a small boy stands next to a large aircraft pointing to the wing above his head
Wednesday
September23

Open today from 10AM to 5PM

40 Patriots Point Rd.
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
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First Time Visitors

Welcome Aboard!

We welcome you to Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum where honor, pride, and adventure unite. There are 1 million square feet of things to educate and entertain visitors of all ages. Begin your journey here. 

First Time Visitors

Upon arrival onsite at Patriots Point on the Charleston, SC harbor, the monumental aircraft carrier USS Yorktown will dominate the view. Adjacent is WWII destroyer USS Laffey and the realistic sights and sounds of the Vietnam Experience. 

Orient yourself at the Information Desk in the hangar bay of the USS Yorktown. Knowledgeable volunteers are happy to provide information to help you start your exploration, or point you to stairs, specific exhibits and restrooms. 

From the hangar bay, there is so much to explore, from vintage aircraft and historic maritime exhibits to special galleries and artifacts. First-time guests should plan to spend at least two to three hours exploring Patriots Point. Check out our Interactive Map to learn more! 

 

Parking Information: Please note that museum admission tickets do not include parking. All vehicle parking at Patriots Point is managed separately and requires an additional fee. Parking rates are subject to change. For more information, please visit our Directions & Parking Information page.

Meet The Fleet

Outside of USS Yorktown
USS Yorktown
 View of the USS Laffey
USS Laffey
 Outside the Vietnam Experience
The Vietnam Experience
 image of a exhibition in the Congression Medal of Honor Museum
Medal of Honor Museum

Aircraft Highlights

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Primary Image of F4F Wildcat
From The Collections
F4F Wildcat
Discover the Heroic Legacy of the F4F Wildcat: Unveiling WWII’s Most Courageous Fighter Pilot and Iconic Aircraft This museum treasure represents the WWII American fighter that took on the Japanese...
Primary Image of F6F-5K Hellcat
From The Collections
F6F Hellcat
The lethal F6F Hellcat gained enormous fame during WWII operating from the USS Yorktown. Making their first combat flights from Yorktown in August 1943, the more powerful and agile Hellcat dominated...
Primary Image of A-4L Skyhawk
From The Collections
A-4C Skyhawk
Delivered in 1956, the A-4 Skyhawk answered the Navy's call for an attack aircraft that could be carrier based in the maturing jet age. Designed with minimal size and weight in mind, the A-4 was so...
Primary Image of A-6E Intruder
From The Collections
A-6E Intruder
Developed as a carrier based attack aircraft, Intruder gave the Navy and Marines a high degree of bombing accuracy at night and in poor weather. The A-­6 served in Vietnam, engagements in Lebanon and...
Primary Image of A-7E Corsair II
From The Collections
A-7E Corsair II
The A-7 Corsair was a carrier based light attack aircraft designed to take the place of the A-4 Skyhawk. If the Corsair looked like a shorter version of the F-8 Crusader its because the Navy based its...
Primary Image of AD-4N Skyraider
From The Collections
AD-4N Skyraider
The Douglas Skyraider was the heavy duty torpedo/dive bomber the WWII Navy was looking for in the mid 1940s. But the war ending victory over the Japanese came before Skyraider was able to see action...
Primary Image of AH-1J Sea Cobra
From The Collections
AH-1J Sea Cobra
Following the path of the UH-­1 Huey, the Cobra was originally developed for the US Army. Delivered by Bell in 1967, the Cobra would log more than one million operational hours in Vietnam. This...
Primary Image of E-1B Tracer
From The Collections
E-1B Tracer
The carrier based E-1B Tracer provided critical early warning and guidance support. Its four man crew was able to remain in flight up to seven hours. The most distinguishing feature of the E-1B is the...
Primary Image of EA-3B Skywarrior
From The Collections
EA-3B Skywarrior
The EA-3B Skywarrior was the largest and heaviest aircraft to regularly operate from an aircraft carrier, earning the nickname "Whale." Skywarriors began service in 1956 as a carrier-­based strategic...
Primary Image of F-8K Crusader
From The Collections
F-8K Crusader
Distinctive in appearance, the F-8 Crusader, known as the "Last of the Gunfighters," was one of the US Navy's first supersonic, carrier-based fighter aircraft. Entering service in 1957, the F-­8 was...
Primary Image of F-14A Tomcat
From The Collections
F-14 Tomcat
The F-­14 Tomcat defined air superiority launched from Navy aircraft carriers. Entering service in 1972, the F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, variable sweep wing fighter designed to attack and destroy...
Primary image for the On The Move: The Aircraft and Vehicles of Patriots Point Collection
From The Collections
F/A-18A Hornet
The single seat F/A-­18A Hornet is an all-­weather fighter and attack aircraft. Hornet holds the distinction of being our nation's first strike-fighter. According to the United States Navy, "it was...
Alternative Image of FG-1D Corsair
From The Collections
FG-1D Corsair
With its signature inverted gull wings and over-sized propeller, the powerful FG-1D Corsair could hit 470 mph, pack a stinging punch and strike fear in the hearts of Japanese Zero fighter pilots...
Primary Image of SH-3G Sea King
From The Collections
SH-3G Sea King
The original SH-3G Sea King was a Navy workhorse for more than 40 years. The last two operational H-­3's officially retired in early 2006, although an updated Sea King model is still in use by the...
Primary Image of S-2E Tracker
From The Collections
S-2E Tracker
Introduced in 1954, the S-­2E Tracker was designed to find, follow, and if necessary, kill enemy submarines. Spanning three decades, the primary purpose of the S-­2 was to be a thorn in the side of...
Primary Image of SBD-5 Dauntless
From The Collections
SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was involved in the WWII Pacific theater from day one. In service for roughly six months prior to Pearl Harbor, the SBD Dauntless was the Navy's primary dive bomber in the...
Primary Image of TBM-3E Avenger
From The Collections
TBM Avenger
Early TBM Avengers went into Navy service in time for the June 1942 Battle of Midway. The Avenger played a pivotal role in the Pacific because of its effectiveness against the Japanese fleet and its...
Primary Image of TF-9J Cougar
From The Collections
TF-9J Cougar
The F9F Cougar was delivered to the Navy and Marines in mid-­1952 but did not see action in the Korean War. Developed as a replacement for the F9F Panther, the Cougar proved to be a superior carrier...
Primary Image of UH-1 Iroquois "Huey"
From The Collections
UH-1 Iroquois "Huey"
One could safely argue the UH-­1 Huey is the best known helicopter in history. It may well be the most widely used helicopter in the world. Developed by Bell, the official name of the UH-­1 was...
Primary Image of UH-34D Seahorse
From The Collections
UH-34D Seahorse
With its first flight in 1954, Sikorsky originally developed the H-­34 Seabat for the Navy as an anti-­submarine helicopter. A utility version, UH-34D Seahorse was used by the Navy and Coast Guard for...
Primary Image of F-4J Phantom II
From The Collections
F-4J Phantom II
The "Phabulous Phantom" remains one of the most imposing fighters ever developed by the United States. First used in 1960 by the Navy as a carrier based fighter­‐bomber, F-4J Phantom II would also...
Primary Image of QH-50 Dash
From The Collections
QH-50 Dash
The Gyrodyne QH-­50 DASH (Drone Anti-­Submarine Helicopter) was a small, drone helicopter built by Gyrodyne Company of America for use as a long-­range anti-­submarine weapon on ships that would...
Primary Image of S-3B Viking
From The Collections
S3-B Viking
Designed to hold up to four crewmen, the Lockheed S-3 Viking is a twin-engine jet aircraft. designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Corporation. The location of the...
Primary Image of UH-1M Iroquois "Huey"
From The Collections
UH-1M Iroquois "Huey"
The Bell UH-1M Iroquois, also called the Huey, is a utility, turbine-powered military helicopter manufactured by the American aerospace company Bell Helicopter. Furnished with a Lycoming T53-L-13...
Primary Image of CH-46E Sea Knight
From The Collections
CH-46E Sea Knight
The CH-46 Sea Knight is an American tandem-rotor transport helicopter manufactured by Boeing Vertol. It's a medium-lift helicopter with two General Electric T58 turboshaft engines. The engines follow...
Primary Image of B-25D Mitchell
From The Collections
B-25B Mitchell
The B-25B Mitchell found fame as the bomber used in the Doolittle Raid on April 18, 1942. During the raid, fifteen M-25 Mitchell's led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle attacked mainland Japan...
Primary Image of N2S Stearman
From The Collections
N2S Stearman
The Boeing Stearman Model 75 or "Stearman" was first introduced in 1934. The Stearman served as the main training plane across all services during World War II, but the N2S variant was particular to...
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