New York’s Intrepid Museum plays a unique role in the city’s cultural landscape. Founded in 1982 aboard the legendary World War Two aircraft carrier of the same name, it has since become a popular and well-known institution, welcoming over a million visitors annually. The museum has undergone several reconstructions throughout its existence and now hosts dynamic exhibitions showcasing technological marvels that weave together history and innovation. Discover more about its past and present at new-york-future.
From Concept to Launching the Intrepid Museum
The Essex-class aircraft carrier, the USS Intrepid, was first launched in 1943. It served during World War Two, and subsequently in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as well as being used for the recovery of various space missions.
By the late 1970s, the aircraft carrier was decommissioned and scheduled to be scrapped. However, the organisation “Odysseys in Flight” proposed transforming it into a museum. While their initial plans considered the carriers USS Lexington and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the final choice was the USS Intrepid. Like other ships of its class, the Intrepid has a displacement of 27,100 tonnes, a total length of 872 feet, a beam of 147 feet 6 inches, and a draft of 28 feet 7 inches.
The US Navy agreed to the project, seeing it as a potential promotional tool, but required the organisation to raise $3 million for the carrier’s upkeep. An exhibition was held at the World Trade Center in support of the project, and two-thirds of the required sum was raised by the spring of 1979.
Developer Zachary Fisher became so enthusiastic about the museum idea that he established its foundation and personally contributed over $25 million for the project’s development. Furthermore, he successfully recruited broadcaster Arthur Godfrey and actress Maureen O’Hara to join the foundation.
The conversion of the Intrepid was announced in the spring of 1981, and the aircraft carrier was handed over to Fisher. The refitting of the two upper decks cost $22 million and included creating exhibition halls, positioning technical equipment, and restoring the navigation and flight bridges. Meanwhile, the city authorities reconstructed Pier 86 on the west side of Manhattan for the Intrepid’s eventual docking.
The aircraft carrier was towed to the pier in June 1982. It officially opened on 3 August as the “Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum”, with Larry Savinsky serving as the director. The museum had 50 paid employees working in the ticket offices, cafeteria, and gift shop, while volunteers managed the exhibitions. Although reconstruction was still ongoing, the museum began operating and welcoming visitors.
The Museum: Past and Present
The Intrepid Museum is located at the intersection of 46th Street and 12th Avenue on the west side of Manhattan. When the aircraft carrier was converted, only a quarter of the total area was made accessible to the public. Some equipment, such as the large aircraft lifts (elevators), was purposely deactivated for safety reasons, and one of them was converted into a theatre. While much of the original machinery was moved or removed, visitors can still form a comprehensive understanding of the aircraft carrier.
The modern museum spans three decks of the carrier. The upper deck features numerous exhibits related to aviation. A three-inch gun mount is positioned on the starboard side. The Space Shuttle Enterprise is housed on the flight deck. The command bridges are also accessible to visitors.
The main entrance was moved in 2008 to the carrier’s hangar deck, which is located directly beneath the flight deck. This area previously housed the permanent and temporary exhibition halls. The original exhibition halls included:
- A hall introducing visitors to early air travel,
- A technology hall with an exhibit on space flights,
- The US Navy hall,
- A hall dedicated to the aircraft carrier and its operational history.
A cafeteria and toilets were located at the rear, and a terrace was set up on the stern.
Initially, the museum allowed visitors to watch newsreels and view dioramas of World War Two battles. By the 1990s, a submarine research room, a children’s attraction, and a flight simulator were operational. After the 2008 reconstruction, two more flight simulators, a 4D cinema, and interactive exhibits for children were added. Later additions included an interactive hall featuring a full-size Bell 47 helicopter, an educational centre, an event space called the Michael Tyler Fisher Center, and a 245-seat theatre. Visitors can now watch a short film about the carrier’s history here.
Within the gallery space, the Combat Information Center and an exhibition about those who served on the Intrepid were created. The bow section features an exhibition of artefacts from the officer’s quarters. The quarters for generals, junior officers, and the crew are open for viewing. A unique feature is an internal cut-out that allows visitors to look through seven decks of the aircraft carrier.
Exhibits at the Intrepid Museum
This museum has amassed a large collection of military and even space technology. The majority of the collection is displayed on the aircraft carrier’s flight deck. All the apparatus can be viewed up close, allowing visitors to learn detailed information about them. Notably, there is an extensive collection of aircraft. All of them have been decommissioned and are non-flying, but this doesn’t hinder visitors from exploring their technical specifications.
In 2003, the museum acquired a British Airways Concorde passenger airliner. It set a world speed record in 1996, flying between London and New York in 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds.
The museum holds two NASA spacecrafts. One is a replica of the Aurora 7 Mercury capsule, and the other is the Space Shuttle Enterprise. A Russian Soyuz descent module, which docked with the International Space Station, can also be seen here.
Part of the museum is the USS Growler diesel-electric submarine, which was armed with Regulus missiles and used as a nuclear deterrent. It is also moored alongside Pier 86. The submarine can be visited by 20 people simultaneously.
Overall, the museum’s collection is incredibly rich. Its premises house several thousand artefacts donated by the military, former crew members, and their families. These objects include Royal Navy uniform, a mess bell, a pressure gauge, and parachute packing tools. Visitors therefore have the opportunity to delve into the history and modern reality of the US Navy and see genuine combat technology.
Visiting the Intrepid Museum
The Intrepid Museum awaits visitors at its permanent location at Pier 86 on 46th Street, along the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan.
Tickets for the Intrepid Museum can be purchased both directly on-site and online. When planning your visit, be sure to check the operating hours. From 1 October to 31 March, the institution is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:00). From 1 April to 30 September, the museum welcomes guests from 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:00) Monday to Friday, and from 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:00) on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
The Intrepid Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Additionally, various events may be held that affect operating times, so it is advisable to confirm details on the institution’s website before visiting.