Each winter, strong winds barrel down the Hudson River, and snow settles along the towering island of Intrepid. The Museum’s flight deck becomes a dramatic winter landscape—historic jets dusted in white, the steel deck shimmering under frost. For a ship designed for open oceans, this is nothing extraordinary!
While in service around the world, Intrepid encountered all types of weather. The crew steered around significant or dangerous storms, but sometimes they could not avoid the occasional winter storm.
In an oral history interview, crew member James Doster recalled snowstorms during the ship’s North Atlantic cruise in 1971. He observed that, when the ship was underway, “Snow could not build up on the flight deck, because it would just blow off.”
If snow did accumulate, the crew assembled to shovel the flight deck and other parts of the ship. Crew members also tried to remove ice from equipment when possible.
A sailor shovels snow around an anti-aircraft gun mount on Intrepid while the ship was in port, ca. 1958–1961.
Collection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Robert Wayne Osburn and family. P2013.149.119
Order of the Blue Nose
Intrepid crossed the Arctic Circle in the 1950s and 1970s. After the crossing, crew members received ceremonial certificates and wallet cards certifying that they were members of the Order of the Blue Nose, a longstanding U.S. Navy tradition.
In addition, sailors painted the ship’s bullnose blue to commemorate this milestone. The bullnose is a hole for lines or cables located at the center of the ship’s bow.
Quentin Erickson received this card after crossing the Arctic Circle on Intrepid in 1957.
Collection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Quentin Erickson. A2016.14
How the Intrepid Museum Handles Winter
The flight deck after snow removal. / Credit: Intrepid Museum
Museum staff perform regular maintenance on our vessels and aircraft to ensure their preservation. We regularly repaint the steel surfaces on Intrepid and Growler to protect them from exposure to moisture.
The aircraft restoration team conducts inspections of the aircraft collection and performs any needed corrosion control, repainting, cleaning and component checks. These preventative measures ensure that the Museum’s outdoor artifacts are prepared for all New York City weather conditions.
While the ship and aircraft are unfazed by the cold, the Museum takes steps to ensure visitors stay safe and comfortable:
The ships and aircraft don’t need special winter treatment, but our guests do—and our operations team has that down to a science.
See the Carrier Built for All Seasons
Flight deck in the snow. / Credit: Intrepid Museum
Winter is one of the most striking times to visit the Intrepid Museum. The cold air, crisp skyline and snowy deck offer a glimpse into how this legendary carrier once sailed through some of the most unforgiving conditions at sea.
From Arctic crossings to Hudson River snowfalls, Intrepid has always been shaped by the elements. Winter on the flight deck is more than a striking sight—it’s a reminder of the resilience built into this historic carrier and the sailors who once kept her mission-ready in the harshest conditions.
Today, careful preservation and thoughtful visitor care ensure that Intrepid continues to weather every season with strength and grace. Whether dusted in snow or gleaming in the sun, the ship stands as a testament to endurance, inviting visitors to experience history in all its seasons.
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