The USS Yorktown has played such an incredible role in recent American history. Not only was it involved in a big way for World War II and Vietnam, but it also served as a recovery ship during the Apollo program’s missions to the moon.
A National Historic Landmark, the USS Yorktown intertwines with many historic American moments.
Today we’re visiting Patriot’s Point to explore this historic ship and other historic sites nearby.
Built in 1941 at Newport News, VA shipyard, the Yorktown participated in WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam earning a total of 11 battle stars and a Presidential Citation.
After a long walk out to the ship, you’ll climb some steps into the hangar deck. Here you’re likely to be greeted by some Navy retirees who offer some jovial small talk and maps to self-tour the ship.
The hangar deck offers a great sampling of restored planes from WWII. These aren’t aviation museum-caliber restorations like you’d see at the Smithsonian, The Museum of Flight or the Flying Heritage Collection, but they are still quite impressive.
Each notable plane has a touchscreen kiosk where you can explore the specs on the plane and see it’s armament. The ship displays around 30 aircraft.
From here, we make a beeline for the flight deck. Here you’ll get up-close and personal to some of the machinery that called the Yorktown home over the years.
One reason I really wanted to see the Yorktown on this visit to Charleston was because I visited it as a little kid. Yes, that’s young Jonathan in the photo below. Let’s and replicate that photo.
Fun. Sadly I couldn’t find those shorts in my current size.
Anyway, that’s the flight deck. Let’s check out the helm (with a cameo from Whitney in the center porthole).
The helm is in the pilot house, the brain of the ship. All of the instrumentation throughout the ship is from 1970, when the Yorktown was decomissioned.
Back into the heart of the ship, you explore crew quarters, radar rooms, and preparation rooms. Below is the big board from the pilot ready room.
In these various rooms, you get to see life on a ship and how these sailors lived and passed the time. Being an artist, I am drawn (hah) to the sketches of everyday people and how the artist turned them into memorable characters.
I suppose if the Captain didn’t like your caricature of him, you might get thrown into the brig.
Medal of Honor Museum celebrates the stories of valor related to Medal of Honor recipients. Stories from each major conflict highlight the museum. At a kiosk, explore each and every medal citation if you like.
The Medal of Honor Museum is a new addition to the Yorktown. Visit it just to the left of the information desk on the hangar deck level.
Another National Historic Landmark, it is certainly a unique experience to climb below the water line and explore the tight confines of the Clamagore.
She never saw much action, and in fact WWII was over by the time she finished training maneuvers. But, she is the only surviving example of a “guppy” style submarine.
Whitney demonstrates the small doorway between compartments.
By contrast, the submarines of today are nuclear and have a lot more space to move around. Here, we see the engine room and the four V16 GE diesel engines used to power the ship.
The Clamagore held 24 torpedoes, one of which is shown in cross-section in the torpedo room, the final room of the ship (the most aft room).
Unfortunately for the Clamagore, time is taking its toll. Her deterioration is past the point of no return. As such, in a few years she’ll be an underwater reef.
Patriot’s Point is not only home to the USS Yorktown, the Medal of Honor Museum, and the USS Clamagore, it’s also home to the USS Laffey, a replica of a Vietnam support base and serves as a boat launch for tours to Fort Sumter.
From Charleston, cross the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge toward Mt. Pleasant and take your first exit. Patriot’s Point is open every day from 9am to 5pm. Plan ahead for Fort Sumter tours. Visit their website for the most up-to-date information.
Today we covered a lot of ground! We took a walking tour, we saw some churches and graveyards and we had some lunch. Next, let’s go watch the sunset over the Ashley River and James Island from the Battery.
Enjoyed the pics, especially the pic of you on the flight deck then and now. Some great shots of Whitney also!