a mother and daughter look at a display behind glass in an aviation museum
Thursday
November21

Open today from 10AM to 5PM

40 Patriots Point Rd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
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Artifacts & Archives

From the Collections

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum safeguards and exhibits military art, diaries, uniforms, and archival photographs and documents that are presently not showcased.

A Museum for American Heroes

Introducing a comprehensive collection of photographs, artifacts, and memorabilia—a treasure trove capturing the essence of historical military moments. This meticulously curated archive provides a visual journey through time, featuring images and materials spanning various eras, conflicts, and branches of the military. Users can easily navigate and explore this rich repository, unlocking stories of heroism, camaraderie, and sacrifice. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, researcher, or simply curious about the military’s visual legacy, this collection offers an immersive experience, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the museum’s breadth of military history.

Stories At Sea

Primary image for the Shore Leave Collection
From the Collections

Shore Leave

The aircraft carriers of World War II were the floating cities of the United States Navy. Everything you could need to care for 3000 men was aboard and conveniently just minutes away from bunks and...
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Primary image for the The Grim Reapers: Story of James Flatley and the VF-10 Hellcats Collection
From the Collections

The Grim Reapers: Story of James Flatley and the VF-10 Hellcats

A winged skeleton and scythe soaring through the air serves as the fearsome mascot of the “Grim Reapers”. Established in 1942, the US Navy’s Fighting Squadron 10, the Grim Reapers, participated in...
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Primary image for the View from the Bridge: The Captain James B. Cain Collection Collection
From the Collections

View from the Bridge: The Captain James B. Cain Collection

A US Naval aviator during World War II, James B. Cain shot down eight enemy aircraft in combat as a Flying Ace. Cain received the Silver Star for “gallantry in action” as a member of Fighting Squadron...
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Explore the Collections

Primary image for the Commander Julian Becton and The Ship That Would Not Die Collection
From the Collections

Commander Julian Becton and The Ship That Would Not Die

“No! I’ll never abandon ship as long as a single gun will fire!” —Commander Frederick J. Becton, commanding officer, USS Laffey (DD-724), 16 April 1945 Commander Becton was already a seasoned Naval...
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Primary image for the The Fighting Filmmaker: The Photography of Dwight Long and the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit Collection
From the Collections

The Fighting Filmmaker: The Photography of Dwight Long and the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit

“There wasn’t any Betty Grable or Clark Gable in it. It was just men fighting a battle.” -Dwight Long Director and producer Dwight Long captivated American audiences with his films from an early age...
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Primary image for the Wing and a Prayer: the Joseph Kristufek Collection Collection
From the Collections

Wing and a Prayer: the Joseph Kristufek Collection

Joseph Rudolf Kristufek served as a pilot with Torpedo Squadron Five (VT-5) during World War II. Primarily flying a TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, VT-5 made up part of the USS Yorktown’s powerful arsenal...
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Primary image for the Memories from a Machinist's Mate: The Collection of Wilbert C. Gauding Collection
From the Collections

Memories from a Machinist's Mate: The Collection of Wilbert C. Gauding

Nicknamed “The Ship that Would Not Die”, the USS Laffey DD-724 fought in both theaters of World War II. Serving on board the Laffey throughout the war, Machinist’s Mate 2/c, Wilbert C. Gauding kept an...
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Aircraft Highlights

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Primary Image of F4F Wildcat
From The Collections
F4F Wildcat
Discover the Heroic Legacy of the F4F Wildcat: Unveiling WWII’s Most Courageous Fighter Pilot and Iconic Aircraft This museum treasure represents the WWII American fighter that took on the Japanese...
Primary Image of F6F-5K Hellcat
From The Collections
F6F Hellcat
The lethal F6F Hellcat gained enormous fame during WWII operating from the USS Yorktown. Making their first combat flights from Yorktown in August 1943, the more powerful and agile Hellcat dominated...
Primary Image of A-4L Skyhawk
From The Collections
A-4C Skyhawk
Delivered in 1956, the A-4 Skyhawk answered the Navy's call for an attack aircraft that could be carrier based in the maturing jet age. Designed with minimal size and weight in mind, the A-4 was so...
Primary Image of A-6E Intruder
From The Collections
A-6E Intruder
Developed as a carrier based attack aircraft, Intruder gave the Navy and Marines a high degree of bombing accuracy at night and in poor weather. The A-­6 served in Vietnam, engagements in Lebanon and...
Primary Image of A-7E Corsair II
From The Collections
A-7E Corsair II
The A-7 Corsair was a carrier based light attack aircraft designed to take the place of the A-4 Skyhawk. If the Corsair looked like a shorter version of the F-8 Crusader its because the Navy based its...
Primary Image of AD-4N Skyraider
From The Collections
AD-4N Skyraider
The Douglas Skyraider was the heavy duty torpedo/dive bomber the WWII Navy was looking for in the mid 1940s. But the war ending victory over the Japanese came before Skyraider was able to see action...
Primary Image of AH-1J Sea Cobra
From The Collections
AH-1J Sea Cobra
Following the path of the UH-­1 Huey, the Cobra was originally developed for the US Army. Delivered by Bell in 1967, the Cobra would log more than one million operational hours in Vietnam. This...
Primary Image of E-1B Tracer
From The Collections
E-1B Tracer
The carrier based E-1B Tracer provided critical early warning and guidance support. Its four man crew was able to remain in flight up to seven hours. The most distinguishing feature of the E-1B is the...
Primary Image of EA-3B Skywarrior
From The Collections
EA-3B Skywarrior
The EA-3B Skywarrior was the largest and heaviest aircraft to regularly operate from an aircraft carrier, earning the nickname "Whale." Skywarriors began service in 1956 as a carrier-­based strategic...
Primary Image of F-8K Crusader
From The Collections
F-8K Crusader
Distinctive in appearance, the F-8 Crusader, known as the "Last of the Gunfighters," was one of the US Navy's first supersonic, carrier-based fighter aircraft. Entering service in 1957, the F-­8 was...
Primary Image of F-14A Tomcat
From The Collections
F-14 Tomcat
The F-­14 Tomcat defined air superiority launched from Navy aircraft carriers. Entering service in 1972, the F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, variable sweep wing fighter designed to attack and destroy...
Primary image for the On The Move: The Aircraft and Vehicles of Patriots Point Collection
From The Collections
F/A-18A Hornet
The single seat F/A-­18A Hornet is an all-­weather fighter and attack aircraft. Hornet holds the distinction of being our nation's first strike-fighter. According to the United States Navy, "it was...
Alternative Image of FG-1D Corsair
From The Collections
FG-1D Corsair
With its signature inverted gull wings and over-sized propeller, the powerful FG-1D Corsair could hit 470 mph, pack a stinging punch and strike fear in the hearts of Japanese Zero fighter pilots...
Primary Image of SH-3G Sea King
From The Collections
SH-3G Sea King
The original SH-3G Sea King was a Navy workhorse for more than 40 years. The last two operational H-­3's officially retired in early 2006, although an updated Sea King model is still in use by the...
Primary Image of S-2E Tracker
From The Collections
S-2E Tracker
Introduced in 1954, the S-­2E Tracker was designed to find, follow, and if necessary, kill enemy submarines. Spanning three decades, the primary purpose of the S-­2 was to be a thorn in the side of...
Primary Image of SBD-5 Dauntless
From The Collections
SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was involved in the WWII Pacific theater from day one. In service for roughly six months prior to Pearl Harbor, the SBD Dauntless was the Navy's primary dive bomber in the...
Primary Image of TBM-3E Avenger
From The Collections
TBM Avenger
Early TBM Avengers went into Navy service in time for the June 1942 Battle of Midway. The Avenger played a pivotal role in the Pacific because of its effectiveness against the Japanese fleet and its...
Primary Image of TF-9J Cougar
From The Collections
TF-9J Cougar
The F9F Cougar was delivered to the Navy and Marines in mid-­1952 but did not see action in the Korean War. Developed as a replacement for the F9F Panther, the Cougar proved to be a superior carrier...
Primary Image of UH-1 Iroquois "Huey"
From The Collections
UH-1 Iroquois "Huey"
One could safely argue the UH-­1 Huey is the best known helicopter in history. It may well be the most widely used helicopter in the world. Developed by Bell, the official name of the UH-­1 was...
Primary Image of UH-34D Seahorse
From The Collections
UH-34D Seahorse
With its first flight in 1954, Sikorsky originally developed the H-­34 Seabat for the Navy as an anti-­submarine helicopter. A utility version, UH-34D Seahorse was used by the Navy and Coast Guard for...
Primary Image of F-4J Phantom II
From The Collections
F-4J Phantom II
The "Phabulous Phantom" remains one of the most imposing fighters ever developed by the United States. First used in 1960 by the Navy as a carrier based fighter­‐bomber, F-4J Phantom II would also...
Primary Image of QH-50 Dash
From The Collections
QH-50 Dash
The Gyrodyne QH-­50 DASH (Drone Anti-­Submarine Helicopter) was a small, drone helicopter built by Gyrodyne Company of America for use as a long-­range anti-­submarine weapon on ships that would...
Primary Image of S-3B Viking
From The Collections
S3-B Viking
Designed to hold up to four crewmen, the Lockheed S-3 Viking is a twin-engine jet aircraft. designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Corporation. The location of the...
Primary Image of UH-1M Iroquois "Huey"
From The Collections
UH-1M Iroquois "Huey"
The Bell UH-1M Iroquois, also called the Huey, is a utility, turbine-powered military helicopter manufactured by the American aerospace company Bell Helicopter. Furnished with a Lycoming T53-L-13...
Primary Image of CH-46E Sea Knight
From The Collections
CH-46E Sea Knight
The CH-46 Sea Knight is an American tandem-rotor transport helicopter manufactured by Boeing Vertol. It's a medium-lift helicopter with two General Electric T58 turboshaft engines. The engines follow...
Primary Image of B-25D Mitchell
From The Collections
B-25B Mitchell
The B-25B Mitchell found fame as the bomber used in the Doolittle Raid on April 18, 1942. During the raid, fifteen M-25 Mitchell's led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle attacked mainland Japan...
Primary Image of N2S Stearman
From The Collections
N2S Stearman
The Boeing Stearman Model 75 or "Stearman" was first introduced in 1934. The Stearman served as the main training plane across all services during World War II, but the N2S variant was particular to...
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Artifact Donations

Patriots Point is an institution with a collection focused on US Navy Maritime History and Aviation. We accept artifacts related to the United States Navy during the 20th and 21st centuries as well as United States Marine Corps and United States Army artifacts related to World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

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A phone with the USS Yorktown Audio Tour app showing

Patriots Point Audio Tour

Add the Patriots Point Experience app to all that there is to see and do here. Download the app for access to audio tours that immerse you in the real human histories of the USS Yorktown.

Download in the App Store  Download on Google Play

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