The USS Midway served from 1945 until 1992, making it the longest-serving American aircraft carrier of the 20th century. Named after the climactic Battle of Midway of June 1942, Midway was built in only 17 months, but missed World War II by one week when commissioned on September 10, 1945.
Today, the USS Midway Museum is located in downtown San Diego at Navy Pier, the birthplace of naval aviation, the U.S. Navy’s largest homeport, and the original home of Top Gun. More than 1.4 million people visit annually — 30 percent of which are from foreign countries.
Credit: USS Midway Museum
“The USS Midway Museum is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for groups to explore a historic U.S. Navy aircraft carrier usually seen only in the movies,” said Scott McGaugh, marketing director at the museum. “It’s the most-visited ship museum in the world.”
Groups can explore a floating city, three football fields long with 2,000 compartments for a crew of 4,500.
“Guests are both amazed and inspired when they meet dozens of Midway docents who share their stories of life at sea,” McGaugh said. “Groups are shocked to learn the crew’s average age was only 19.”
Docent-guided tours are available. In addition, the included self-guided audio tour is narrated by former Midway sailors who lived or worked in each space. The riveting Voices of Midway in the Battle of Midway Theater also is included with admission.
The museum also includes climb-in trainer cockpits and aircraft, walk-through helicopters, guided tours of the island (captain’s bridge and air traffic control tower), flight simulators, a cafe, a gift shop and modern passenger elevators making nearly 75 percent of the museum experience fully accessible.
For more information, call 619-544-8249 or visit midway.org.
