 The aircraft carrier Intrepid is a National Historic Landmark. Much of it is accessible by wheelchair, but because of preservation concerns, parts of the ship and two major artifacts at the Museum are not accessible to visitors with physical disabilities, claustrophobia or families with small children. The fo’c’sle and combat information center on Intrepid’s decks, the submarine Growler and the Concorde have stairs, doorways and tight spaces that can be difficult to navigate—until now.
The Museum partnered with Google Arts & Culture to provide free online access to many of its historical spaces, artifacts and archives. Using Google’s Street View feature, people all over the world can now virtually explore the Museum’s most intriguing spaces, including Intrepid, Growler, the Concorde and the Space Shuttle Pavilion, all with just a few clicks. In addition to these virtual explorations, more than 100 artifacts and photographs are also viewable online. They offer a glimpse into the history and innovation preserved at the Museum, including a World War II diary, a Vietnam War survival kit and souvenirs from the Concorde’s era of luxury service. Also on view is the exhibition On Liberty, At War: Intrepid’s Ports of Call during the Vietnam War. It focuses on the ship’s port visits between 1966 and 1969 and the significance of these journeys to the young sailors on Intrepid’s crew. (This digital exhibition is a companion to the exhibition Ports of Call, currently on display at the Museum.)
The Museum is committed to removing barriers to experiencing its exhibits and programs. With creative approaches and productive partnerships like this one, we are working to make the rich history and technology on display at the Museum more accessible to individuals of all ages, abilities and means.
Explore the Museum online ❱
For more information on the Museum’s accessibility programs and resources, click here. |