Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum Visitors Center

Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum Visitors Center

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is a military and maritime history museum with a collection of museum ships in New York City. The Visitors Center is situated next to the bow of the USS Intrepid located at Pier 86.  This is the world’s largest privately owned maritime museum with over 600,000 visitors a year. 

The 20,000 square foot Center is clad in metal panels and glass curtain wall accented by a blue fin wall, is the new entrance to the museum and replaced the original 3,000 square foot brick building. A quarter of the old building, housing water and power stations, is integrated into the new design. A sidewalk barrier system was installed while the Museum was in operation.

Plaza commenced work in October of 1999 with selective demolition and waterfront foundations were completed by year’s end.  In January of 2000 the steel skeleton of the new building was erected and by July 1st all work was complete and ready for the July 4th Millennium Celebration. During the entire project the Museum’s exhibits remained totally accessible to visitors.

The USS Intrepid’s distinguished service record includes more than 30 years of active duty.  The Intrepid was part of the Pacific fleet during World War II; was the primary recovery vessel for the Mercury and Gemini space programs; served three tours in Vietnam and was de-commissioned in 1974. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Zachary Fisher, the Intrepid was saved and opened her doors in 1982 as a new Sea, Air and Space Museum.

The museum showcases the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, the submarine USS Growler, a Concorde SST, and a Lockheed A-12 supersonic reconnaissance plane. Additionally on April 12, 2011, the museum was awarded the Space Shuttle Enterprise.

Plaza is very proud of its work on this project and continues to support the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum.