Lady Lex a floating museum

D espite repeated attacks during World War II, the USS

The USS Lexington is a magnificent ship to visit. Lexington never sank,

prompting Japanese propagandist Tokyo Rose to dub the aircraft carrier "The Blue Ghost."

The Blue Ghost lives on today. The retired aircraft carrier, illuminated at night with ghostly blue lighting, is permanently docked at 2914 N. Shoreline Blvd., on Corpus Christi Beach in Corpus Christi.

Now called the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay, the vessel set more records than any U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. Her planes destroyed more than 370 enemy aircraft in the air and 475 on the ground. Today, her mission is to educate visitors about life aboard a carrier during the war and about naval aviation in general.

At 980 feet long and with 16 decks, the 33,000-ton ship has plenty of scope to complete this final mission of its career.

The Lexington ceased being a U.S. Navy vessel when it was decommissioned Nov. 26, 1991. It has been a museum since 1992.

The Lex has 19 vintage Navy aircraft on display.

The Lexington is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day from Labor Day to Memorial Day except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, when it's closed.

Ticket sales close 30 minutes before the Lex closes for the day.

Admission is $11.95 for adults, $9.95 for seniors age 60 and over or military with ID and $6.95 for children 4-12. Children 3 and under get in free, as do members. Personal tour guides are $25 and can handle up to 15 people.

Group rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. For more information, call the museum at 361-888-4873 or toll free at 800-LADY-LEX.