Yorktown Getting big Upgrade

When Patriots Point last upgraded its lot of exhibits in 1995, the 3.5-inch floppy disc was new technology and the concept of an Internet search engine was foreign to most folks.

So when the Mount Pleasant tourist attraction announced this week that it would spend $2 million over the next 3 to 4 years on improved exhibits, the focus was placed on appealing to younger, tech-demanding audiences.

“We’re reinventing ourselves,” said Patriots Point Executive Director Mac Burdette. “The USS Yorktown will turn 70 next year; but the majority of our visitors are a much younger demographic. They expect a well-rounded experience that incorporates history with the latest technology.”

The Mount Pleasant tourist attraction has hired Boston firm Musaic Design Group to assist in the process. Patriots Point will spend $500,000 next year to get the revamp off the ground.

The Musaic team has experience in developing museums and cultural attractions, according to a Patriots Point news release. The firm was selected from nine groups who bid on the overhaul.

Though the ship presented to Patriots Point, officials say the upgrade is needed to stay relevant.

“The last major thematic upgrade to the exhibits was done between 1987-1995; ending with the 50^th anniversary of World War II,” said David Clark, director of museum services.

Patriots Point has struggled in recent years as its three vessels, the Yorktown, the USS Laffey and the submarine Clamagore, deteriorated in Charleston Harbor's salwater.

While the Laffey has undergone nearly $10 million in repairs to make it water-tight again, the Yorktown and the Clamagore both have serious structural dificiencies that will require costly repairs.