When the museum doors close, the USS Yorktown comes alive in a new way. Passageways once crowded with visitors grow silent. The hum of the ship’s lights echoes down narrow halls. It’s in these quiet hours that the Operation Overnight program invites visitors not just on a tour of a World War II vessel, but the chance to inhabit it.
You could find yourself deep in the engine room, surrounded by the towering machinery that once drove missions across the Pacific. Or step out onto the flight deck, where aircraft returned from daring air strikes. Peek into the machine shop and wander through the berthing areas where sailors carved out pieces of home during long deployments. Then, you’ll settle into a bunk of your own for the night, in the same historic quarters.
Operation Overnight isn’t simply about where you sleep; it’s about what you do while the rest of the world is outside the gate. Evening brings life-sized games to the hangar bay, an onboard movie screening, and a scavenger hunt designed to turn every deck into an adventure. It’s history, but it’s also a special kind of fun, with a rare chance to make the Yorktown a part of it.
For those looking to enhance their experience, the program offers unique upgrades that take overnight adventures to the next level. Guests can join the Wings & Things Tour for a closer look at the history of naval aviation or step into the Flying Circus Simulator and VR Ride for a high-tech flight experience that puts them right in the pilot’s seat. For a dose of intrigue, the Ghost Tour leads adventurers through the ship’s most mysterious stories after dark. Guests can also capture their night aboard the carrier with a group photo or opt for audio tours, providing a self-paced way to explore the ship’s history in even greater depth.
Operation Overnight isn’t just a one-time experience. Many participants return year after year, bringing new friends, family members, and sometimes entire scout troops that have grown up and come back as leaders themselves. “No matter how often I go, I always learn or experience something new. I highly recommend! My son served as a Naval officer, and I’m sure his experiences at Patriots Point directly influenced his decision to serve in the Navy,” Jim M, Old Hickory, TN. Each time, the ship offers something different: a new corner to discover, a new story from a guide, or simply the thrill of seeing the Yorktown after dark.
Operation Overnight is more than a program—it’s an invitation to step into history, to see a side of Patriots Point most visitors never will, and to create memories that stretch far beyond a visit.
One Ship. One Night. A Thousand Stories.
🎟️ Book your overnight adventure!