All killer, no filler: Intrepid Museum’s greatest hits

Start on the pier with USS Growler (SSG-577), the only guided-missile submarine that’s currently open to the Great American Public. It sets the tone for your whole Intrepid experience: dim lighting, narrow passageways, close quarters (very close, as it happens), and tons of knobs and dials that just beg to be twiddled. You’re stepping into a real bit of American history here: Growler was a real working sub that carried nuclear cruise missiles during the Cold War. Crew members spent up to 72 days at a time cooped up down here, where life was hot, cramped and frankly a little whiffy. Sailors stacked three or four high in tiny bunks and the fug of body odors, diesel and cigarette smoke (yup) must have been eye-watering. Try to imagine what it must have been like as you lie down on a bunk, squeeze through tiny hatches, peer at the blinking lights in the dinky control room and pause for a breather in the (relatively spacious) mess room. One thing’s pretty clear: life on the USS Growler was not a job for anyone even remotely troubled by claustrophobia.

Pro-tip: Did we mention the sub is a tad cramped inside? It only fits 20 visitors at a time and, for that reason, lines tend to form outside. Start your visit early in the day to avoid getting stuck in one.

Next stop: Exploreum. Exit USS Growler back onto the pier and make a beeline for the Hangar Deck entrance right ahead of you. You can pause en route to snap that streamlined icon of travel’s golden age: the British Airways Concorde.

The Exploreum hall is a must-visit, especially if you have kids. And, while we can’t promise you won’t end up spending hours and hours in here, it is technically possible (just about) to stick to the timetable and breeze on through, releasing a few theatrical oohs and aahs along the way. This bright, playful gallery makes for a nice reset after the drama and claustrophobia of Growler. For here’s your opportunity to be nine years old all over again as you clamber eagerly into the ship captain’s seat, take a nap in the sailors’ bunks and – best of all – get behind the controls of a real-life Bell 47 helicopter, now considered enough of a design classic that there’s even one in nearby MoMA, too (albeit not one you’re allowed to ride in)! There are loads more hand-on exhibits to geek out over here, too, with plenty to wow kids from toddler to teen, and beyond. 

Pro-tip: If your kids don’t fancy USS Growler, let one parent explore the sub solo while the other takes the little guys for a ride on the Bell helicopter, thus (hopefully) avoiding the worst of the lines here too. Win-win!

Next stop: Captain’s Bridge. Head starboard (right) from the Exploreum towards the ship’s tower, then follow signs up a level to the Gallery Deck and Bridge. En route, you’ll pass exhibits detailing Intrepid’s service in Vietnam, including crew stories, adding a little extra context before you step onto the bridge.

Standing on the bridge really helps bring the whole Intrepid experience to life. You’ll see the helm, engine order telegraphs and charts. Then there are those commanding sightlines over the Flight Deck and Manhattan skyline for all you Insta addicts out there. Docents are on hand to help add context to the choreography required to run a floating airfield like this one. Pick their frankly encyclopaedic brains for insight and perspective on how different aircraft took off from and landed on deck. 

Pro-tip: If you’re really short on time and need to skip the Flight Deck, you can get a pretty good view of several of its brightest stars from right here on the bridge.

Next stop: Flight Deck. Exit the bridge back to the Gallery Deck, then continue up to the Flight Deck via the nearest stairs or elevator. You’ll emerge right among the aircraft. You can peer through portholes and along passageways on the way there.

Welcome to plane paradise: the Flight Deck unfurls like a runway of aviation’s greatest hits. Make a beeline for the sleek Lockheed A-12, the CIA’s blisteringly fast predecessor to the SR-71. It looks sharp from almost any angle and begs for a photo. Nearby, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat combines carrier power with a matinee-idol profile, while the muscular McDonnell F-4 Phantom II displays pure brute energy You’ll also find a vertical-takeoff British Harrier, plus classic Navy workhorses like the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Our fave though? A meticulously restored MiG-21 complete with dramatic racing-green nose cone. It’s a stellar line-up that traces how aircraft evolved to meet new mission needs—speed, stealth, lift and endurance—all in one place.

Pro-tip: Pop by the workshop to say hey to the crew who work on the restorations here –  they're a pretty interesting bunch.

Next stop: Space Shuttle Pavilion. Follow the Flight Deck’s starboard edge aft; you’ll find the pavilion and its eye-popping contents a couple of minutes away at the rear of the ship. Glance over the side of the ship en route for ace top-down views of the Concorde.

End with an absolute showstopper: space shuttle Enterprise, the 1977 test orbiter that demonstrated shuttles could land like planes too. The pavilion’s lighting frames Enterprise’s gentle curves, and the nose-to-nose view lets you appreciate the details – thermal tiles, delta wings – at close quarters. It’s a galactic treat to walk around the shuttle (and underneath it, and above it), and hear collages of genuine chatter between Enterprise test pilots and mission control. Admire it in all its space-age glory and marvel at the sheer scale of the thing (much bigger than we expected!). It’s a perfect finale to your Intrepid outing: awe-inspiring, daring and deeply human.

Pro-tip: We reckon the Enterprise is best viewed from the raised gallery, for the perfect ‘wow’ finish to your visit.

Next stop: Take your pick from any number of nearby New York bucket-listers. Make your way out via the Flight Deck, following signs down to the Hangar Deck and the exit onto Pier 86.

Absolutely there is. Blast off from Pier 86 to get to any number of essential New York attractions in a very short time indeed. The more of these attractions you visit, the more you can save with The New York Pass. Here are just a few of our favorites near Intrepid Museum…

• Circle Line sightseeing cruises
• Top of the Rock observation deck
• High Line and Meatpacking District tour
• RiseNY
• Madame Tussauds
• Edge at Hudson Yards
• Radio City Music Hall tour
• MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)
• Broadway and Times Square tour

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