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.”

  • Where is the Lexington located?
    • Today, the Lexington is a permanent resident in the bay at Corpus Christi, Texas, and can be visited as an educational history museum.
  • What can visitors learn about the Lexington?
    • Visitors can learn all about the ship's adventures and exploits during its almost 50-year-long career.
  • What is featured on the upper deck?
    • On the upper deck, there is an exhibition on Pearl Harbor. An immersive film feature tells the tragic story of the attack that took place at Pearl Harbor in 1941.
  • What makes the Pearl Harbor exhibition immersive?
    • Be prepared to be shaken to the very core by the booming 8,000-watt speaker system that emulates the rumbling of the explosions, allowing visitors to really see, hear, and feel what it might have been like during the attack.
  • What other items are included in the exhibition?
    • The exhibition also contains a number of maps, photographs, and artifacts from the time.
  • What connection does the Lexington have to the movie 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.
  • Can visitors see the ship’s weapons and aircraft?
    • Yes! If it’s just the big guns you want to see, then fear not—although the ship has long been decommissioned, visitors still have the opportunity to view the anti-aircraft guns on a tour of the flight deck.
    • During this tour, visitors will also get to take a look at 20 different amazing aircraft.
  • How many people have visited the Lexington?
    • Since 1992, when the Lexington was opened to the public, it has been visited by over 5 million people.
  • Why should visitors explore the Lexington?
    • So why not hop aboard this multi-record-breaking aircraft carrier today?

Address

USS Lexington, 2914 N. Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, Texas 78403, Phone: 361-888-4873, Map

Map:


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