We were docked next to the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum and were able to observe the USS Intrepid and many aircraft from the deck of the Norwegian Jewel. Therefore, we are including the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in our tour.

We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; for the information we obtained concerning the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum and its displays. For very detailed descriptions of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum and its displays, we suggest going to the Wikipedia web site.

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is one of America�s leading historic, cultural and educational institutions. Opened in 1982, the Museum has welcomed more than 10 million visitors. The Museum is centered on the aircraft carrier Intrepid (CVS-11), one of the most successful ships in US history, and now a national historic landmark and one of the most unique attractions in New York City. In 1943, Intrepid was commissioned and served proudly in World War II. She went on to serve as one of the primary recovery vessels for NASA, three tours of duty off Vietnam, and submarine surveillance in the North Atlantic during the Cold War. Today she continues her service as a premiere educational center and a monument to all who have served our nation in uniform.

The Museum features a range of interactive exhibits and events providing a snapshot of heroism, education, and excitement. Children and adults alike find themselves immersed in and inspired by the Museum�s exhibits, which range from thrilling historical re-creations such as Kamikaze: Day of Darkness, Day of Light, to new interactive displays. Visitors also can ride in the A-6 Cockpit Simulator, visit the Virtual Flight Zone, and tour the inside of the world�s fastest commercial airplane, Concorde. More than 50,000 school children participate in the Museum�s unique educational programs every year. These programs cover every age group and include special initiatives such as character and leadership development. The Museum also hosts the annual Fleet Week celebration in honor of our military personnel.

More than 915,000 people visit each year.

The mission of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is to honor our heroes, educate the public and inspire our youth. As an educational and cultural not-for-profit institution centered on the aircraft carrier Intrepid, a National Historic Landmark, the Museum is dedicated to promoting the awareness and understanding of history, science and service through its collections, exhibitions and programming.

USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11), also known as The Fighting "I", is one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the United States Navy. She is the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in August 1943, Intrepid participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, most notably the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Decommissioned shortly after the end of the war, she was modernized and recommissioned in the early 1950s as an attack carrier (CVA), and then eventually became an antisubmarine carrier (CVS). In her second career, she served mainly in the Atlantic, but also participated in the Vietnam War. Her notable achievements include being the first US aircraft carrier to launch aircraft with steam catapults, and being the recovery ship for a Mercury and a Gemini space mission. Because of her prominent role in battle, she was nicknamed "the Fighting I", while her often ill-luck and the time spent in dry dock for repairs earned her the nickname "the Dry I".

Decommissioned in 1974, in 1982 Intrepid became the foundation of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City.

USS Essex (CV/CVA/CVS-9) was an aircraft carrier, the lead ship of the 24-ship Essex class built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in December 1942, Essex participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning the Presidential Unit Citation and 13 battle stars. Decommissioned shortly after the end of the war, she was modernized and recommissioned in the early 1950s as an attack carrier (CVA), and then eventually became an Antisubmarine Aircraft Carrier (CVS). In her second career she served mainly in the Atlantic, playing a role in the Cuban missile crisis. She also participated in the Korean War, earning four battle stars and the Navy Unit Commendation. She was the primary recovery carrier for the Apollo 7 space mission.

She was decommissioned for the last time in 1969 and sold for scrap in 1975.

The former USS Growler first opened at the Intrepid Museum in 1989 and is the only American diesel-powered strategic missile submarine open to the public. The Growler offers museum visitors a firsthand look at life aboard a submarine and a close-up inspection of the once �top-secret� missile command center. Access is available to the various compartments as they were used during operations.

Some of the photos on our pages about the Intrepid are not ours, but they are in the public domain and may freely be used. They are from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. We will show those photos and credits as from Wikipedia.

Enjoy Our Tour! Eve & George DeLange