Intrepid Museum To Open Major Exhibition On The Vietnam War
Exhibition to Offer Site-Specific Immersion Into Important Chapter of American History
New York, NY (May 11, 2015) – On October 16, 2015, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum will unveil On the Line: Intrepid & the Vietnam War, a major exhibition exploring the events and impact of the Vietnam War through the lens of Intrepid’s history. The exhibition, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the war, offers a site-specific immersion into an important chapter of American history.
The legendary aircraft carrier Intrepid served three tours of duty in Vietnam between 1966 and 1969. Set within the very spaces where men lived and served, the exhibition will focus on the experiences of Intrepid and its crew “on the line”—the periods when the ship was active in the Gulf of Tonkin, launching aircraft for missions over mainland Vietnam. This localized history will serve as the starting point for understanding the larger historical landscape, including the Cold War, Operation Rolling Thunder and protests at home.
The exhibition will include artifacts, photographs and film clips from the Museum’s collection, many of which will be on display for the first time. The exhibition will also draw from the Museum’s Oral History Project, an initiative launched in 2013 to record and preserve the stories of those who served on Intrepid, offering visitors the chance to hear the experiences of veterans in their own words, and to learn history firsthand.
“Drawing on the history of Intrepid and those who served aboard, this exhibition explores the Vietnam War through compelling firsthand accounts and many never-before seen photos and artifacts,” said Susan Marenoff-Zausner, President of the Intrepid Museum. “Through thoughtful work by our historians and curators, our visitors will have the opportunity to experience and reflect on this contested chapter in our nation’s past, and we are honored to preserve and share this important piece of history with all those who walk through our doors.”
The exhibition, which is free with the price of admission, will include education programs for teachers and students, and a series of public programs to generate conversation and artistic expression.