Every time we visit a military museum, we leave with a profoundly grateful heart. To see and learn about the brave men and women who fought for the freedom of our country while walking the very ships and seeing the very aircraft they operated during the war is incredible.
This experience is a must-do if you're in Charleston. Patriot's Point features the USS Yorktown, USS Laffey, the Vietnam Experience Exhibit, Medal of Honor Museum, and Cold War Memorial. Check out more about Patriots Point HERE.
Stepping Aboard
Doolittle Raid B-25
At the entrance of the ship, the man who greeted us was thrilled to see the kids there and opened up a B-25 (on exhibit in honor of the 1942 Doolittle Raid on Japan) for us to explore.
Inside the Ship
The sheer size of this carrier just blew us away. At around 872 feet long, the ship was like a city on water.
We climbed down many flights of the most narrow, steep stairs into the depths of the engine room, and then hiked all the way to the bridge where command stood on post. Several WWII beautifully restored aircrafts were on display inside the carrier, as well as a replica of Apollo 8 recovered from the sea by the USS Yorktown.
We were surprised to find a chapel, multiple dentist and doctor offices, operating rooms, a printing press, prison, ice cream and soda shop, machine shops, multiple kitchens and galleys (the officers ate in their own), a bakery, torpedo rooms, bomb elevators, and SO much more.
Our self-guided tour took us nearly three hours, and we thoroughly enjoyed it!
On Deck
Up on deck there was the most beautiful view of downtown Charleston and the Arthur Ravenel Bridge. Off in the distance we could see Fort Sumter (where the Civil War began.) Many types of carrier-based aircraft were on display from several different time periods.
FUN FACT
On our drive to Patriots Point, we were discussing what we were going to see. Sawyer just insisted that the USS Yorktown couldn't be in Charleston because it was sunk during the Battle of Midway in WWII. After we arrived, we soon learned that he was correct - the USS Yorktown (CV-5) did go down at Midway in June of 1942, but another carrier was built quickly after and also named the USS Yorktown (CV-10) to honor the lives lost (and perhaps confuse the Japanese during WWII.) This ship received 11 battle stars for service during World War II and remained active until it was decommissioned in 1970.
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