West 46th Street and 12th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
(212) 245 0072 • 245 2533 groups & schools
http://www.intrepidmuseum.org
Important note: The Intrepid will be going "On Leave" -- closing to the public -- beginning October 1, 2006 for renovations and reconstruction that is expected to take eightenn months to complete. Get all the details at the Intrepid's official website.
It seems that with each passing year, this world-class museum expands. And when it expands, it doesn't kid around. Over the past five years, exhibit space within the Intrepid herself has increased tremendously. Outside, aircraft have been added. A destroyer, submarine and other ships have been added.
The Intrepid herself is a 40,000 ton, 900-foot long Essex class carrier with an illustrious 37-year history of service, including many campaigns during WW II, as well as three combat tours in Vietnam. She has endured seven bombs, five kamikaze attacks, and one torpedo hit.
Visitors begin a tour at Armed Forces Plaza, featuring a US Army M-60 Main Battle Tank and an M-42 self-propelled anti aircraft gun, among other items.
Eight main exhibit areas aboard the Intrepid include United States Navy Hall, with continuously running films, "Air Power at Sea" and "Proudly We Serve -- Blacks in the segregated Navy and Coast Guard." Other film presentations include "Desert Storm" and "Wings over Water." Aircraft such as the Grumman A-6a Intruder, the A-4B Skyhawk and others will be found here, as well as numerous missiles and ships/aircraft models, uniforms, and other artifacts.
Intrepid Hall features a multi-media presentation, "Spirit of Intrepid," showing kamikaze attacks and the largest naval battle in history. Reproductions of the F-GF Hellcat and SB2C-3 Helldiver are here as are large scale models of the USS New Jersey and other famous ships. Pioneer Hall contains the Fisher Gallery, a Mini-Theatre with regular showings, several planes and other items, as well as special changing exhibits.
Technologies Hall includes fascinating exhibits such as Undersea Frontier, a Gemini Capsule reproduction, a Bell OH-13 Sioux helicopter, and others. Another Mini-Theatre shows "Titanic Recovery" along with several other titles continually. The Flight Deck offers numerous aircraft for close-up inspection, including the A-12 Blackbird (world's fastest aircraft), Helicopters of Vietnam, HU-16 Albatross amphibian aircraft, and a Harrier vertical take-off fighter-bomber, to name a few. Fascinating.
Visitors can also view the Combat Information Center, the Navigating Bridge, and many other great areas, including a special gallery that features great exhibits, some on loan from other museums, on a rotating basis.
Other ships that can be toured are the USS Growler, the world's only guided missile sub open to the public, and the Destroyer USS Edson. Other items of interest include the Lightship Nantucket, the Tugboat Hackensack, the Research Vessel Intrepid Explorer, a 41-foot Coast Guard Cutter, and torpedos and various weapons and artifacts.
The Intrepid, the other ships, the aircraft and world-class exhibits present an unequalled opportunity to discover our nations' military history in a way that is both interesting and inspiring. Throughout the year families can take advantage of Special Events and activities, many of which are on a very large scale indeed. Call for a current calendar.
The Intrepid also offers a great lineup of School Programs. Though
titles may change, a few examples include How Do Boats Float? (grades
2 & 3): has students design their own boats and test their load capacity;
How Do Airplanes Fly? (grades 5 & 6): uses specially selected
exhibits to teach the historical development of airplane flight and design.
By constructing paper planes, students learn the concepts of drag, lift,
weight and thrust; Microgravity: Toys in Space (5 thru 7): examines
mockups of the Gemini and Apollo spacecraft to learn about life support
systems; students experiment with microgravity concepts; Workshops can
accommodate up to 35 students. Teachers take note: a Teacher's Familiarization
Tour is offered to help make the most of a school visit. Call the group
number for details.
Hours: Open April 1 to October 1, Weekdays 10am - 5pm (last admission at 4pm) and Weekdays and Holidays 10am - 6pm. Open all holidays except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Open October 2 to April 1, Tuesday thru Sunday 10am - 5pm (last admission at 4pm). Closexd Mondays.k.
Admission: Adults $16.50, Veterans, Seniors, Students $12.50.
Children 6 - 17 $11.50, Children 2 - 5 $4.50, Children under 2 FREE. Call for Group Rates. and pricing on workshops.
Group Reservations: At least 1 week in advance. For program, 8 weeks.
Lunch: Snack bar on board.
Handicapped: Accessible.
Directions: Located at 12th Ave. and 46th St. Bear right just past 47th St. for bus parking in front of museum (free).
Time: 30 minutes south of the George Washington Bridge.
Nearby: World Trade Center Observation Desk , Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island , New York Stock Exchange , Federal Reserve Bank .