Our next tour takes us across air, land, sea, and even space! In collaboration with the free arts and culture app Bloomberg Connects, this month we have compiled a list of local, national, and international military and first responder museums so you can learn about their impact throughout history.*

*Note the below links work best on your smartphone with the Bloomberg Connects app downloaded.

LOCAL

Intrepid Museum | New York, NY, US

Let’s start strong with an awe-inspiring adventure in New York City. The Intrepid Museum, founded in 1982, is the place to see a supersonic spy plane, a nuclear submarine, numerous military aircraft, the fastest commercial plane, and the first space shuttle, all displayed in and around the Aircraft Carrier Intrepid. Their aim is to honor heroes and inspire future generations. While there, “Visit Hanger Deck” or learn all about the “British Aerospace/Aérospatiale Concorde”, and until September 2, 2024, you can see the special exhibition Apollo: When We Went to the Moon.

New York City Fire Museum | New York, NY, US

Next up is the New York City Fire Museum, which opened its doors to the public in 1987 but can be traced back to 1870. Their mission is to preserve and protect the history of New York’s fire service and educate the public on fire prevention and safety. Here, you can see how firefighting has changed over time. For example, there’s a permanent exhibition that shares the untold story of early American volunteer firefighters during a time of rife arson: “Colonial Fighting and the American Revolution,” while the exhibition “Firehouse: The Photography of Jill Freedman” documents NYC firefighters on the job in the 1970s. 

The New York City Fire Museum is currently closed for construction, but its Bloomberg Connects guide can be accessed anytime, from anywhere.

NATIONAL

USS Constitution Museum | Boston, MA, US

Now, we head to Boston for a big slice of American maritime culture. Launched in 1797 in the Boston Harbour, the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world and the US ship of state. The USS Constitution Museum is dedicated to interpreting stories of the ship, also known as “Old Ironsides”, and its part in national history. You can discover some of those stories through awesome objects from the navy vessel such as “The Ship’s Bell” and the “Stool of Grapeshot” or take a video tour with “Anatomy of Victory Tour”.

INTERNATIONAL

Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum | Yeovil, England, UK

Sticking with naval history but crossing the sea to Yeovil, England: The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum is Europe’s largest naval aviation museum, with a huge collection of historical Royal Navy aircraft dating back over 100 years. There are around 30,000 artifacts across the museum’s four exhibition halls, and here are some highlights to start with: Hall 1 has “Search and Rescue”, Hall 2 has “Dawn of the Jet Age”, and Hall 3 has “Airfield at Sea”. And don’t miss “Pioneering Prototypes” in Hall 4.

Royal Signals Museum | Blandford Forum, England, UK

Our last stop is the Royal Signals Museum in Dorset, UK. This museum is dedicated to honoring the different forms of military communication from ancient times to present day – it houses the UK’s national collection of military communications equipment and tells the story of the Royal Corps of Signals through a series of interactive exhibitions suitable for all ages. Start by finding out about “The site’s fascinating past” and then journey through the “Evolution of Communications”.

So, if you’re itching to explore these service museums, and a whole world of arts and culture, download Bloomberg Connects today. Over and out!

Open House New York is supported by Bloomberg Connects, a free mobile app featuring guides to hundreds of museums, galleries, sculpture parks, gardens, and cultural spaces.