You and your family came to Manhattan for the holidays, but you’re having so much fun you decide to stay longer. After the tree at Rock Center, the windows on Fifth and the Met what else is there? You’re in “The City That Never Sleeps” so there are lots more goodies for you and yours to take in.
I. The USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier
We visited the Intrepid on Thursday, September 26, 2019 when it was 80˚ F. This 872 ft. long ship was launched in 1943. During World War II it survived five kamikaze attacks and one torpedo strike. It’s berthed on the Hudson River at Pier 86 or 46th Street and 12th Avenue and is the centerpiece of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. We were hungry when we finally arrived at the Intrepid so we headed down to the Third Deck where the Crew’s Mess is located.
II. The Galley or Kitchen on the Intrepid
This galley is a workhorse. When the ship was in operation it served 7,500 meals daily or, said differently, it served food for 15 hours a day. We sat in the Mess and had coffee + a Brownie and a Blondie to get our energy up after battling the gridlock caused by the meeting of the UN General Assembly in September.
III. The Intrepid Against An Overcast Sky
The U.S. Coast Guard helicopter adds some color here. We thought the moody, dark sky was a dramatic backdrop to the Intrepid. Notice how small the people on the deck look. The Coast Guard is used for search and rescue, law enforcement, military readiness and marine environmental protection missions.
IV. A Sign On the Intrepid That One Can’t Miss
For some reason we found this huge sign rather funny. Did the crew accidentally walk into jets that are taking off? No, no, part of the red-and-white sign on the carrier’s tower is missing. After a bit of digging we found that it should read: “Beware of Jet Blast, Intakes and Props.” Makes more sense.
V. The Gemini Spacecraft
From 1961 to 1966 the Gemini carried a two-astronaut crew. There were three goals: (1) to test an astronaut’s ability to fly up to two weeks in space; (2) to understand how a spacecraft could rendezvous and dock in orbit around the earth; and (3) to perfect reentries and landings.
All photos of the Intrepid: taken by Kristen Bannister
Now, here are two more spots for you to consider while you’re visiting New York City
VI. The Freedom Tower
In the background we’re showing The Freedom Tower (located at 285 Fulton Street) with a World Trade Center sculpture named “Sphere” in the foreground. It survived the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. A symbol of resilience, it now stands in Liberty Park.
Photo courtesy of WhereTraveler New York, September 2019
VII. The New Statue of Liberty Museum
The Statue of Liberty came to America in 1886 and is located at One Liberty Island, Ellis Island, New York. Visitors must pay for the ferry ride to Ellis Island – the museum itself is free. Diane Von Furstenberg was a key fundraiser for this new $100 million Statue of Liberty Museum.
Photo: Courtesy of Bazaar, July 2019
Shaun Nelson-HenrickComments will be approved before showing up.
