USS Intrepid - The Museum Formerly An Aircraft Carrier

The Intrepid Museum in New York City is one of the most fascinating and underrated experiences in a city full of memorable adventures.

For one, the museum is located on the USS Intrepid, a friggin retired aircraft carrier permanently docked on the Hudson River at Pier 86 in Manhattan! Talk about awesome; if you are a fan of military history or just amazing killing machines in general, this is the place to be!

A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.

Check out the prices back in 2016! Coincidentally, the museum's special exhibit that day was about all things Star Trek.

Officially opened as a museum in 1982, the act saved the ship from being scrapped; turning it into one of NYC’s most unique attractions.

The museum features over two dozen aircraft including: a British Airways Concorde, a Lockheed A-12 Blackbird (a predecessor to the SR-71), and vintage fighter jets, along with an actual submarine!

We're on an actual aircraft carrier, you guys!!

Stoked to see the legendary Concorde, the fastest passenger plane that ever flew! The one on display here flew the NYC to London route regularly in under 3 hours, faster than some people get through JFK security!

The Lockheed A-12 Blackbird was THE ultimate spy plane which saw heavy action during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Comic book fans might also recognize the design for being the inspiration behind the X-men's vehicle, the Blackbird!

One can also tour the USS Growler, a Cold War-era diesel-powered submarine, complete with nuclear missile launch systems and tight, claustrophobic bunks.

The USS Intrepid itself served in World War II, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and as a NASA recovery vessel during the space race.

Commissioned in 1943, the USS Intrepid saw heavy action in the Pacific Theater of WWII, surviving kamikaze attacks, torpedoes, and bomb hits. In fact, the ship was once hit by a torpedo that didn’t explode, with the dent still visible on the hull!

It earned the nickname “The Fighting I”, credited with downing hundreds of enemy aircraft and supporting major offensives like the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines.

During the Vietnam War, it served as an attack carrier, launching bombing missions from its flight deck.

 

In the 1960s, the Intrepid was used to recover NASA astronauts after splashdowns in the Atlantic, including the Gemini and Mercury missions.

 

Today, the flight deck doubles as a concert venue and event space, hosting everything from Fleet Week celebrations to sci-fi conventions.

Several veterans of the Intrepid work as volunteers and docents, giving firsthand stories of life aboard this floating city.

The museum is kid-friendly, but there's plenty of detail for history nerds, aviation enthusiasts, and space geeks alike.

The museum also offers STEM education programs, simulators, and hands-on exhibits for all ages.

 

Such great timing! There's an exhibit dedicated to all things Star Trek.

I am a proud trekkie, and have been since the days of the Next Generation (80s-90s kids rule!), continuing on to Deep Space Nine, Voyager (my personal favorite series), the films, and the new series' under the Kurtzman era. 

What a dream! I'm on the bridge of the Enterprise-D! 

The Captain's seat will always be reserved for Jean-Luc Picard (portrayed by Sir Patrick Stewart), with Kathryn Janeway being the second most worthy in my opinion!

Finally got to live my dream of touching random buttons on the bridge as extras diligently did in the background of the show.

Don't tell Locutus we have his threads!

Commander Worf taking a nap at the sick bay.

Guinan left her wardrobe here to become a panelist on The View.

Star Trek's futuristic technology went on the inspire several real-world inventions.

The Federation PADD (personal access display device) became the inspiration for the Ipad and other tablets.

Not to mention futuristic weaponry, such as unmanned drones, cybernetic organisms, and laser guns.

The alien races of Trek have also become iconic in their own right; my toddler loves enumerating the different kinds of "bad guys".

Trek uniforms are also timeless!

James Kirk's era innovating the futuristic retro.

The sleekness of the latter 24th century (when TNG, DS9, and Voyager take place)

Finally, the militaristic look of the TNG era movies.

What a fine day for a lifelong Trekkie!

Make sure to admire the awesome view of Manhattan from the upper deck! Afterwards, it’s an easy walk over to Hell’s Kitchen or Hudson Yards for more NYC adventures.