Explore the "heart" of the USS Yorktown

In late February, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum unveiled the first phase of the new Engine Room Experience aboard the USS Yorktown.  The newly-renovated space uses the latest technology to bring the story of the engine room to life and makes it easier for guests to understand the duties and purpose of this integral part of an aircraft carrier.

The USS Yorktown Engine Room Experience features 15 unique halo-lit images, a virtual tour station of the lower decks of the engine room, a touchscreen kiosk using animation to explain how the engine of the USS Yorktown functions, and “holobox” scene showing a sailor (hologram) lighting a boiler and another of him finding a steam leak. This entire area is ADA friendly and climate controlled.

The new area is located near the entrance of Tour 2 onboard the USS Yorktown, just before guests have the option to descend a series of ladders to reach the engine room.  For those who are unable to navigate the ladders, the new Engine Room Experience creates a virtual alternative that allows them to tour the engine room remotely.

These technological additions create a dynamic and interactive experience for museum guests and represent the first phase of a major exhibit planned for the USS Yorktown engine room. The next phase will focus on the engine and fire room spaces below deck; it will bring the areas to life and allow the experience to tell the story of the sailors who once worked there.  The next phase of the Engine Room Experience, like this first phase, will have interactive and immersive components.

The new USS Yorktown Engine Room Experience was funded, in part, by federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.