The Fourth of July holiday weekend is the perfect time to visit the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, where visitors take an interactive journey through history to learn about American innovation and bravery.  The Museum is centered on the aircraft carrier Intrepid, now a National Historic Landmark, which served in World War II and the Vietnam War, and as a recovery vessel for the Gemini and Mercury space missions. The Museum also features the Space Shuttle Pavilion home to Enterprise, the world’s first space shuttle, which paved the way for America’s successful Space Shuttle Program. Also on display are 27 authentically restored aircraft, including the Lockheed A-12 Blackbird, the world’s fastest military jet and spy plane, and the British Airways Concorde, the fastest commercial aircraft to ever cross the Atlantic Ocean. Rounding out the Museum is the submarine Growler, the only American diesel-powered strategic missile submarine open to the public.

On July 4, visitors will have a great view from the Museum’s pier of the Hermoine-Lafayette Parade of Ships up the Hudson River.  The parade, which will include over 70 sailboats and motor boats, welcomes tall ship Hermoine  and the Spirit of Lafayette back to New York Harbor.  Starting at 10:30am, the ships will pass under the Verrazano Bridge and continue up to the Statue of Liberty.   The ships are expected to reach the Intrepid Museum by 1:00pm, when they will turn around and head back. 

And on Saturday evening, the Museum will host Dark Night Ventures’  first annual 4th of July Freedom Festival, featuring performances by Queen Latifah, Amy Schumer, Rachel Platten, Will Hoge, the Alternate Routes and Sara Evans. Net proceeds will benefit the Intrepid Museum and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. This benefit performance, starting at 7:00pm on July 4, will be held on the Museum’s Pier 86. Tickets are on sale now.