Commissioned in 1943, Aircraft Carrier Intrepid survived five Kamikaze attacks and a torpedo strike during WWII. The aircraft carrier later served in the Cold War, Vietnam War and as a NASA recovery vessel.
On the flight deck, Intrepid launched propeller planes during WWII, fighter jets in Vietnam and helicopters that recovered NASA astronauts. It now holds a vast collection of historic aircraft and our Space Shuttle Pavilion, which houses the space shuttle Enterprise.
Start at “vulture’s row” where the crew watched flight operations before taking in Intrepid's amazing length while getting an incredible view of the Manhattan skyline. Then, lead the way on the navigation bridge and learn how crew members navigated the oceans in any weather as you explore chart tables, radar consoles, communications equipment, the captain’s quarters and more.
Our legendary aircraft collection reflects some of the greatest achievements in military aviation with five branches of the U.S. armed forces represented: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as several distinctive aircraft from around the world. From the Avenger torpedo bomber, a stalwart from Intrepid’s WWII service, to the Lockheed A-12, the formidable spy plane from the Cold War, and the very Skyray that flew off Intrepid, our collection is a must-see for all ages.
The process of restoring our aircraft can be as simple as a fresh coat of paint or as complicated as manufacturing entire aircraft components from scratch. Our Aircraft Restoration Team, along with a dedicated crew of volunteers, invest thousands of hours taking care of our planes from daily maintenance and research to major overhauls and repairs. Their work ensures that these historic aircraft will be around to inspire visitors for years to come.
Aircraft Restoration: MiG-21
The MiG17 is back on the flight deck fully restored
[Music] Hello, my name is Peter Taraka. I'm the manager of aircraft restoration at the Intrepid Museum. And today we're talking about the MiG 21. The airplane was in good condition for having sat out in the elements for nearly a decade. We were pleasantly surprised to find that there was not uh a tremendous amount of corrosion buildup inside the internal structures of the airframe. So then after thorough cleaning and uh the application of uh preservative coatings on the internal structures, we are removing the prior paint coating which is usually pretty oxidized as it was in this case. What we do to prepare for a new paint job is just remove the oxidized paint on just the top layers. We like to leave as much paint on there as possible
because it constantly eroding. So this MIG 21 was a gift from the country of Poland in 1991. This scheme commemorates a scheme I found that was being used by a squadron in Poland uh as late as 2002. The second brighter green you see in various places on the airframe. This green color was used on uh composite components, fiberglass components, which would be used to cover sensitive radio equipment, but in addition to that, there were in a couple places on the airplane sort of what's called nose art. It might not necessarily be on the nose. One of those it's a small dragon carrying a lightning bolt for a weapon and carrying a shield on which is the Polish national insignia for me add a lot of charisma to the airplane. So
come check out our MIG on the flight deck and for more information go to intrepidmuz.org. or
Enter the Pavilion through a soundscape featuring real audio from NASA’s mission control and emerge from the entryway to see the space shuttle Enterprise, NASA’s original orbiter that paved the way for the U.S. shuttle program. Walk underneath the orbiter or visit an elevated platform for a dramatic view and explore the intricate space shuttle design, as well as the talent behind the program. Then, see a space-flown Soyuz TMA-6 space capsule and experience space-themed VR and AR experiences.
Located between the flight deck and hangar deck, the gallery deck features the combat information center (CIC), squadron-ready room and marine berthing, where crew members prepared for their missions and manned the radars for signs of enemy approach.
Tour the ready room, where pilots received their final briefing before taking off on their missions, and then view the comfortable chairs where Intrepid aviators spent long hours waiting for their orders, as well as jet-age pilot gear.
Experience the combat information center (CIC), where crew members tracked the location and movement of all nearby aircraft and ships, friend or foe. Complete with original radar scopes, plotting boards and communications equipment, CIC was state-of-the-art for its day, and now it's yours to relive.
Explore Intrepid's technology and learn about the people who lived and worked aboard the aircraft carrier. Examine original artifacts, view historic video footage and explore interactive exhibits that trace Intrepid’s naval career from 1943 to today.
The Exploreum is a fully interactive exhibit space thoughtfully designed for families and kids of all ages. Climb into a Bell 47 helicopter, navigate through an interactive submarine, lay in a sailor’s bunk and more—all with unlimited photo ops.
Intrepid's historic fo'c'sle, the forward-most part of the ship, has been fully restored and is open to visitors. It is home to the anchor chain room, where you can get an up-close look at the massive chains that hold Intrepid's anchors. You can also take a peek into the dormitory-style accommodations for junior officers and two-person staterooms for higher-ranking officers.
The third deck features fully restored spaces that reveal daily life for the ship’s enlisted sailors. See the mess deck, including the kitchen, dining areas and various berthing areas, and imagine what it was like to eat and sleep on board.
The mess deck is where Intrepid's enlisted crew members ate their meals. The mess, or dining area, has been restored to its original appearance after a massive remodeling in 1969. The vibrant decor—complete with custom paint colors, colorful textiles and Western-themed props—is unique to Intrepid.
Intrepid was home to 3,000 enlisted sailors, officers and Marines at a time. Visit restored berthing areas that show the tight sleeping quarters that the majority of the ship's crew endured.
Learning can always be fun—and the Intrepid Museum offers a wide range of digital resources to support educators, parents and students as they explore the history and the events that have shaped where we are today.
We offer a number of different programs and events that celebrate history, science, technology and engineering in fun and exciting ways.
Take a virtual Google Arts & Culture Tour to discover the fascinating collections and artifacts on display at the Museum from wherever you are.
Browse records from all four categories of our collections: objects, media, archives and oral histories. Explore thematic and item-specific groupings or uncover personal artifacts like uniforms, souvenirs and images.
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