Fleet Week (May 23-29) is a United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard tradition in which active military ships recently deployed in overseas operations dock in a variety of major cities for one week. Once the ships dock, the crews can enter the city and visit its tourist attractions. Fleet Week also means handsome sailors and navy crew populate the streets of New York, in their impeccable uniforms.
For this Memorial Day weekend, May 28th, I decided to visit the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
Built in 1943, the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid served tours of duty through World War II and Vietnam, making seven trips around the world, surviving five kamikaze attacks and one torpedo strike. It then served as a NASA astronaut recovery vessel. In September 2001, the Intrepid served as temporary field headquarters for the FBI as it began its investigation of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.
Since 1982, Intrepid has become both a New York City and an American icon, as a museum on the Hudson River. The museum boasts the authentically restored aircraft, a British Airways concorde, a submarine, an interactive hall and some really exciting flight simulators. Beginning with July 19th, people will also be able to visit the Space Shuttle Pavilion.
Yesterday, June 6th, I made my way to the Intrepid once again, besides celebrating my birthday. I wanted to witness a moment of history and snap some pictures for my blog.
Huge crowds, as well as numerous TV stations gathered to watch as the Space Shuttle Enterprise made its way up the Hudson River, passing by the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center. I witnessed how a few hours later, the shuttle was lifted, via crane, onto the flight deck of the Intrepid, her new home.
Intrepid’s Space Shuttle Pavilion, including Enterprise, will open to the public on July 19th, a great way to honor Intrepid’s 30th Anniversary as a museum.
