the Enterprise, the prototype NASA orbiter. Visitors can explore the flight deck, which displays over 20 authentically restored aircraft from various eras of military aviation. The facility includes the Growler, a decommissioned Cold War-era strategic missile submarine, accessible for guided tours. The museum focuses on the history of the ship, which served in World War II, the Vietnam War, and as a recovery vessel for NASA space missions. Its collection includes the British Airways Concorde G-BOAD, the record-holding aircraft for the fastest transatlantic flight. The interior hangar deck exhibits interactive displays about shipboard life and naval technology. The site serves as a National Historic Landmark, designated for its significant contributions to naval history and space exploration.

Insider tips

• Visit the submarine Growler early in the day, as the line for interior tours often grows significantly by afternoon.

• Wear comfortable, flat shoes with good grip to navigate the ship's steep ladders and metal grating.

• Check the museum's events calendar for scheduled flight deck demonstrations or guest speaker series.