yorktown ship tour charleston sc

USS Yorktown Ghost Tour with Exclusive Night-Time Access

• 90-Minute Guided Ghost Tour aboard the USS Yorktown
• Exclusive After Dark Access to the USS Yorktown for a unique experience
• Explore areas of the ship that are closed to the public, including access to the flight deck
• Learn about maritime superstitions and hear stories of mysterious sailor disappearances
• Hear stories of the sacrifice and heroism of the people that once inhabited this ship
• Entry/Admission - Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
• Guaranteed to skip the lines
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Not recommended for travelers with back problems
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• Tours do run rain or shine. The USS Yorktown is not climate controlled. It is hot in the Summer and cold in the Winter. Please dress accordingly and wear closed-toed, comfortable shoes. There is a good amount of walking and lots of narrow stairways to navigate up and down and throughout the tour. There are also ladders used that are not easy to navigate for one having trouble walking.
• **Please note the tour is not handicapped accessible.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

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USS Yorktown Ghost Tour with Exclusive Night-Time Access provided by Bulldog Tours

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USS Yorktown Harbor Tour

One of the most predominate sites on our tour is the USS Yorktown (CV-10) . The Yorktown is located at Patriot’s Point In Mt. Pleasant just over the Ravenel bridge from downtown Charleston. Patriot’s Point is a museum of several ships including a Vietnam camp replica. For anyone that likes history, ships, old things or just likes to marvel at what humans can accomplish without the use of computers this is a must see while in Charleston.

CV-10 or Carrier Vessel is an Essex-class carrier that was built in 1941 and commissioned in 1943. CV-10 was originally named Bonhomme Richard it was renamed Yorktown during construction to commemorate CV-5, also named the Yorktown. CV-5 was sunk in 1942 during the Battle of Midway.

Yorktown (CV-5) prepares to get under way from NAS San Diego (June 1940)

CV-5 Yorktown was the lead ship of the Yorktown class. She was a straight deck carrier and was designed and built in 1943 in Newport News Virginia , after lessons learned in the Lexington class converted battlecruisers. She was launched in 1936 and after many sea trials, fitting out, and war exercises Yorktown headed to the Pacific fleet in 1939.

The US enters the war after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 killing over 2,400 Americans and sinking or damaging 16 ships and 250 aircraft. CV-6 was damaged during the battle of the Cora Sea and arrived back in Pearl Harbor for repairs in May. She was minimally repaired and ready to head to sea to meet up with the Pacific Fleet Northeast of Midway. During this time after attacking several Japanese ships a raid on the Yorktown insured. The Yorktown and its planes fought off much on the incoming attack but 3 planes were able to hit the Yorktown. Just hours later after they had controlled all the burning and got the boilers running again the radar picked up another attack. This time The Yorktown was not so lucky and was fatally wonded. She had lost all power and had a jammed rudder and was dead in the water with a list to the port side. The ship was abandoned and was hit again by Japanese subs during a salvage operation. By June 7,1942 the damage was to much for the Yorktown and rolled upside-down and sank.

Smoke pours from Yorktown after being hit in the boilers by Japanese dive bombers at Midway

The Yorktown CV-10 left Pearl Harbor on August 22,1943 for its first missions of the war just off Marcus Island . CV-10 also ran missions on Wake Island . Several months later it participated in it first major assault on the Gilbert Islands, Tarawa, Abemama and Makin. For the next year it participated in raids from Marianas to New Guinea and even on the main land Japan. In June it was making air strikes on Guam to prevent the Japanese from launching their planes. It then returned to Pearl Harbor for more air training operations.

In 1944 in January it left Pearl Harbor to assist in operation Flintlock, the invasion of the Marshall Islands. The York town the Lexington and the Cowpens began air strikes on the Maloelap Atoll at about 5:20 am the morning of January 29. It also struck Majuro and Kwajalein to soften up the target so the troops could make landfall on the 31 of January.

For the next several months Yorktown was part of many raids thought the Atolls including strikes on Truk, a Japanese anchorage and installations on Saipan . In April it joined General MacArthur’s assault on Jayapura and Wakde-Sarmi north of New Guinea. From there they moved back to Turk Lagoon for another 2 day raid. After they returned once again to Pearl Harbor for training operations in the Hawaiian Islands.

In June it headed back out to prepare for the invasion of Saipan and concentrated its efforts on the Japanese airfields airfields on Guam . During the battle of the Philippine Sea The Yorktown tock down 37 enemy planes and dropped 21 tons of bombs on the Guam airbase. Yorktown also laid strikes on the Japanese fleet and hit the Zuikaku although did not sink it. Also later conducted raids on Pagan Island and Iwo Jima.

On July 31 it arrived in the Puget Sound Navy Yard for a two month over haul and repairs. After it rejoined the fleet and conducted operations in the Philippines to support the Leyte Invasion. In December it helped in a rescue of three destroyers that sank in a typhoon .

In 1945 Yorktown rejoined Task Force 38 and was tasked with striking targets in Formosa and the Philippines. From there it moved on to the Japanese inner defenses. Yorktown spent time in Saigon and DaNang sinking 44 ships before moving on to Okinawa.

By March Yorktown was off Japan to start strikes on airfields on the mainland and was soon under attack by 2 bomber planes the first one was hit and crashed off the bow. The second went down several minutes later and no damage to the Yorktown was reported. But the end of March it was solely concentrating on its efforts in Okinawa and for 6 weeks ran support for the troops ashore.

In Mid July she was off the coast of Japan launching strikes on Tokyo. Much of July was spent in this area running raids, refusing and replenishing as well as attacking the navy base of Yokosuka and installations around the Kure navy base. Several typhoon were in the area that hindered operations instill about August.

By mid August peace negotiations were going on and Yorktown and the rest of the TF 58 held tight off the waters of Japan waiting for instructions. She headed just off of Honshu to provide coverage for the forces that were occupying Japan until the surrender on board the Battleship Missouri .

At the end of the war Yorktown went to San Francisco to unload passages from the war and, continued on to Hunters Point Navy Yard for minor repairs. Repairs complete she headed back out to Guam to pick up more soldiers to return home. She did this several time before heading to Washington State where she was placed in reserve and remained there for the end of the year. In January 1947 Yorktown was decommissioned and was part of the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

In 1952 she was reactivated by 1953 it was converted to an attack carrier (CVA) and was patrolling the West coast. In August it joined TF 77 in the Sea of Japan and by this time a armistice had been sign two months earlier and Yorktown conducted training missions in the area. Yorktown was used as the platform for the movie Jet Carrier an Academy Award nominated film.

After making a few more calls to Hong Kong and the Aachen Islands it returned home and was placed in reserve while still in commission and receiving extensive modifications in eluding an angled flight deck . At the end of modifications she was placed back in full commission and resumed normal operations along the West coast with the 7th Fleet.

In 1957 Yorktown’s home port was transferred to Long Beach California and reclassified as an antisubmarine warfare aircraft carrier.(ASW) More modifications were made at this time for the new CVS-10 classification in the Puget Sound Navy Shipyard. After renovations Yorktown resumed normal operations along the West coast until about November of that year when she did a tour of duty in the Western Pacific. During the deployment Yorktown qualified for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal three times.

Yorktown once again entered the shipyard in January 1961 and returned to Long Beach at the end of January and resumed normal west coast operations until the end of July where it set back out for the Far East. This tour lasted until March of 1962 and went back to west coast operations.

In 1964-65 Yorktown was deployed for the Vietnam War in support of the American involvement in the crisis. Yorktown was a dominate force in the Vietnam conflict for 7 months supporting land based operations in the region.

in 1967 in went in for a 7 month overhaul and completed repairs in early October and resumed normal west coast operations till the end of 1967. In December it set out for its last touring the Western Pacific where it provided AWS and SAR support in the wake of the North Korean capture of Pueblo.

Yorktown was also the platform for the filming of the movie Tora! Tora! Tora!, the tale of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. 

In December 1968 she was one of the recovery ships for the Apollo 8 space module. in 1969 she rounded South America to meet up with the Atlantic Fleet and her new home port of Norfolk, Virginia.

Durning the early part of 1970 Yorktown was decommissioned in Philadelphia and berthed with the Atlantic reserve fleet. She was there almost three years before she was taken off the Navy list and in 1974 was donated to the Patriot’s Point Development Authority. Yorktown was towed from New Jersey to Charleston in 1975.

Yorktown still sits at Patriot’s Point today along side the USS Laffey a Cold war Submarine and a Vietnam base camp.

Want to learn more about the history of Charleston?

About The Author

Captain Dave Gugliotti holds a 200 ton USCG Master License, teaches boat handling, and close quarter maneuvering. He is both a NASBLA and Safe Boating Council certified instructor for both in classroom and on the water training. He has been the winner of the Post and Courier Charleston Choice award for five years running and loves being out on the water.

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USS Yorktown

Patriots point naval and maritime museum.

Located a short drive from Sullivan’s Island is the USS Yorktown. The USS Yorktown is one of the most popular attractions in the Charleston area. This historic aircraft carrier is located at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Mt. Pleasant on Charleston Harbor.

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum is home to several incredible attractions, all conveniently located in one place. The Medal of Honor Museum honors the Medal of Honor Recipients from The Civil War to the War in Afghanistan. The Medal of Honor is the highest honor given to military members for acts of extreme valor.

The Destroyer, USS Laffey, is also located at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. The USS Laffey earned the moniker “The ship that would not die” for her exploits during the D-Day invasion and at the Battle of Okinawa. The Laffey was named in honor of Seaman Bartlett Laffey. Seaman Laffey served during the Civil War and was a Medal of Honor recipient.

The USS Yorktown also features several vintage naval aircraft. These aircraft include a Grumman F-9 Cougar, F-14 Tomcat, and A-6 Intruder. There is also a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and an A-7 Corsair, among others. Also, there are several helicopters and a patrol boat at Patriots Point.

You can also catch a boat to visit historic Fort Sumter that leaves from Patriots Point .

USS Yorktown: A Brief History

The USS Yorktown (CV-10) served during World War II, The Korean War, and the Vietnam War. She was modernized in 1953 to serve as an attack carrier during the Korean War. Yorktown also served as an anti-submarine ship during the Vietnam War. The aircraft carrier also recovered the Apollo 8 capsule and crew. The USS Yorktown has called Patriots Point home since 1975.

The CV-10 was the second carrier named USS Yorktown. The original ship, CV-5, was sunk at the Battle of Midway by the Japanese.

Patriots Point is an attraction that has something for just about everybody of all ages. Overnight camping on the carrier is also available.

If you are staying on Sullivan’s Island , you can easily visit Fort Moultrie, Patriots Point, and Fort Sumter all in one fun day. Visiting these three sites is a must for anyone interested in military history. The history of these sites spans the Revolutionary War through the Vietnam War.

Learn more about restaurants on Sullivan’s Island , public beach access on Sullivan’s Island , the historic Charleston Light , and fishing on Sullivan’s Island .

Home » Cruises & Tours » Daytime Combo Packages » Charleston Harbor Tour & USS Yorktown

Daytime Tour Packages Charleston Harbor & USS Yorktown Tour

Explore the USS Yorktown

Enjoy a historic tour of Charleston Harbor. Then, walk in the steps of heroes on the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point. Built in just 16 months at Newport News, Virginia, Yorktown was commissioned on April 15, 1943. Known as the “Fighting Lady,” this World War II ship was instrumental in the Pacific offensive that began in late 1943 and ended with the defeat of Japan in 1945.

This combo does not include transportation to the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point. Rates are subject to availability and change without notice and does not include a $1 per person port fee. The USS Yorktown is a self-guided tour and will include any exhibits open at Patriots Point.

If you’re taking a later harbor tour, please note your tour time on the USS Yorktown will be limited and in some cases not available (last ticketed entry to Yorktown is 4 p.m.). Please plan accordingly to maximize your tour time.  Patriots Point will be closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Book a Charleston Harbor Tour directly online with SpiritLine Cruises using promo code HAR3 for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and save 5$ per person up to 6 people on NEW reservations!

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Uss yorktown.

Located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, the USS Yorktown  (CV-10), the second Essex class carrier built by the United States, was commissioned on April 15, 1943. As early as 1910, the U.S. Navy recognized the potential value that flight would have in naval operations. Although naval aviation was utilized during World War I, aircraft assigned to warships generally provided only reconnaissance support for the fleet. The possibility of using airplanes as a naval strike weapon did not begin until the 1920s when aircraft capable of performing heavy bombardment against land or sea targets were built. Naval vessels capable of carrying several squadrons of such aircraft were developed concurrently. Thus the first eight carriers constructed by the U.S. Navy varied in size, speed, protection and aircraft complement in order to provide the greatest number of carriers capable of launching the greatest number of air strikes, yet still comply with treaty-imposed tonnage restrictions.  Essex  (CV-9), the ninth U.S. carrier authorized, was a product of these earlier designs.

A total of 26 Esssex-class carriers were ordered by the U.S. Navy between February 1940 and June 1943 and 24 were completed. This was the largest class of carriers ever built by the United States and over half, including USS  Yorktown  (CV-10), served as part of the Pacific Fleet during World War II. World War II and the carrier campaigns of the Pacific firmly established the role of aviation within naval operations and the aircraft carrier replaced the battleship as the Navy's primary strike weapon. Serving as mobile air bases, carriers could maneuver aircraft around the open waters and scattered island chains of the Pacific. By employing a combination of scouting, fighter or bomber aircraft to control the enemy's air power, groups of carriers, screened by surface ships, could open the way for island invasions, cover and support amphibious operations, and help to hold the conquered areas. Thus carriers became an integral compound of nearly every campaign throughout the Pacific War. With aircraft that extended the fleet's firepower beyond the range of large caliber battleship guns, the carrier's status was elevated from reconnaissance platform to that of major surface combatant.

Named for the CV-5 aircraft carrier that was sunk during the Battle of Midway, the new USS  Yorktown had a distinguished war record, receiving 11 battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation for its World War II services. During World War II, the USS Yorktown  fought against the Japanese for more than two years, inflicting heavy damage on the Japanese at Truk and the Marianas, helping sink the largest battleship ever built, the Imperial Japanese Navy's Yamato  and supporting American ground troops in the Philippines, at Iwo Jima and at Okinawa. The USS  Yorktown  was converted for jet use in 1955 with the addition of a new angled flight deck, hurricane bow and flight deck. It then served as an anti-submarine carrier in Vietnam. In 1968 the Essex class carrier was used to recover the crew of Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the moon. Before being decommissioned in 1970, the USS  Yorktown  had a notable career in the service of the United States. Visit the National Park Service  Travel American Aviation   to learn more about  Aviation related Historic Sites.

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Last updated: August 22, 2017

USS Yorktown Ghost Tours

Stories of Heroes, Sacrifice and the Unexplained

Listed as a must do by the Today Show and Family Circle Magazine, this exclusive guided tour explores the unexplained mysteries of the USS Yorktown in historic Charleston, SC. Hear stories of sacrifice and devastation as this tour ventures into areas normally restricted to the public. Learn of the strange activity that has been documented and reported including the startling results of the investigation by Syfy Channel’s “Ghost Hunters.”

 Venture into the bowels of the ship and to the flight deck where many sightings have taken place!

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Touring the USS Yorktown Charleston aircraft carrier is a great way to spend a day in the Charleston area. This historical battleship played an important role during World War II and has now settled in the waters of Patriots Point as a museum ship. You can hop aboard for a trip through U.S. Navy and Charleston history. History lovers, military buffs, and those interested in boats and ships will all be happy to get the chance to explore this unique sightseeing attraction, located just a few miles away from your Exclusive Properties vacation rental—eight and a half miles to be exact! You can even rent a taxi or other form of transportation if you feel uncomfortable making the drive yourself, which is yet another advantage to staying in one of our vacation homes; they are close to everything!

The USS Yorktown was the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the U.S. Navy, originally commissioned on April 15, 1943 after only 16 ½ months of construction. The amazing workmanship that was put into the carrier was in part because of the demand for an offensive in the Pacific during World War II. USS Yorktown would go on to earn 11 battle stars for its service. After surviving World War II unscathed, this massive aircraft carrier continued its winning service, earning five of its previously mentioned 11 battle stars in Vietnam. Perhaps, most famously, the USS Yorktown recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and capsule in December of 1968. This was an important mission for the NASA program, as it was only the second manned spaceflight in American history. The USS Yorktown would then be decommissioned and put on battle reserve two years later, in 1970 Ever since 1975, the ship has been in Charleston as the centerpiece of the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, where thousands of tourists a year trod upon the historic decks, learning its stories as they marvel at all that had been accomplished before being decommissioned. The USS Yorktown has traveled many miles over the years, fought many battles, and now it’s time for it to rest on its laurels.

Basic Tours

Admission for tours of Patriots Point includes access to USS Yorktown , the USS Laffey destroyer ship, and the USS Clamagore submarine. Adult (12 or older) tickets cost $22 each, senior tickets are $17, children aged 6 to 11 are $14, and children under six are admitted for free. Additionally, tickets for those with a military ID will cost $17, and those dressed in uniform are admitted free. We in South Carolina salute those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom; how could we even think of charging for their admission? The USS Yorktown tour includes an exhibit based around the Apollo spacecraft. You’ll be able to take a ride to the moon as you listen to the actual radio communications and watch video of the Apollo’s landing, reliving that exciting, yet frightening time period in American history. You may even find yourself biting your nails in fear that the astronauts won’t make it home, even though you obviously know they did!

Ghost Tours

Looking for a history lesson and a scare at the same time? The USS Yorktown in Charleston SC is known as one of the most haunted ships in the country and ranks number three on the list of most haunted places in all South Carolina as well. As a result, there are now nighttime ghost tours offered aboard “The Fighting Lady.” These tours aren’t for the timid, as you’ll learn about all the strange activity and ghoulish behavior that has been witnessed on the USS Yorktown since the ship was put out of commission. Earning a starring role on the Syfy Channel’s Ghost Hunters, the heroes who served aboard this powerful aircraft carrier still try to be heard decades after their untimely deaths. You might even feel a chill down your spine and encounter your own paranormal experience. USS Yorktown Tours are offered nightly, but depend on the season. Prospective visitors should book a trip ahead on YorkTownGhostTours.com . Prices start at $25 for this 90-minute tour. For more on Isle of Palms attractions / events :

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