Patriots Point facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

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Established	3 January 1976 (1976-01-03)
Location	Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Type	Naval museum

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is a cool place to visit in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. It's a special museum that shows off naval ships and aircraft. You can find it right where the Cooper River meets Charleston Harbor, across from the city of Charleston. It's a great spot to learn about naval history!

History of Patriots Point

How the Museum Started

The idea for this museum came from a former naval officer named Charles F. Hyatt. He wanted to turn an old area, which used to be a place for dumped mud, into a big tourist spot. The first plans were to build a large building on land. This building would show exhibits about the history of smaller combat ships in the U.S. Navy.

First Ships Arrive

On January 3, 1976, the famous aircraft carrier USS Yorktown opened to the public. This was a huge step for the new museum. Two years later, in 1978, the destroyer USS Laffey joined the museum's collection. The museum grew even more in 1981. The submarine USS Clamagore arrived in May. Then, the NS Savannah, a special nuclear-powered ship, came in October. In 1984, the museum also got the USCGC Comanche.

Changes and Challenges

In 1987, the people running Patriots Point tried to build a hotel and a marina. However, the museum faced some problems a few years later. In 1989, it was found that the Comanche, which was never open to the public, was used for private tours. That same year, the USCGC Ingham arrived at the museum. It took the place of the Comanche. The Comanche was later removed from the museum and sunk in 1992 to create an artificial reef. It had been damaged during Hurricane Hugo. The plans for the hotel and marina did not work out, and the museum's development group faced financial difficulties.

New Exhibits and Departures

In 1993, a replica of a Vietnam War-era naval base opened. This new exhibit helped visitors imagine what life was like for soldiers during that time. The Savannah left the museum in 1994. It was moved to a special fleet of ships called the National Defense Reserve Fleet.

A Famous Visit

On September 2, 2003, the Yorktown was the setting for a big announcement. Senator John Kerry officially announced he was running for President of the United States. He later won the Democratic nomination for the 2004 election.

Recent Ship Movements

The destroyer Laffey was taken to a shipyard for repairs on August 19, 2009. The very next day, the Ingham was removed by the Coast Guard. The Laffey returned to the museum in 2012 after its repairs. Sadly, the submarine Clamagore was taken away for scrapping in 2022.

Exciting Exhibits to Explore

Historic Ships

USS Laffey is a destroyer you can explore at the museum.

Patriots Point is home to some amazing ships you can explore:

• USS Yorktown: This is a huge aircraft carrier. You can walk on its deck and see where planes took off and landed.
• USS Laffey: This is a destroyer, known for its brave history in battles. You can go inside and see how sailors lived and worked.

Aircraft Collection

The museum also has a fantastic collection of aircraft. These planes were used by the Navy and Marines:

Vietnam Experience

This exhibit lets you step back in time to the Vietnam War. It shows what a naval support camp might have looked like. You can see different vehicles and equipment from that era:

Other Interesting Exhibits

• Medal of Honor museum: This special area tells the stories of brave people who received the Medal of Honor. It's the highest award for military heroism in the United States.

See also

• Battleship Cove
• List of aircraft carriers of the United States Navy