Enterprise space shuttle at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

New York City is a place that’s known for its museums, and you can definitely count the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum as one of the city’s most unique. Located at Pier 86 in Midtown West on the aircraft carrier itself, the Intrepid museum offers an exciting look at the ship’s storied past.

Commissioned in 1943, the USS Intrepid has a rich naval history. The ship was active in World War II, the Cold War and the Vietnam War, and the Intrepid worked directly with NASA for recovery on both Mercury and Gemini missions.

It’s easy to get a sense of the vital role the Intrepid played in history when you’re at the museum, as many of the museum’s exhibits take place on board the Intrepid itself. Visitors are able to see both the hangar deck and the flight deck and tour the mess hall, crew cabins and the captain’s and admiral’s quarters.

The museum also displays nearly two dozen different aircraft on the flight deck, and it’s also the home of the Space Shuttle Enterprise, which is a must-see for anyone who visits. Visitors can also tour the Growler submarine and the British Airways Concorde.

If you go, plan at least a few hours to get your money’s worth—tickets aren’t cheap, especially if you want to take advantage of any of the museum’s flight simulators. There are two Au Bon Pain cafés that visitors can take advantage of, but you can find vending machines throughout the museum as well.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
700 W. 46th Street (at 12th Avenue
New York, NY 10036