The USS Lexington or, as her friends call her, “Lady Lex” or simply just Lex for short, is a former World War 2 Essex Class vintage aircraft carrier. This carrier served from 1944 to 1991 and at the time of her decommissioning, the carrier was the oldest Essex Class ship still working in the fleet.
The Lexington was reported to have been sunk a remarkable four times, yet each time returned straight to battle. It was because of this that the carrier earned the fitting nickname of “Blue Ghost.”
Today, the Lexington is a permanent resident in the bay at Corpus Christi, Texas, and can be visited as an educational history museum. Here you can learn all about the ship's adventures and exploits during its almost 50-year-long career.
On the upper deck there is an exhibition on Pearl Harbor. An immersive film feature, it tells the tragic story of the attack that took place at Pearl Harbor in 1941. Be prepared to be shaken to the very core by the booming 8,000-watt speaker system that emulates the rumbling of the explosions, as this immersive experience allows you to really see, hear, and feel what it might have been like during the Japanese attack. The exhibition also contains a number of maps, photographs, and artefacts from the time.
Speaking of Pearl Harbor, the 2001 Ben Affleck movie of the same name was actually filmed in part aboard the Lady Lex herself. Screenings of the making of this film are also scheduled regularly in a comfortable viewing area.
If it’s just the big guns you want to see, then fear not as although the ship has long been decommissioned you still have the opportunity to view the anti-aircraft guns on a tour of the flight deck. During this tour, you will also get to take a look at 20 different amazing aircraft.
Since 1992, when the Lexington was opened to the public, it has been visited by over 5 million people. So why not hop aboard this multi-record breaking aircraft carrier today?
Opening hours
The USS Lexington is open all year round from 9:00am to 5:00pm but closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Admission/Membership
Adults: $14.95
Children: $9.95
Military and seniors: $12.95
There is free admission for members as well as children aged 3 and under.
Membership for a whole year starts at $30 for students and $50 for non-students.
As well as free admission, members receive free parking all day. Parking for non-members is $3.50 for the day.
Address
2914 N. Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, Texas 78403, Phone: 361-888-4873, website, Map
