Monolithic 20th-century fighting machines your bag? You’ll be in clover at the Intrepid Museum in Hell’s Kitchen, where you can clamber into a Cold War-era nuclear sub, goggle at stealth fighters and stand on the flight deck of a World War II aircraft carrier (the Intrepid herself). But it ain’t all about war here. There are plenty of peacetime pieces to (sometimes literally) get on board with, too, including a Concorde, a Bell 47 helicopter and – for maximum wow – the Space Shuttle Enterprise.
We visited Intrepid Museum with our New York Pass, to get the scoop on all the museum’s best bits, plus info on any optional add-ons, other must-see nearby attractions and more. All aboard!
This guide will cover:
- Why Intrepid is worth a visit
- How to get there and how to get in
- What there is to see and do on board
- Where to go next in the area
What’s so intrepid about the Intrepid Museum then?
Commissioned in 1943, the USS Intrepid was a serving World War II aircraft carrier, and saw plenty of action before the war was over, surviving several kamikaze attacks and a torpedo strike that put her out of action for several months. When the war ended, the Intrepid was modernized and redeployed for use in the Cold War and Vietnam, as well as acting as a recovery vessel for NASA space missions. The ship was fully decommissioned in the 1970s and began its new career as a museum ship in 1982. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Today, the USS Intrepid forms a substantial chunk of the museum experience, with the majority of attractions – flying machines, control rooms, uniforms, the hands-on Exploreum zone, and the Space Shuttle Pavilion – to be found across its three decks. In addition, you can explore the USS Growler cruise missile submarine and the retired Concorde that basks proudly on Pier 86.
Ok, give me three good reasons why I should visit…
- You’d be plane crazy not to. Anyone with even a passing interest in high-tech aircraft of yore is bound to get a kick out of the collection here. We’re talking fighter jets with painted noses designed to intimidate the enemy, the very Skyray that took off (vertically) from the USS Intrepid during the Cold War and – yes – an actual British Airways Concorde.
- The Exploreum is great fun! Always wanted to sit behind the controls of a real-life Bell 47 chopper? Your luck’s in. You can also lord it up in the captain’s chair and bark orders down the phone from a ship’s helm, and test out tiny (yet unbelievably life-size) bunks in the sub’s sleeping quarters.
- Space race ace. Little will prepare you from being in the presence of a bona fide space shuttle, albeit one that never actually went to space. Best viewed from the raised viewing gallery, the mighty Enterprise promises a ‘wow’ moment of truly intergalactic proportions.
Sounds like a no brainer, but how do I get there?
No need to arrive by stealth jet: you can get to the Pier 86 location in Hell’s Kitchen with far less faff via bus routes or the New York City subway.
You can take A, C and E trains to 42nd St - Port Authority or the 7 to 32nd Street - Hudson Yards, both around 20 minutes’ walk from the Intrepid Museum. Buses will get you closer – multiple services stop along nearby 12th Avenue.
How do I get in with my New York Pass?
Easy: just pitch up and show your pass at the entrance, where you’ll be issued with a paper ticket. Your New York Pass gets you access to most of the museum, but some add-ons, including simulators in the Exploreum and access to the Concorde, cost extra. Can’t stand the suspense? Scroll down to the end of the article for more detail on the full range of optional extras.
Intrepid Museum’s Hell’s Kitchen location promises plenty of nearby attractions at which to give your New York Pass a serious workout. You’re just a short hop from Hudson Yards and the dizzying Edge observation platform, as well as frozen-faced celebs at Madame Tussauds, the epic ride through NYC’s cultural history that is RiseNY, and classic Manhattan views from the Top of The Rock. And that’s just for starters. Remember: the more attractions you visit with your pass, the more cash you’ll save for all those other Big Apple essentials: bagels, hot dogs and snow-globe souvenirs.
Can you tell me more about what I can see and do at Intrepid Museum?
Absolutely. There’s easily enough to occupy curious minds (and hands) here for three or four hours. You can explore the museum and its satellite attractions in any order you like.
USS Growler Submarine
For fairly obvious reasons (spoiler: it’s tiny inside), there’s often a line for the submarine part of your Intrepid experience. Our advice? If the line looks long at USS Growler, go see something else and circle back to the sub again later. Once inside this Cold War-era cruise missile submarine, which has been left pretty much as it was when in service, you’ll get a real sense of what it might have been like to be cooped up in here for up to 72 days at a time. Explore cramped bunk rooms, hear what life beneath the waves in a pressurised metal container would have sounded like, and duck into the toytown control room. Definitely not one for the claustrophobic.
Flight Deck
If you can tear your eyes away from those stellar views of the Manhattan skyline, you’ll find plenty more to ogle up top on the Flight Deck. There are around 20 historic aircraft for starters, including a Hawker Siddeley Harrier and a beautifully restored MiG-21 complete with distinctive racing-green nose cone – heck, you can even take a peek into the restoration workshop. Don’t miss the captain’s bridge, where friendly volunteers are like walking encyclopaedias of aircraft, and can fill you in on the mechanics involved in taking off from such a small runway.
Space Shuttle Pavilion
Also on the Flight Deck, the Space Shuttle Pavilion is your opportunity to get up close – and we mean really close – to the Space Shuttle Enterprise. A soundscape collage of actual convos between Enterprise test pilots and mission control sets the scene as you enter, and first lay eyes on the main event. Turns out space shuttles are much bigger than you’d think – who knew? Walk around it, walk underneath it and climb to the raised galleries to see it in all its majestic space-age glory.
Hangar Deck
There are three hangars to explore below deck, with a deep dive into aviation and seafaring history that runs the gamut from historic U.S. Air Force and Naval uniforms to exhibitions about the Intrepid’s sick bay and the ship's role in the Vietnam War. There are, of course, also stacks more planes to explore.
This is also where you’ll find the Exploreum, an ideal opportunity to unleash your inner eight-year-old with hands-on fun that includes a chance to test out sailors’ bunks, lord it up in the ship captain’s chair and negotiate the interior of a replica sub. Go full kid mode in the cockpit of a real-life Bell 47 helicopter, where the temptation to mimic the noisy chug of a whirring propeller is near-irresistible.
Pier 86 and Concorde
While entry to the Concorde’s interior requires an extra ticket, it costs nothing to take a stroll along Pier 86 to grab essential selfies with this streamlined icon of travel’s golden age as your majestic backdrop.
Any other facilities of note?
Yep, there are two dining options. Pick from Intrepid Marketplace on the mess deck or opt for the Aviator Grill overlooking Pier 86. Or – why not – try both if you’re making a half-day of it. Both options are casual affairs, serving up sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, soups, salads and the like.
The Space Shuttle Pavilion store is where it’s at for all your – ahem – out-of-this-world gift ideas. Naturally, there’s space stuff galore – think model shuttles, cool NASA jackets and giant rocket-shaped pens – but you can also pick from a wider range of Intrepid and Growler goodies.
Where can I get the best photos?
If you want to capture the sheer scale of the place, the flight deck’s where it’s at for sweeping shots of the Intrepid’s extraordinary length. You’ll no doubt also be drawn to that stunning view of the Manhattan skyline, and there are plenty of Insta-ready aircraft up here, too.
Much of the action below deck, inside the Growler and in the Space Shuttle Pavilion rewards close-up shots. We’re talking dense Cold War-era control panels, illuminated dials, fine details on the Enterprise’s shell and old-school board games in the mess room.
That was cool! Anything else to do in the area?
There is indeed! You’re right on Pier 86 in Hell’s Kitchen, which is a fine jumping off point (no, not literally!) for a plethora of A-list New York attractions. The Big Apple’s your oyster: a 30-minute stroll from here could take you into Central Park, Times Square or the High Line. Ready to give your New York Pass more welly? You should be: after all, the more attractions you tick off, the more you’ll save. Here are a few of our faves near Intrepid Museum…
- Edge at Hudson Yards
- Madame Tussauds and the Marvel Universe 4D movie
- RiseNY
- Top of the Rock observation deck
- Radio City Music Hall tour
- MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)
- Broadway and Times Square tour
Finally, tell us a bit about Intrepid Museum’s optional add-ons
There are a few areas and experiences that aren’t included with general entry. The British Airways Concorde is probably the biggie. It’s only open for private guided tours, which run daily, every 30 minutes from 11AM, for an additional fee.
Flight simulators, where you can take on pilot or gunner roles, also require an extra ticket, as do white-knuckle 4D movie experiences and thrilling VR moon landings.
You can buy tickets for all of these on the day, or online via the Intrepid Museum website in advance.
Enjoyed this little slice of New York?
Take a deep dive into NYC’s cultural history with our complete guide to Rise NY and fill your day with world-class art on a guided journey through MoMA’s many galleries.
With The New York Pass®, you can skip the stress and save big on RiseNY tickets plus dozens of other must-see attractions, all with one easy-to-use pass.
🗽 Don't explore the Big Apple without this
💰 How much can you really save in NYC?
