| Patriot's Point | | | | Co. at the time of the sinking of the CV-5 it |
| | | | was originally was going to be named the Bon |
| Mt. Pleasant, SC | | | | Homme Richard. With the loss of the CV-5, it |
| | | | was decided to rename the ship the USS |
| Charleston, South Carolina has long been a | | | | Yorktown. It played a major role in World War |
| popular tourist destination. Why not? It | | | | II, the Korean War and the War in Vietnam. |
| offers an historical district of some of the | | | | The USS Yorktown is the oldest aircraft |
| finest preserved early American homes, | | | | carrier still afloat. |
| fabulous shopping and restaurants, antebellum | | | | |
| plantations, the South Carolina Aquarium, | | | | Inside the Yorktown is the Congressional |
| great beaches and a temperate climate. | | | | Medal of Honor Museum which is currently |
| Located just a few minutes from the major | | | | being remodeled. If it is open when you |
| downtown attractions, just across the Cooper | | | | visit, do not miss this exhibit. It is both |
| River via the striking Ravenel Bridge is | | | | moving and inspiring. Also on the hanger deck |
| Patriots Point. | | | | is a mock up of the Apollo 8 spacecraft that |
| | | | was pulled from the ocean by the aircraft |
| If youre a navel veteran or military buff, | | | | carrier. Astronauts Frank Borman, James |
| you will want to spend a day, maybe two, at | | | | Lovell and William Anders were the first |
| Patriots Point. How often do you get the | | | | humans to orbit around the Moon. On January |
| chance to wander around an aircraft carrier | | | | 3, 1969 they were on the cover of Time |
| like the USS Yorktown (CV-10)? Plus, they | | | | magazine as Men of the Year. Also on the |
| also have the Coast Guard cutter, USCGC | | | | hanger deck is a flight simulator that allows |
| Inghan (WHEC-35) open for tours. Also on site | | | | you to land a space shuttle. |
| is a World War II Korean War ear Destroyer, | | | | |
| the USS Laffey (DD-724). The Laffey won a | | | | Throughout the ship you can get glimpses of |
| Presidential Unit Citation for action off | | | | what daily life on an aircraft carrier was |
| Okinawa, April 16, 1945. Also available for | | | | like. From bunks to mess halls, from the |
| touring is the USS Clamagore (SS-343). The | | | | engine room to navigation, from the laundry |
| Clamagore is diesel submarine constructed | | | | to the infirmary, it is all open for touring. |
| near the end of World War II but arrived too | | | | The beauty of the self guided tour is that |
| late to see action. Until it was replaced | | | | you can set your own pace. One suggestion, |
| with a fleet of nuclear submarines and | | | | dont move too quickly and fight the urge to |
| decommissioned in 1975 and, it was a front | | | | skip sections. Tucked in unusual corners are |
| line submarine during the Cold War. | | | | some really interesting displays. For |
| | | | example, deep in the bowels of the great ship |
| USS Yorktown | | | | is an interesting display of the Charleston |
| | | | shipyard and dry dock. The real crowd pleaser |
| If youre coming to Charleston for a visit | | | | of the USS Yorktown is the flight deck. |
| then the USS Yorktown is a must see. Looming | | | | |
| on the horizon just across the harbor from | | | | On the flight deck is a collection of 25 |
| the Charleston historical district, it is | | | | different airplanes and helicopters |
| hard to miss. From downtown Charleston it is | | | | including: an A-4 Skyhawk, an A-6 Intruder, |
| a quick trip up East Bay Street to the | | | | an A-7 Corsair, an F-4 Phantom, an F-9 |
| Ravenel Bridge the view from the top is | | | | Cougar, and an F-14 Tomcat the recently |
| amazing. Stay in the right lane there are a | | | | retired fighter made famous by Tom Cruise in |
| bunch of them on this new bridge and the | | | | Top Gun. Bring your camera for this stop. Not |
| first main street to the right leads to | | | | only are the aircraft interesting, the views |
| Patriots Point. | | | | of Charleston just across the bay and the |
| | | | Ravenel Bridge are spectacular. |
| The Yorktown alone is a full day if you try | | | | |
| to see it all in one bite. Be sure to wear | | | | Note: it can be quite windy on the flight |
| your walking shoes. There is a lot to see but | | | | deck and it may feel 10 degrees colder than |
| there are narrow steps and tight quarters. If | | | | the Mt. Pleasant shoreline. Dress |
| you have trouble walking, climbing narrow | | | | accordingly. |
| stairs or youre claustrophobic, this may not | | | | |
| be the attraction for you. They have done an | | | | If that not enough history for you, from |
| excellent job with signage and there are tons | | | | Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant you can also |
| of historic pictures of the The Fighting Lady | | | | take a boat tour of Ft. Sumter the place the |
| and her predecessor the CV-5 which was sunk | | | | American Civil War began. There is also a |
| in the Battle of Midway but not before it | | | | recreation of a Vietnam era base station to |
| helped destroy the bulk of the Japanese fleet | | | | tour. |
| in the Pacific including 4 of their 6 | | | | |
| aircraft carriers. The Battle of Midway | | | | Patriots Point also features an 18 hole |
| likely shortened the war in the Pacific by at | | | | professional golf course and some nice |
| least one year, maybe two. | | | | accommodations. Plus it is only a few minutes |
| | | | from Shem Creek and some of the best seafood |
| The USS Yorktown that resides at Patriots | | | | restaurants not only in Mt. Pleasant but in |
| Point is the CV-10. It was under construction | | | | the entire country. |
| at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock | | | | |