INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM 2007–2009 ANNUAL REPORT INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM 2007–2009 ANNUAL REPORT The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum first opened its doors in 1982, and while there have been decades of change, the heart of its overall mission has stayed the same: to honor our heroes, educate the public and inspire our youth. This mission is realized through the preservation, collection, exhibitions and exceptional educational programs particularly pertaining to the service era of Intrepid from World War II through the present. Intrepid’s goal is to provide a powerful experience fed by a dynamic, innovative and moving environment where visitors learn about the true cost of freedom. Contents Chairman & Chief Executive Officer’s Report 2 Executive Director’s Report 3 Museum Restoration Timeline 4 Exhibits and Collections 6 Education Programs and Initiatives 14 Community Commitment 20 Special Events 24 Salute to Freedom Galas 28 Museum Fundraising 30 Intrepid Museum Supporters & Sponsors 30 Affiliated Organizations 34 Board of Trustees 35 Financial Information 36 Chairman & Chief Executive Officer’s Report In late 2006, after 24 years of continued service as a Museum, Intrepid was temporarily closed for a massive overhaul and restoration. This $115 million project included demolishing and rebuilding Pier 86 where the Museum is based, dry-docking and repairing the 47,000-ton Intrepid, completely restoring the interior of the vessel, creating a brand new exhibit architecture, restoring many aircraft in the collection and acquiring several new aircraft and making substantial changes to the organization structure and managerial goals of Intrepid. The two-year project was completed on time and on budget, and Intrepid reopened in November 2008, better able than ever to serve our visitors and to honor our nation’s military personnel and veterans, and Thank you for reviewing the annual report of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. their families. We are proud to present this report to share with you Intrepid’s accomplishments over the past three years and to let you know who we are today. The entire Intrepid family expresses our sincere thanks to the many individuals, corporations, agencies and friends who made our restoration possible. We pledge to The Museum opened in 1982, the result of the tireless efforts of Zachary and Elizabeth you that Intrepid will proudly carry forward our mission. Fisher and a small but dedicated group of patriots who saw the value in saving the historic aircraft carrier Intrepid from the scrapyard. Today she is a world-class educational and historic attraction and a monument to those who served aboard her, as well as all who wear and have worn our nation’s uniform and their families. Since that time, Intrepid has made great strides, welcoming more than 11,000,000 visitors and becoming one of New York’s, and indeed America’s, premiere cultural, educational Charles de Gunzburg Richard T. Santulli Bill White and historic institutions. Co-Chairman Co-Chairman President INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM Executive Director’s Report The last three years have been some of the most challenging, of Intrepid. With all of our accomplishments, we have just begun to clearly define and interesting and exciting in the Museum’s 25-year history. represent Intrepid’s history and its place in world history, depicting more concisely our Intrepid was compelled to close its doors for two years, focus on the “Humanity Behind the Hardware.” beginning on October 1, 2006, due to the necessary demolition and reconstruction of Intrepid’s home pier, Today we are enjoying all-time, record-breaking attendance and tremendous positive Pier 86. Intrepid maximized this opportunity, not only as a feedback. Pier 86 has been completely rebuilt, offering park-like amenities and becoming chance to restore and refurbish the ship and Museum, but to an inviting oasis on the west side of Manhattan. Here, Museum guests can tour the British regenerate the organization and evaluate its business practices. Airways Concorde and the Growler submarine, or take a ride in one of our flight simulators, and the public can simply come to relax and enjoy the waterfront. We set out to accomplish some lofty goals and on November 8, 2008, Intrepid reopened to great fanfare and worldwide publicity. What has resulted is essentially a brand With this new momentum, we are not resting on our laurels. We are entering into the next new Museum, offering state-of-the-art interactive technology, streamlined and organized exciting phase, continuing to build on an incredible platform of success. As we create our exhibits illustrating Intrepid’s history, a more organized flow for the visitor experience, a strategic plan for going forward, we envision opening more areas of the ship to the public, brand new Exploreum hall catering to interactive “out of the classroom” learning for our creating the next wave of programming to stimulate minds, young and old, integrating educational programs and visitors alike, upgraded amenities, new vendor relationships additional modern technology into a World War II aircraft carrier, being as environmentally and newly restored areas, never before revealed to the public. We upgraded heating and responsible as possible, retaining and exceeding the level of professionalism we’ve now come cooling systems within the physical plant, enhanced technological support, implemented to expect from ourselves and our partners and to continue honoring our heroes, educating administrative best practices in both policies and procedures and recruited the best pool the public and inspiring our youth. Welcome to the new Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. of professionals this Museum has ever experienced. Our educational programming has grown, reaching out to new markets, enriching the lives of so many young people. We have introduced overnights on the ship, as well as free programming on the Pier and Flight Deck. And, we have taken many steps to “green” the complex, both through energy saving Susan Marenoff-Zausner methods and a variety of new practices. A new culture has emerged within the steel walls Executive Director 2007–2009 ANNUAL REPORT | 3 June 6, 2007 Intrepid’s Journey to Become Intrepid moves from the Most Inspiring Adventure in December 5, 2006 Bayonne to Staten Intrepid moves. Tugged from Island Homeport Pier for America: a look at her incredible Pier 86 to Bayonne Military interior restoration. Ocean Terminal. renovation and reopening. July 2006 Announcement of January 30, 2007 On October 1, 2006, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum closed closing ceremony Pier 86 renovation begins. for a complete restoration that included the dry-docking of the with Governor George Pataki. Intrepid, ship repairs, the rebuilding and conversion of Pier 86 to a brand new, park-like public pier, the restoration of numerous aircraft and the installation of exciting new exhibits throughout the ship. The entire renovation project, which included an inside and out paint job for the 65-year-old aircraft carrier and restoration of spaces never before available for public viewing, cost approximately October 1, 2006 $115 million and took less than two years. Museum closes for 2006 refurbishment. 2007 Perkins+Will, a Chicago-based firm, was selected to work with the Intrepid’s exhibits department and curators to redesign the September 2006 – Intrepid’s Hangar Deck exhibition space. June 2008 Education programs set sail. This space is unique among historic ships. Visitors can follow the deck’s two separate paths: explore Intrepid’s technology on the port (right) side and celebrate the people who lived and worked on the ship on the starboard (right side). This exhibit area has more than 140 artifacts, most of which are on public display for the first time. In addition to the renovations to the ship, Pier 86 also underwent a full refurbishment and now boasts a park-like feel. Lined with trees, April 10, 2007 benches, shade structures and lights, this state-of-the-art pier will Intrepid moves to Bayonne serve as a venue for numerous events annually. dry-dock for overhaul and painting. November 6, 2006 May 2007 Intrepid move — first attempt. Memorial Day ceremony — Stuck in the mud. Central Park. October 2, 2008 Intrepid returns to new Pier 86. April 16, 2008 First elements of new exhibit case arrive to be installed — “Spine.” July 20, 2007 June 26, 2008 Hangar Deck Stair towers delivered and demolition begins. installed on Pier 86. November 6, 2008 Intrepid returns Gala. November 7, 2008 November 11, 2008 Growler submarine towed Veterans Day ceremony at the Intrepid including President to Pier 86. George W. Bush, along with Museum co-chairmen Charles de Gunzburg and Richard T. Santulli. 2008 DURING THE RENOVATION: 7,000 gallons of paint were used. May 2008 March 11, 2008 Memorial Day Two miles of new electrical cable were installed. Fo’c’s’le refurbishment ceremony — Pier 84. project begins. 1,200 tons of unneeded steel were removed November 8, 2008 from the ship. Intrepid reopens. 16 aircraft were refurbished; using 105 gallons of paint in 29 different colors. 95,000 cubic yards of material were dredged from the area surrounding Pier 86. September 26, 2008 Growler submarine towed to 336 epoxy-coated steel pilings, ranging in dry-dock at Brooklyn Navy Yard. length from 60 to 183 feet, were installed. April 2008 October 20, 2008 UH-1A Huey delivered to Staten British Airways Concorde Island Homeport Pier. returns to new Pier 86. New Exhibit Installations EXHIBITS AND The dynamic 22-foot curved media wall that greets visitors in the Intrepid’s Hangar Deck COLLECTIONS exhibition space shows archival footage of the Intrepid throughout its Navy career, while 110 of the Museum’s 140 artifacts in its collection, many never seen before on public view, are exhibited in the 200-foot suspended exhibition case.