From here, Intrepid launched propeller-driven planes during World War II, the jets that supported the U.S. ground forces in Vietnam and the helicopters that recovered NASA astronauts in the 1960s. It was also here that Japanese kamikaze suicide planes hit, exacting their terrible toll upon Intrepid’s crew. Today, the flight deck holds most of Intrepid's collection of more than two dozen authentically restored aircrafts. The flight deck is also home to our Space Shuttle Pavilion, featuring the space shuttle Enterprise.
The gallery deck is where visitors can view a ready room where pilots received their last instructions before taking off. In the nearby Combat Information Center (CIC), crew members tracked nearby ships and aircrafts, both friend and foe. Combat Information Center (CIC)
Tour the CIC, where crew members tracked the location and movement of all nearby aircraft and ships, both friend and foe. Complete with original radar scopes, plotting boards and communications equipment, CIC was state-of-the-art for its day. Now it's yours to relive.
Intrepid's hangar deck exhibition space is unique among historic ships. Visitors can follow the deck’s two separate paths: explore Intrepid's technology on the port (left) side, and celebrate the people who lived and worked on the ship on the starboard (right) side. The Museum's permanent exhibition brings to life the powerful history of the aircraft carrier. Examine original artifacts, view historic video footage and explore interactive exhibits that trace Intrepid's U.S. Navy career from 1943 to the present. Special exhibition galleries, also located on the hangar deck, feature temporary exhibitions.
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.