Courier August/September Courier | Page 28

All aboard “Many of our visitors are senior travelers, but we are seeing more and more schools traveling south during their spring breaks, touring historical sites on their way to our pristine beaches,” says Rhonda Davis, director of sales and marketing. Living History Crew drill aboard the USS Alabama MEMORIAL On the horizon An Engineering Tour, set to launch later this year, will venture into the ship’s engine room, boiler room and other off-route areas. Vietnam Experience Exhibit at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum New to port “My favorite recently restored compartment is the operating room of the Alabama,” Davis says. “And we have opened a World War I exhibit, ‘The Great War,’ in the Aircraft Pavilion.” On the horizon Several weekends a year, a uniformed Living History Crew conducts shipboard duties, relates historical stories to visitors and defends the ship during a simulated air attack. Those weekends will start Oct. 7 and Dec. 2, 2017; and Feb. 3, April 14, June 23, Aug. 18, Oct. 6 and Dec. 15, 2018. USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park (Mobile, Alabama) is home to two Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina) National Historic Landmarks, the USS Alabama and the submarine USS Drum, as well as to the Aircraft Pavilion, which fea- tures 28 historical aircraft, military vehicles and memorabilia. includes the USS Yorktown and two other historical vessels; the Medal of Honor Museum; and the Vietnam Experience Exhibit. The attraction is in the Charleston Harbor, 11 minutes from the Charleston CVB. FLIGHT—A Naval Aviation Experience.” They can also see a restored Korean War- era helicopter, “fly” it through virtual reality and “ride” aboard it on a flight simulator. All aboard Youth, senior, corporate and military groups can take self-guided tours or have an expert-led tour customized to their interest. Overnight experiences for student groups can include programs in history, marine science and aviation, as well as harbor tours and excursions to Fort Sumter. On the horizon Annual events at the attraction include Fourth of July fireworks; Veterans Day (Nov. 11), when admission is free for veterans; and a Pearl Harbor Day memorial service on Dec. 7. WORLD PREMIERE - NOW OPEN! REAL ARTIFACTS. REAL STORIES. REAL PEOPLE. First-of-its-kind exhibition not seen anywhere else before! A historic collection of real artifacts from the Titanic al