The Intrepid Is Back and Hosting President Bush for Veterans Day

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum has reopened its doors to the public after being closed for nearly two years for a complete bow-to-stern refurbishment. To celebrate, the Intrepid is hosting President George W. Bush for a Veterans Day ceremony on Tuesday, November 11. President Bush will be presented with the 2008 Intrepid Freedom Award in a ceremony attended by New York Governor David Paterson, along with 5,000 guests and 2,500 veterans.

The newly renovated Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum complex includes the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier ‘Intrepid’ with seven full decks and four theme halls; the guided missile submarine Growler; and an extensive aircraft collection including the A-12 Blackbird, the fastest plane in the world, and the British Airways Concorde, the fastest commercial aircraft in the world.

One of the most distinguished war ships in naval history, the USS Intrepid was first launched in 1943 during World War II, then aided in NASA spacecraft recovery and later served in Vietnam. In 1976, the USS Intrepid was decommissioned and established as a museum ship. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum officially opened in New York City in 1982, where it remained at Pier 86 until October 2006 when the ship was moved to Staten Island to be refurbished. The Intrepid returned to Pier 86 (46th Street and 12th Avenue) on October 2, 2008.

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum will be open on Monday, November 10, 2008 from 10AM-6PM. On Veterans Day (Tuesday, November 11, 2008), the museum will be open to the public from 2PM-6PM. Regular hours of operation will be Tuesday-Sunday, 10AM – 5PM. Admission is $19.50 for adults and reduced admission is available for seniors, veterans, students, and children. Find out more and order your tickets online.