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SPACE SHUTTLE PAVILION TO REOPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON JULY 10

Mon, 06 May 2013 12:11:45 GMT

New York, NY (May 6, 2013) – The Space shuttle Pavilion, housing Space Shuttle Enterprise, the original NASA orbiter that paved the way for America’s successful space shuttle program, is scheduled to reopen to the public on Wednesday, July 10, at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum located at Pier 86 (46th Street and 12th Avenue), in Hudson River Park, in Manhattan.

The new Space Shuttle Pavilion, which replaces the original structure that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy, is currently being constructed around Enterprise and will be completed over the coming weeks. Visitors will still be able to walk underneath Enterprise which sits 10 feet off of the ground, view Enterprise from a larger observation platform and view a film narrated by actor Leonard Nimoy.

In addition to Enterprise, the Pavilion will be the new home to the Russian Soyuz space capsule and incorporate new experiences designed to immerse visitors of all ages in the sights, sounds and stories of the space shuttle program. Included will be a soundscape entryway featuring audio between NASA control and Enterprise astronauts, a programmed demonstration stage, and exhibits highlighting shuttle program spin-offs.

“After many months of hard work recovering from Hurricane Sandy we are extremely excited to announce the opening of our new Space Shuttle Pavilion, and to once again share Enterprise with all who visit the museum,” stated Susan Marenoff-Zausner, President of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. “Our team is working hard to bring an incredible exhibit to life that will allow Enterprise to continue to inspire new generations of innovators and dreamers for years to come.”

“The thoughts and prayers of the entire NASA family were with those whose lives were affected by Hurricane Sandy and that includes everyone at the Intrepid Museum who have worked tirelessly in the days, weeks, and months following the storm to restore their valuable collection of aerospace artifacts,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. “We know space shuttle Enterprise is in good and caring hands, and we hope everyone has an opportunity to visit this important part of our space exploration history in the new pavilion.”

Enterprise will remain in this temporary, climate-controlled Space Shuttle Pavilion until a permanent exhibit facility is built.

Intrepid Kicks off Summer Salute to Heroes with Memorial Day Weekend Celebration

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:31:22 GMT

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum kicks-off our annual Summer Salute to Heroes with a Memorial Day Weekend celebration to salute our armed forces, to be held from May 24 - May 28, 2013. The celebration is dedicated to honoring heroes past and present, and inspiring those of the future. All Memorial Day Weekend activities are free and open to the public.

Many fan-favorite activities will be held at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Pier 86 (46 Street and 12 Avenue, Manhattan). Some of this year's special events and performances include:

Friday, May 24:
The Intrepid Summer Movie Series kicks off our series of free public film screenings on the flight deck with a screening of the classic film Top Gun. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors are encouraged to bring food and beverages to the screening; however, alcohol is not permitted.

Saturday, May 25:
Join us for exciting performances by The Manhattan Dolls, Sony Music Nashville recording artist Angie Johnson (featured on NBC's "The Voice"), Trailer Radio and the USO Show Troupe. Demonstrations, activities and various interactive displays from Intrepid Education, Coca-Cola Swelter Stopper, Dina Parise Racing, U.S. Coast Guard, Operation Goody Bag, NY Water Taxi, American Red Cross and CrossFit NYC will take place on the pier from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Sunday, May 26:
Enjoy performances by Sony Music Nashville recording artist Angie Johnson (featured on NBC's "The Voice"), the USO Show Troupe and The Callbacks. Demonstrations, activities and various interactive displays from Intrepid Education, Coca-Cola Swelter Stopper, Dina Parise Racing, U.S. Coast Guard, Operation Goody Bag, NY Water Taxi, American Red Cross and CrossFit NYC will take place on the pier from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Monday, May 27:
Honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces by attending the annual Memorial Day commemoration ceremony at 11:00 AM. Demonstrations, activities and various interactive displays from Intrepid Education, Coca-Cola Swelter Stopper, U.S. Coast Guard, Operation Goody Bag, NY Water Taxi, American Red Cross and CrossFit NYC will take place on the pier from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Tuesday, May 28:
Award-winning WNBC news anchor David Ushery will lead a discussion between Tuskegee Airman Roscoe Brown, USS Mason crewmember Lorenzo DuFau and Pearl Harbor survivor Clark Simmons, who bravely served in our nation's segregated armed forces about their experiences as African Americans serving overseas in WWII on Tuesday, May 28th, from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. RSVP required. Free to the public.

For more information, visit the Memorial Day Weekend 2013 Homepage

Tour Guide Talks – RMS Titanic

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:47:07 GMT

On April 15, 1912, The RMS Titanic sank in just under 3 hours after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic. We are often asked here at the Museum about how the Titanic and Intrepid compare to each other. In our latest edition of Tour Guide Talks, we commemorate this dark day and answer many of the comparison questions our visitors ask.

If this two minute virtual talk leaves you wanting more, take a look at Intrepid’s wide variety of Guided Tour offerings, including a sort of “choose your own adventure” VIP Tour. General Admission and Guided Tour tickets for 2013 are now available for online purchase. And more Talks featuring the Museum’s expert Tour Guides are promised to be released throughout 2013. To view more videos click here

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Receives National Endowment for the Humanities Grant to Expand Exhibitions

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:33:25 GMT

INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM RECEIVES NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES GRANT TO EXPAND EXHIBITIONS
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ONE OF 205 PROJECTS TO RECEIVE THE COMPETITIVE GRANT

NEW YORK, NY (April 9, 2013) – The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum has been awarded one of America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations Implementation Grants in the amount of $260,000 for its long-term exhibition “City at Sea: USS Intrepid,” including plans to bring to life, for museum visitors, nine restored historic spaces aboard the famed vessel.

205 projects across the nation received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support museums, libraries, historic places, and other organizations that produce public programs in the humanities. Applications are peer reviewed by a panel of experts, then recommended to and ultimately chosen by the NEH.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in support of the “City at Sea” project,” stated Susan Marenoff-Zausner, President of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. “The funding will help us protect, preserve and interpret these history-rich environments and offer expanded educational experiences for all who visit the museum.”

Added Jessica Williams, Curator of History at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, “‘City at Sea’ will create meaningful connections between our visitors and the men who lived and worked on board Intrepid. We are grateful to NEH for supporting our efforts to bring their stories to life.”

“City at Sea: USS Intrepid” is an engaging and interactive self-guided exhibition that examines life at sea for the ship’s crew within the very spaces where they lived, worked and carried out Intrepid’s historic missions. The funding from NEH will allow the museum to expand the exhibit and introduce dynamic interpretive content within nine restored historic spaces aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid, including the island, mess and galley, anchor chain room, Combat Information Center, pilot ready room and berthing areas. The exhibition will utilize Intrepid’s restored historic spaces to educate visitors about the history of Intrepid and its role in twentieth-century history, bring these historic spaces to life through first-person accounts from former crew members, and develop an immersive, interactive experience that encourages visitors to explore and learn from the ship’s evocative environments through interactive storytelling stations, interpretive text panels and audio programs installed throughout the ship. The interpretive content developed for the exhibition will also be available in a web-based exhibition, which will be supported by the Intrepid Museum.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created in 1965. It is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States. Because democracy demands wisdom, NEH serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. The Endowment accomplishes this mission by awarding grants for top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers. NEH grants strengthen teaching and learning in schools and colleges, facilitate research and original scholarship, provide opportunities for lifelong learning, preserve and provide access to cultural and educational resources, and strengthen the institutional base of the humanities.

Museum notes passing of Intrepid Freedom Award recipient Margaret Thatcher

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:56:37 GMT

The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum mourns the passing of former United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Lady Thatcher visited Intrepid in November 1994 to receive the Intrepid Freedom Award, which was presented in recognition of her outstanding achievements as a world leader. We offer our condolences to her family and friends and to the British people.

Space Shuttle Enterprise Added to the National Register of Historic Places

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:47:03 GMT

NEW YORK, NY (March 22, 2013) – Space shuttle Enterprise, NASA’s original orbiter, now located at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places as of March 13, 2013, becoming the first orbiter to receive the distinction.

Space shuttle Enterprise is a full-scale test vehicle used for flight tests in the atmosphere and on the ground, and paved the way for the subsequent orbiters in the United States space program. In 2012, Enterprise was transferred to its new permanent home at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.

“We are extremely proud to be the home of the space shuttle Enterprise, and it is an honor to receive this distinction from the National Park Service,” said Susan Marenoff-Zausner, President of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. “We look forward to creating an exciting showcase of the extraordinary history of Enterprise, so that it may continue to educate and inspire the next generation of innovators for years to come.”

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources.

Now home of the space shuttle Enterprise, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum complex includes the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier Intrepid; the guided missile submarine Growler; and an extensive collection of 27 aircraft including the A-12 Blackbird, the fastest plane in the world, and the British Airways Concorde, the fastest commercial aircraft in the world. Guests can experience areas of the ship including the Flight Deck, Hangar Deck, fo’c’sle (commonly known as the anchor chain room), new multimedia presentations and exhibit collections, interactive educational stations and a state-of-the-art public pier. Guests can also experience the 12,240 square-foot interactive Exploreum – which contains a variety of hands-on exhibits – that teaches guests about the different properties of the sea, air, space and living at sea as each relates to the ship Intrepid. In the Exploreum, guests can experience a flight simulator, transmit messages using Morse code, sit on the bunk of a crewmember, learn how the Intrepid turned salt water into fresh water and perform various tasks while wearing space gloves.

Inside the Anchor Chain Room

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:59:00 GMT

The former USS Intrepid’s Anchor Chain Room, located in the Fo’c’s’le or bow of the ship, is not only functional but impressive.

Sailors posted at this duty station were responsible for seventy-five tons of anchor chain attached to fifteen tons of anchor. Be sure to watch our newest Tour Guide Talks video to learn more about this important area of the ship.

Intrepid Remembers Pearl Harbor Survivor Daniel Fruchter

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:59:39 GMT

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum pauses to salute the memory of Daniel S. Fruchter, WWII veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor who passed away late last week. He served in the United States Army from 1939-1946, followed by a long and successful career in hospital administration that included 24 years as CEO of Union Hospital in the Bronx.

A dedicated volunteer and friend to the Intrepid Museum, Fruchter also served as the NY State Chairman of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and as keynote speaker each year at Intrepid’s annual Pearl Harbor Ceremony, where he shared his experiences and honored those who served alongside him on December 7, 1941.

His contributions to our nation and our city cannot be measured, and he will be greatly missed by the entire Intrepid family.

The Combat Information Center, the brain of Intrepid

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:11:35 GMT

Visitors to Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum are invited to tour the Combat Information Center (CIC). During her time of service, CIC acted as Intrepid’s nerve center, analyzing and distributing information for key command decisions.

To learn more about CIC, take a look at our latest Tour Guide Talks video, here:

Intrepid Celebrates Women’s History Month

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:50:52 GMT

In honor of women’s history month Intrepid will debut 3 new free Tour Guide Talks. Join us each Saturday and Sunday throughout the month of March for the following talks:
The Real Rosie the Riveter
Sally Ride: Trailblazing Astronaut
Intrepid Women.

Check out this sneak peak video from The Real Rosie the Riveter.

Kids Week Kicks off Saturday, Feb 16th

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:43:59 GMT

Intrepid’s annual Kids Week kicks off this Saturday and Sunday with our Under the Big Top Weekend. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will get things started with performances and their famous CircusZone, where kids can learn all sorts of unique circus skills.

Kids Week is nine days of family friendly programming at Intrepid that runs through Sunday, February 24, and all activities are free with the price of admission.

Join partners such NASA, Scooby-Doo Live, Broadway’s Annie, the NY Jets and more for tons of indoor fun, activities, performances, cool demos and more!

Our Kids Week themes include:

Saturday, February 16th-Sunday, February 17th
Under the Big Top Weekend
Monday, February 18th
Science Meets Science Fiction
Tuesday, February 19th
On Broadway
Wednesday, February 20th - Friday, February 22nd
Intrepid Ports of Call
Saturday, February 23rd - Sunday, February 24th
Sports ’n Games Weekend

For a complete schedule events and to purchase tickets, click here.

New Tour Guide Talk in Honor of Black History Month

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 09:49:06 GMT

Join us each Saturday and Sunday through February 28th for our With Bravery & Distinction Tour Guide Talk. This 45 minute tour celebrates the accomplishments of little known African-Americans who were pioneers in the areas of sea, air and space.

Offered each weekend at 3:30pm, this tour is free with admission and guests should meet at the Information Desk in Hangar 1. Click here for more information.

And be sure to check out this video – about the USS Mason – to get a sneak peek of what is included in this special Tour Guide Talk.

Intrepid remembers Ed Koch

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:56:50 GMT

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum joins all New Yorkers in mourning the passing of Edward I. Koch, the 105th Mayor of the City of New York.

Nothing short of a legend, Ed Koch was a great friend of Intrepid whose leadership and support was crucial in the establishment of this Museum in 1982, and his legacy has been felt throughout this Museum’s more than 30 years of successful operation. He will be missed.

Intrepid Invites Public to Share Their Photos in New Enterprise Exhibition

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:47:06 GMT

Intrepid’s new exhibition, Space Shuttle Enterprise: A Pioneer, includes photographs crowdsourced from the public to capture Enterprise’s journey from experimental orbiter in the 1970’s through to its remarkable trip to Intrepid in 2012. Did you snap a photo of Enterprise flying around DC or NYC on the back of a 747 in 2012? Maybe you photographed it in the 70’s. Upload your photos at enterprise.intrepidmuseum.org or post your photo to Instagram or Twitter with #IntrepidShuttle.

In 1976, NASA unveiled a new type of space vehicle. The space shuttle was a reusable spacecraft that launched as a rocket and landed on a runway like an airplane. NASA intended that the space shuttle would usher in a new era of frequent and cost-effective spaceflights. The orbiter Enterprise, the first of these revolutionary spacecraft, was a test vehicle whose important contributions to the shuttle program were realized within Earth’s atmosphere.

In July 2012, Enterprise joined the collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Hurricane Sandy damaged the Museum’s Space Shuttle Pavilion. As a result, Enterprise itself is not currently on public display. Space Shuttle Enterprise: A Pioneer provides a brief introduction to Enterprise with compelling artifacts of the era, archival images, and video clips to illustrate the history and significance of this prototype orbiter.

The exhibition celebrates the pilots and engineers who contributed to the Enterprise story, as well as the technological innovations that helped to make Enterprise an icon of the space program.

Space Shuttle Enterprise: A Pioneerr is on display in Intrepid Museum’s Hangar Deck 2 Gallery and is free with general admission. Click here for additional information.

A4 Skyhawk, an Exception to the Rule

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:51:45 GMT

The A4 Skyhawk, the only plane in the collection to have flown from Intrepid’s flight deck during her time of service, is an exception to the rule. While most carrier planes have folding wings, the A4 Skyhawk does not. Other unique features include an external fuel tank and fueling probe that allow this aircraft to be refueled mid-flight.

To learn more about the A4 Skyhawk, take a look at our latest Tour Guide Talks video, here:

Intrepid Museum Unveils Newest Exhibition

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:19:01 GMT

Today, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum unveiled its special exhibition Space Shuttle Enterprise: A Pioneer that explores Enterprise’s critical role in the development of the space shuttle program.

In 1976, NASA unveiled a new type of space vehicle. The space shuttle was a reusable spacecraft that launched as a rocket and landed on a runway like an airplane. NASA intended that the space shuttle would usher in a new era of frequent and cost-effective spaceflights. The orbiter Enterprise, the first of these revolutionary spacecraft, was a test vehicle whose important contributions to the shuttle program were realized within Earth’s atmosphere.

In July 2012, Enterprise joined the collection of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Hurricane Sandy damaged the Museum’s Space Shuttle Pavilion. As a result, Enterprise itself is not currently on public display. Space Shuttle Enterprise: A Pioneer provides a brief introduction to Enterprise with compelling artifacts of the era, archival images, and video clips to illustrate the history and significance of this prototype orbiter.

The exhibition celebrates the pilots and engineers who contributed to the Enterprise story, as well as the technological innovations that helped to make Enterprise an icon of the space program.

Space Shuttle Enterprise: A Pioneer is on display in Intrepid Museum’s Hangar Deck 2 Gallery and is free with general admission. Click here for additional information.

Space Shuttle Pavilion Update

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:16:36 GMT

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum has started the process of constructing temporary scaffolding and a protective cover over Space Shuttle Enterprise, as it works to reopen the Space Shuttle Pavilion for early Summer 2013. The process is expected to take 4-5 days.

The Space Shuttle Pavilion was damaged during Hurricane Sandy, which also flooded electrical and mechanical systems and the museum’s Welcome Center and forced the temporary closure of the museum. Extensive replacement and repairs took approximately eight-weeks, and will continue to take place on the Pavilion and Welcome Center for several more months. The museum – including the Intrepid, the Growler submarine and the Concorde – reopened to the public on December 21.

On January 17 the Museum will open “Space Shuttle Enterprise: A Pioneer,” a new exhibition that explores the history of Enterprise and its critical role in the development of the space shuttle. While Enterprise itself will not be on display, compelling artifacts of the era – such as space shuttle cockpit instruments, a flight helmet and model orbiters – as well as archival images and video clips to illustrate the history and significance of the prototype orbiter, will be included.

Now through February 15, the museum’s Gift of Intrepid “buy one, get one free” promotion allows Facebook fans or twitter followers of the Museum provides a special reason to visit. Visitors must print and bring with them a special coupon posted on the Intrepid Facebook and Twitter pages.

FJ3 Fury, a Distinctly Carrier Based Aircraft

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:18:42 GMT

How is an aircraft carrier based plane different than one that lands on solid ground?

Used by the US Navy from 1954 through 1964, the FJ3 Fury is a prime example of a carrier based aircraft. A robust nose gear sits the plane higher off of the ground and is essential to make a flight deck landing. And the Fury’s folding wings allow for easier storage of the plane on a vessel where space is a precious commodity.

Learn more about the FJ3 Fury and her distinct features here:

Intrepid During Vietnam

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:26:03 GMT

Tour Guide Talks, Intrepid Museum’s bite sized video tour series, continues with Tour Guide Mike Murtagh who eloquently tells the story of Intrepid’s service during the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam War was one that USS Intrepid was never built to fight. Originally constructed in 1943, by the time she sailed to Vietnam in 1966 she was twenty-two years old and half the size of modern aircraft carriers. Despite these challenges, Intrepid was successful in bringing down enemy aircraft and spent more time in service during the Vietnam War than World War II.

Watch this video to learn more about USS Intrepid and her crew during her time of service in Vietnam:

The TBM Avenger, A Design Challenge

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:29:58 GMT

Tour Guide Talks, Intrepid Museum’s bite sized video tour series, continues with Senior Tour Guide, Fontaine Piper and the design innovation of the TBM Avenger.

The TBM Avenger was one of the primary aircraft flown from USS Intrepid during World War II. During the development of the Avenger, Leroy Grumman was faced with a dilemma: how to best fold the aircraft’s wings to accommodate its rather expansive wing span. Watch this video to learn how Grumman’s innovative design solved this challenge:

If this two minute virtual talk leaves you wanting more, take a look at Intrepid’s wide variety of Guided Tour offerings, including a sort of “choose your own adventure” VIP Tour. Although the Museum remains closed, General Admission and Guided Tour tickets for 2013 are available for online purchase. And more Talks featuring the Museum’s expert Tour Guides are promised to be released throughout the new year. To view more videos click here

Intrepid Museum Reopens After Hurricane Sandy

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:46:27 GMT




Intrepid’s former crewmembers and 5th graders from PS 6 in Manhattan participated in a ribbon cutting today with Intrepid President Susan Marenoff-Zausner to commemorate the Museum’s reopening. After a six week closure to repair major damage to our electrical systems caused by Hurricane Sandy, Intrepid’s doors are open once again to carry out our mission to honor our heroes, educate the public and inspire our youth. After the ribbon cutting, the 5th graders were led on tours by Museum Educators and got to learn about life aboard Intrepid from our former crewmembers. .

The Anatomy of an Ejection Seat

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:31:40 GMT

Tour Guide Talks, Intrepid Museum’s bite sized video tour series, continues with Senior Tour Guide, Michael Miscione and the basic anatomy of an ejection seat.

This video features a Martin-Baker ejection seat. Introduced in conjunction with the start of the jet age (right after World War II) ejection seats offered pilots an added level of safety in the event of an emergency. Learn more about this high-propulsion escape route, here:

If this two minute virtual talk leaves you wanting more, take a look at Intrepid’s wide variety of Guided Tour offerings, including a sort of “choose your own adventure” VIP Tour. In anticipation of our December 21st reopening, General Admission and Guided Tour tickets are now available for online purchase for visits from December 21st onwards. And more Talks featuring the Museum’s expert Tour Guides are promised to be released throughout the rest of 2012.To view more videos click here

Ahoy! Welcome to the Captain’s Bridge

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 10:12:50 GMT

Tour Guide Talks, Intrepid Museum’s bite sized video tour series, continues with Senior Tour Guide, Michael Miscione and a tour of the former USS Intrepid’s Captain’s Bridge.

Located within Intrepid’s Island, the Captain’s Bridge houses the helm, or in landlubber terms, the steering wheel. From here, the Captain would command and the helmsmen would steer the ship.

With other gizmos and gadgets a-plenty, this video will help demystify “what’s what” on the Bridge:

Intrepid Shares Recovery Story in Advance of Dec 21 Reopening

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:03:28 GMT

Today Intrepid launches the second of a two part video series to share both the impact and recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy. Part two focuses on the damage to the Space Shuttle Pavilion.

The museum will reopen to the public on Friday, December 21st however the Space Shuttle Pavilion will remain temporarily closed until Spring 2013.Click here to support Intrepid today.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum to reopen Dec. 21 after hurricane Sandy repairs are completed

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:10:30 GMT

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Museum Offers Special Gift Of Intrepid for All Visitors Through Feb 15, 2013

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum today announced it would officially reopen to the public on December 21, after completing extensive repairs necessary due to all of the Museum's power sources being damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

“We have worked non-stop to make the necessary repairs to our power generation, fire suppression and other infrastructure that makes the museum run and allow visitors to enjoy the unique historical exhibits here,” said Susan Marenoff-Zausner, President of the Intrepid Museum. “The flooding we experienced during the height of Sandy was beyond anyone’s imagination. Recovering from damage that extensive, in just over a month, is a testament to the hard work of everyone here at the museum. We’re thrilled that we’re open again in time for the Winter Holiday break.”

The rise in the Hudson River due to Hurricane Sandy caused flooding and damage to Pier 86, with four to six feet of water swamping the main electrical transformers and both of Intrepid’s backup generators. Power losses caused the Space Shuttle Pavilion to deflate, and interrupted power supply to the entire museum complex, including the Intrepid, Growler, Concorde and the Welcome Center. Additionally, three feet of water poured into the Welcome Center, destroying the ticketing counters, gift shop and mechanical rooms. The Welcome Center will remain closed while being rebuilt and temporary ticketing booths have been installed in the Museum’s plaza.

The Space Shuttle Pavilion exhibit remains closed while preparations are made to install a new structure and rebuild the exhibit interior. The shuttle is fully visible from the flight deck and the pier.

In celebration of the reopening, Intrepid is offering a Gift of Intrepid “buy one, get one free” promotion through February 15, 2013. This special ‘social media’ offer is available to those who are facebook fans of the Museum or those who follow the museum on twitter. Visitors must print and bring with them the special coupon posted.