A visit to Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum will be an adventure you will never forget, creating a lifetime of memories. With more than a million square feet of exhibit space over three ships, including the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, destroyer USS Laffey, and our immersive three-acre Vietnam Experience, it’s almost impossible to fit everything there is to do and see into a single visit. If you don’t have an entire day to spend with us, we understand and want you to have the best experience possible, so we have created this guide to help you make the most of your time as you walk in the steps of heroes.
When you arrive at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, you can see the USS Yorktown moored proudly on Charleston harbor. While it is the centerpiece of our museum, it is far from the only thing there is to explore during your visit. On you walk down the pier to the Yorktown, take in the fantastic view of the Charleston Harbor and the Ravenel Bridge. If you’re lucky, you can sometimes spot some of the diverse wildlife that passes through the water around the pier, including manatees and dolphins.
Climbing the stairs at the end of the pier, or taking the elevator from the ground level, you will enter the hangar bay of the “Fightin’ Lady,” the USS Yorktown. In the hangar bay, you can find some of the most significant aircraft that flew in World War II, including the F6F Hellcat and SBD Dauntless. Climb into the cockpit of the TF-9J Cougar, the plane that the famous Blue Angels flight team used during the late 1940s and 1950s. One thing that you may not
know about the Yorktown is the pivotal role it played in the Space Race, recovering the Apollo 8 astronauts after they became the first men to circle the moon. Relive the historic mission for yourself in the forward-most section of the Hangar Bay in our Apollo 8 Capsule.
When you’ve landed back on Earth, head up to the Flight Deck through Tour 3 or by taking the elevator by the Information Desk. Walk through the Yorktown’s Combat Information Center and see how the crew once tracked planes and other ships in the air and water around it. Emerging on the Flight Deck, be sure to take in the magnificent view of Charleston Harbor, and while we may be biased, we think it’s the best view in all of Charleston. The Flight Deck is home to a number of the most
important aircraft that have served since World War II, including the F-14A Tomcat, as seen in the movie “Top Gun” and the S-2E Tracker. While you can spend quite a lot of time on the Flight Deck, we recommend spending around 20 minutes here.
After you explore the Flight Deck, head back down to the Hangar Bay. Descend into the bowels of the Yorktown on Tour 2 where you can experience the Engine Room. Learn what it was like for those who served in the engine room of the Yorktown by interacting with this state-of-the-art exhibit.
Disembarking from the Yorktown, the destroyer USS Laffey is mere steps away, one of three surviving vessels that supported the D-Day invasion, which began the liberation of Europe during World War II. When you first board the Laffey, climb into the Mount 53 Experience and learn about the historic battle of Okinawa where the Laffey survived six kamikaze attacks, four bombs, and earned the nickname “The Ship that Would Not Die.” The next stop to make on the Laffey is near the bow of the ship in the Combat Information Center.
Feel the tension of the Cold War as the Laffey patrols the Mediterranean Sea for Soviet submarines, where every move could lead to conflict. Surviving the encounter with the Soviets, head back up the pier where you can journey to a Southern Vietnam Naval Support base in the three-acre Vietnam Experience. ,
Inside the Vietnam Experience, walk into the Quonset Hut, home to several exhibits that explain the history of the Vietnam Conflict, as well as how the U.S. Army Special Forces trained the indigenous people of Vietnam to aid in combat. From the Quonset Hut, venture into the Brown Water Navy support base and see one of the last River Patrol Boats in existence. These vessels patrolled the rivers of Vietnam, frequently coming under intense fire, often being supported by some of the helicopters displayed through the exhibit. As you head further into the support base, you will walk through a tunnel that transports you to a replica of a U.S. Marine Corps artillery base. As you can hear the mortar fire in the distance, enter the shed for a one-of-a-kind exhibit where you can see, feel, and hear the intensity of the Battle of Khe Sanh, one of the most intense battles of the Vietnam War.
By the time you finish your time of the Vietnam Experience, you should be near the end of the two-hour tour of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. Be sure to browse The Ship Store before you leave to pick up something that reminds you of your time here! There is so much more to see and do here at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, and we want you to come back and see it all. With special events throughout the year, there is always something new!