Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina Maritime Museum

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum is the world's largest maritime museum and is located on the Charleston Harbor in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. It is open daily except Christmas Day from 9am to 6.30pm with parking available for a small fee per day. The museum dates back to October 1975 when the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown was opened to the public to celebrate the birthday of the US Navy.

The USS Yorktown is the centerpiece of the museum as was built in only sixteen and a half months in 1943 to serve in the Second World War. The ship saw continued service through to 1970 when it was decommissioned, having operated off Vietnam in the mid to late 60s. Visitors can take a number of tours around the ship and see the hangar deck, flight deck, bridge and the Congressional Medal of Honor Museum.

The Medal of Honor Museum has interactive exhibits explaining the origins of the Medal of Honor, which is the United States' highest award for military valor, and stories of brave Americans. Plane enthusiasts can enjoy seeing World War II bombers and fighters on the flight deck. Visitors are able to board two other ships, USS Laffey and USCGC Ingham as well as a submarine USS Clamagore.

There is a true to scale replica of a Vietnam Naval Support Base at Patriots Point too. This shows the various craft used to patrol the waterways and jungle during the Vietnam War. The exhibit features a rare Mark 1 River Patrol Boat, a UH-1m Huey gunship and various military helicopters.

In the heart of the Charleston Harbor is the Cold War Submarine Memorial, which is a tribute to the Americans who served during the cold war between 1947 and 1989. It has seven educational stations surrounding a full sized replica of a Benjamin Franklin Class Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine. The stations pay tribute to military men and women, their families, citizens of South Carolina and the British Royal Navy Submarine Service.

School programs are offered at the museum that includes history and marine biology classes. The education director at the site will even come out to schools to provide lectures. There is also a youth overnight camping program, where youngsters get to sleep aboard the Yorktown and learn about naval and aviation history.

Visitors can find food available at $8.50 on board the Yorktown with a hot lunch served in the aircraft carrier's C.P.O. Mess, which is open to the general public only from April to November. However, groups can book a reservation in advance all year round. There is also a snack bar located on board the ship and another by the gift shop.

Reviews from previous visitors of this attraction have been very favorable. It seems that it appeals to a wide range of people and is a great family day out. Many were fascinated by how much there was to see and the amount of access they had to ships.