Causes: Arts & Culture, Education, Elementary & Secondary Schools, History Museums, Literacy, Museums, Science & Technology Museums

Mission: The mission of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is to honor our heroes, educate the public and inspire our youth. As an educational and cultural not-for-profit institution centered on the retired World War II aircraft carrier, the USS Intrepid, the Museum is dedicated to promoting the awareness and understanding of history, science and service through its collections, exhibitions and programming. Docked on the Hudson River in New York City, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum was founded in 1982 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. This iconic museum has drawn over 12 million visitors since first opening and welcomes almost one million visitors annually. Built in 1943, the USS Intrepid and her crew have a distinguished history of service in times of war and in times of peace, including tours of duty in both World War II and Vietnam, and as a NASA prime recovery vessel, retiring in 1974. The Museum's historical value was recognized by NASA in April 2011, when the Intrepid was named as the new home for Enterprise (OV-101), the first Space Shuttle, to help perpetuate the legacy of one of our country's greatest technological achievements and the legacy of all the men and women who served in the NASA program.

Programs: The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum offers one-of-a-kind educational experiences to the general public and students. Driven by its mission to honor, educate and inspire, this unique Museum complex is dedicated to promoting the awareness and understanding of history, science and service through its collections, exhibitions and programming. The Intrepid's mission is realized in three ways: 1) through collections, exhibitions, and interpretations of history; 2) through the Museum's innovative science, history and leadership education programs for students; and 3) by the integral role the Intrepid plays in the local and national community, hosting a wide range of public events for youth, families, senior citizens, veterans and the men and women in service to our nation. Exhibits and Collections: As visitors explore the Museum complex and its exhibits, they can examine original artifacts from the Museum's collection, view historic video footage, and explore state-of-the-art interactive exhibits. Visitors learn about American history in the context of global events including World War II, the Cold War, and the NASA recovery missions in which Intrepid played a part, and the social trends and circumstances that impacted the more than 3,000 crew members who lived onboard this "city at sea" at any one time. Visitors also learn about the marine environment and the science of flight through interactive exhibitions and by exploring the Museum Complex which consists of a publically accessible pier, the 900-foot long Intrepid, a collection of 30 restored aircraft, including two of the world's fastest airplanes (the Lockheed A-12 Spy Plane and British Airways Concorde), the USS Growler nuclear missile submarine, and a replica of the Gemini space capsule. The Museum especially is dedicated to presenting the "humanity behind the hardware" of those who served onboard the Intrepid during its thirty years of service, from ace pilots and command officers to those of average seamen who were armorers, mechanics, medics, cooks, and laborers, all of whom made the Intrepid the National Historic Landmark it is today. Education: The Museum welcomes close to 180,000 children annually. Almost 28,000 public school students participate in science and history educational programs each year. Close to 14,000 of these students are from undeserved communities and attend Museum programs at no-cost. The Intrepid has delivered high quality educational programming to tens of thousands of students and teachers for almost 30 years. In 2004, the staff and trustees reaffirmed the Museum's focus on education by creating the Michael Tyler Fisher Center for Education, an 18,000 sq. ft. educational facility at the Museum dedicated to student workshops and teacher training. Museum education programs are structured to parallel New York State and national curriculum standards in the areas of science, social studies, math, English, and language arts, and there is a special focus on the STEM curriculum (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Students are encouraged to observe, discover, hypothesize, and engage in hands-on experiences. The Museum's 13,000-foot Exploreum, with its 18 interactive displays emphasizes the Museum's four interpretive themes of water, air, space, and life at sea, adding to students' adventure and fun. Programs are designed to impact K-12th grade students from Title I eligible schools, which are populations considered low-income or underserved. Educators combine science and history instruction with mentorship, bringing programs to diverse audiences including students confined to hospitals and living in homeless shelters as well as students who participate in on-ship school year programs and intensive summer camp programs, such as our annual STEM focused camp G.O.A.L.S. for Girls (Greater Opportunities for Advancing Science and Leadership). The Museum's Access Initiative offers programs for visitors and students affected by physical (blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, mobility) disabilities, and developmental and emotional disabilities, including autism. The Museum’s Access Initiative also provides free programs for Veterans with physical, emotional or cognitive challenges and for Military Families affected by developmental disabilities such as autism. The Museum relies on public and private grants and donations to support these no-fee initiatives. Events and Activities that Honor Our Heroes: The Intrepid Museum serves as a leading platform for raising awareness of the role of service in our communities and in the military in American society. As a primary destination for important national celebrations and commemorations, the Museum supports the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, Veterans, and those who serve our communities. Important annual events at the Museum include Fleet Week, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Veterans Day. In addition, the Museum's Summer Salute to Heroes honors fire fighters, police officers and other first responders. The Museum also serves as a meeting place for veterans and veterans groups, and for diverse local, national and international visitors and groups. Curatorial and education personnel also present exhibitions and programs centered on important historical anniversaries, including the 100 year celebration of naval aviation, the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor and the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. The Museum develops programming around Black History Month, Women's History Month and Disability Awareness Month. As a non-profit institution, we put people at the heart of our museum and support the idea that Museums are at the heart of our communities. The Museum is dedicated to educating and inspiring future generations to learn about American and global history from diverse perspectives so that they can be informed citizens. Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher, who founded the Intrepid Museum in 1982, also founded a family of foundations, each of which is dedicated to serving either veterans or active military service people. The Museum acts as a mother ship for these sister foundations that provide crucial support for the men and women of the U.S. Armed forces and for veterans and their families. This family of foundations includes the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, the Fisher House and the Intrepid Relief Fund. The Intrepid Museum Foundation is at the center of this family of foundations, serving as a central iconic symbol that raises public awareness for veteran's causes and issues, and provides institutional support for the work of the sister foundations, particularly the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the Intrepid Relief Fund. -->