HIGHLIGHTS OF INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

For anyone interested in marvels of transport of all kinds, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum has you covered. With sea, air and space exhibits to enthral visitors, there is much to see.

USS INTREPID

USS Intrepid was commissioned in 1941 and saw active service in World War II. It was the fifth Essex-class carrier to be launched, one of 24 built during World War II. With a displacement of 41,200 tons, the ship survived five kamikaze attacks as well as a torpedo strike during her active service. Intrepid was also used by NASA as a recovery ship for Mercury and Gemini space missions.

The huge flat expanse of the carriers flight deck is occupied by a display of aircraft from a sleek fast A12 Blackbird to the Harrier Jump Jet which can hover and even fly backwards as well as an F14 Tomcat which will be familiar to Top Gun fans. You can get up close to most of the exhibits as you explore the flight deck. The bridge area of the ship gives a great view of the entire carrier and the aircraft displayed on it.

 Heading below decks, you can explore the huge Hangar Deck where there are plenty of permanent and temporary exhibits to explore. Exhibits to look out for here include one of the propellers off the ship, the ship’s bell, and a huge Lego model of the aircraft carrier amongst many other artefacts and exhibits. Be sure to head all the way forward and into the fo’c’sle where you should look out for some graffiti drawn by the crew. Other areas to explore include a couple of ready rooms and the crew quarters as you begin to get an idea of what life would have been like on this vast ship.

SHUTTLE ENTERPRISE

The shuttle pavilion is at the stern of the flight deck, this sadly means you can’t get to the back of the carrier for views across the Hudson River. The Enterprise was the original prototype so whilst it never actually went to space, it was the original concept that proved all the systems would work, especially for landing as a glider.

There are plenty of artefacts around the edges of the room, together with mission information and information about the two shuttles that were lost. The main attraction is, of course, the shuttle itself which fills the pavilion. A nice touch here are the stairs at the cockpit end which allow you an impressive nose-to-nose view of the shuttle. 

CONCORDE

The Concorde tour, which must be booked additionally to the entrance fee to the museum starts with the tour guide showing various pictures on a large TV screen while talking about the history of the plane. They talk about its origins, how it came to be, its service and, of course, the fateful crash in Paris. The guides are very enthusiastic about the topic and they seem genuinely proud of the aeroplane and that they can show it to visitors. They only allow 20 people on the tour so it’s easy to hear the guide and see what they are showing you as well as ask questions if you have any.

After the presentation, you head over to the plane itself. You used to be able to enter through the back door and walk through the plane past all the seats sealed away under Perspex, which meant you could walk the narrow corridor from back to front. Unfortunately, people couldn’t be trusted to not damage the aircraft and British Airways (who still own all their Concordes that are on display around the world) insisted that Intrepid do something to stop the damage. This is why you now have to attend a special tour, rather than just allow people to walk through. The average visitor’s loss is the aficionados gain here though as people who attend the tour get a much more in-depth tour of the plane.

Once onboard, only the first 40 (of 100) seats are open (this is so they don’t have to air-condition the entire plane), but with only 20 people on the tour, you can all have two seats to yourself. The first thing you’ll notice is that whilst the legroom is decent, it certainly doesn’t compare with modern Business Class, never mind First Class, and four seats across are cosy, to say the least. This plane was far more about speed and service than personal space and comfort. You can take as many photographs as you wish whilst onboard.

Your guide then continues to give an interesting talk about the plane and are very proud that this particular Concorde (G-BOAD) was the plane that completed the fastest ever time from New York to London. The entire trip took an astonishing 2 hours 52 minutes and 59 seconds averaging 1,250 mph! This record wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of air traffic control who cleared Concorde to land in the opposite direction to other landing traffic at Heathrow airport so that it didn’t have to turn back on itself.

At the end of the tour, the guide takes people up in two’s and three’s to the cockpit. If you can end up in the final group of two/three you may end up with more time in the cockpit as there is nobody waiting after you. This is just the luck of the draw, but I spent a good ten minutes in the cockpit talking to the guide. The guide will point out the usual instruments, along with some of the ones that were unique to Concorde, like the switches to lower the nose for take-off and landing. You can also see the infamous “gap” in the console, which appeared when the plane was going supersonic due to the expansion of the airframe. The last pilots all put their caps in these gaps, which then squashed the hats once the plane landed; the idea was the hats would be there forevermore, but sadly, the one in this Concorde has been removed.

USS GROWLER

The only American guided missile submarine open to the public, USS Growler offers visitors a chance to see what life would have been like on board. The submarine is berthed to the right as you enter the museum and certainly looks menacing with a missile looking ready to launch at a moment’s notice. The inside of the submarine is cramped and therefore they only allow a certain number of people on board at once, so you may have to wait in line to access the submarine.

Onboard you can visit the control room where those fearsome missiles would have been launched from. The crew’s mess where the crew relaxed when off-duty and the galley where all the crew’s meals were prepared. And the torpedo room where torpedos would be loaded and launched at enemy ships.

PLAN YOUR VISIT TO INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

Information last updated November 2019

HOW TO GET THERE

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum can be found at Pier 86, W 46th St, New York, NY 10036.

You can get to the museum by the M42 and M50 both of which stop just a couple of minutes walk from the museum. Ferry services from New Jersey dock about 5-10 minutes walk away at Midtown / W. 39th Street.

There is no parking at the museum, nearby public car parks can be found at Park Right, PARK-IT and GMC, all of which are about 5-10 minutes walk from the museum.

OPENING HOURS

Opening hours are 1000-1700 every day and until 1800 during the summer at weekends and holidays. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Opening hours can vary, so please check the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum for the latest information.

You will be outside walking between the exhibits and on the flight deck of the carrier and inside for the rest of the time. As there is so much to do indoors, any time of year is a good time to visit. We would recommend you allow at least three to four hours to fully enjoy the museum’s many attractions.

HOW TO BUY TICKETS & SAVE MONEY ON ADMISSION

Basic admission prices are $33.00 for 13 years old and over, $31.00 for seniors, $24.00 for children aged 5-12 and free for under 5s.

Intrepid offers various guided tours to visitors, tours cost $15-$20 for 13 years old and over, $12-$15 for seniors and children aged 5-12 and free for under 5s.

An audio guide is available for $7 per person.

Within the museum, there is the option to view 3D films as well as ride motion simulators. 3D films are $7 per person and simulators $10 per ride.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is on the New York City Pass. With this pass, you can save money on New York attractions by either buying one of two passes. The CityPass gives you access to six selected attractions and saves up to 44%, while the C3 pass allows you to pick three attractions you want to visit and save up to 30%.

ACCESSIBILITY

Because much of this museum is housed in former military vessels access is restricted with narrow corridors and stairs. The museum makes every effort to allow visitors with disabilities to fully enjoy their experience with sensory experiences and a virtual tour.

For full accessibility details please visit the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Accessibility page.

IS INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM WORTH THE VISIT?

For anyone interested in amazing machinery, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is well worth a visit. The amazing military might of the USS Intrepid and the fascinating story of the USS Growler and life onboard these The large and varied collection of aircraft you can explore and learn about. See a Space Shuttle up close and find out more about space exploration. Go onboard the world’s fastest passenger jet that could travel the Atlantic in less than 3 hours. There really is an amazing amount of things to do at the museum.

See what others think of this attraction on Trip Advisor.

ADD TO YOUR NEW YORK ITINERARY

The city that never sleeps has plenty to keep visitors entertained. World-class museums, the incredible Central Park and a plethora of interesting attractions to tempt visitors from the quirky to the mainstream.

IN THE AREA

• The largest Neo-Gothic cathedral in North America, St Patrick’s Cathedral can hold 3,000 people. The stunning architecture and beautiful stained glass are sure to impress visitors.

• The huge green space in the middle of Manhattan is much more than a park. Central Park has a boating lake, memorials, attractions, follies and even a zoo, it’s well worth a visit.

• Visit Top of the Rock for stunning views of Central Park to the north and the famous New York skyline to the south. You can see the whole of Manhattan including the Empire State Building and even out as far as the Statue of Liberty.

• A former elevated train line, the High Line is now a park that snakes its way through the city. With plants, artwork and great views of the city from a different angle it makes for a great walk.

• The hub of New York, adorned with a thousand adverts vying for your attention and where the ball drops at New Year’s. No visit to New York would be complete without a trip to Times Square.

RESOURCES | PLAN YOUR TRIP TO NEW YORK

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