Visiting the USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum is a historic aircraft carrier that served in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1992. Having sailed through both the Atlantic and the Pacific, it supported American armed forces during World War II, the Vietnam War, and even the Gulf War. This floating museum does not just recount history; it lived through it.
The Second Life of the Midway
The project to transform this massive warship into a museum came to life in 2003, when it was moored in the port of San Diego, California, not far from the maritime museum. Once the work was completed, the USS Midway Museum opened its doors to visitors for the first time on June 7, 2004.
A Comprehensive Tour
You can tour this aircraft carrier with an audio guide, but numerous veterans who served on the ship are on hand to guide you and enrich the official history with personal anecdotes that only those who walked its corridors truly know.
The vast majority of the flight decks are open to the public, giving you a real sense of the vessel's scale. You can explore the crew quarters, the ship's hospital, the barbershop, the control tower, the combat information center, the bridge, and the flight deck. The flight deck itself is packed with a wide variety of aircraft and helicopters from different eras.
These planes also serve as a reminder that we are only 16 km away from the United State Navy Fighter Weapon School, the official name of the fighter weapons school that Hollywood immortalized as TOP GUN.
An Extra Touch at the Midway
After grabbing a bite at one of the onboard eateries, you can also purchase a ticket to sit out on the deck after dark surrounded by the aircraft and watch a screening of TOP GUN on a big screen.
The USS Midway Museum functions as both a museum and a living piece of American military history.
Opening hours
| Monday | 10:00-17:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Friday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00-17:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00-17:00 |
Even though most paid public attractions in the USA are expensive, this museum has very reasonable prices.
You should plan on at least 3 hours to see everything without having to rush.
The guides are often former sailors or officers from the aircraft carrier, which makes their anecdotes incredible and the visit much more lively.
The amount of stuff and fighter jets to see is exceptional. You need to be in good shape to visit the different decks, especially to climb up to the flight deck at the very top.
It is truly a journey through the history of war.
A must-see if you go to San Diego.