New York Military History Museums

Fort Ticonderoga is a popular historical site in upstate New York, located on the south shore of Lake Champlain. It was originally constructed by the French during the Seven Years’ War and later taken over by American forces during the Revolutionary War. Today it stands as more than just a memorial to an important moment in U.S. history- visitors can walk through original and reconstructed barracks, storehouses, and see genuine cannons to get a true sense of what it was like for soldiers on both sides of this conflict centuries ago. Lasting memories are made as guests immerse themselves in activities such as replica boatbuilding and musket firing while exploring this landmark that has become a symbol of our nation’s relentless pursuit for independence.

The museum showcases an abundance of artifacts, historic archives and interactive exhibits that explore all aspects of the ship's history from its deployment in World War II to its service in Vietnam and beyond. Visitors can explore inside and outside the ship, from its flight deck to its officers’ quarters to the engine room. The flight deck displays more than two dozen restored historic aircrafts including an A-6 intruder and an F-4 phantom fighter jet. There are also two interactive space exhibits which recreated experiences aboard the Space Shuttle Enterprise, as well as a tour through a submarine Growler. The museum is home to numerous educational exhibits including demonstrations on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as live performances by actors depicting historical figures or significant events. Visitors can also attend lectures given by leading historians on topics related to naval warfare, international relations or economics. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum regularly hosts visiting exhibitions focusing on various military endeavors around the world. The USS Intrepid Museum is a unique experience where visitors can get a taste of life aboard an aircraft carrier while learning about US military history in a vibrant environment filled with artifacts and interactive multimedia exhibitions.

The National Warplane Museum is a warbird and military history museum in Geneseo NY. Founded in 1994, the museum restores, flies, and displays vintage military aircraft from the World War 2, Vietnam, and Korean War eras. Don’t let the name fool you though, the museum also has many other items from military history on display, not just aircraft. The museum is also home to an annual airshow dubbed, “The Greatest Show on Turf”. The grass runway provides viewers with surreal scenes and nostalgic experiences transport them back to times when these historic aircraft frequently operated from grass runways. As always, we recommend giving the museum a call before your visit. 

Aside from the museum and their airshow, visitors will be pleased to hear the museum operates warbird rides. Warbird rides are seasonal and visitors should call in advance to schedule a ride. The Museum operates the famous C-47 name W7 which can be seen operating around the northeast in various airshows or community flyovers.

Many may have visited the museum when it was called the 1941 Historic Aircraft Group or remember visiting the National Warplane Museum in Elmira, NY. Members from the museum split and established the museum down in Elmira NY. In 2013, the name National Warplane Museum was reacquired and the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo has been operating under this name ever since. The previous owners of the name National Warplane Museum have been rebranded as Wings of Eagles Discovery Center.