The Largest Museum Ship In The United States
The oldest aircraft carrier of the 20th century (1945-1992) and the largest museum ship in the United States, the USS Midway officially became a museum on June 7, 2004.
It played a key role in the Cold War and participated in Operation Desert Storm. The ship is known for its armored flight deck and a strong fleet of 120 aircraft.
USS Midway
The USS Midway Museum is located at Navy Pier in San Diego, California. The museum has a large collection of aircraft, most of which were manufactured in Southern California.
Approximately 200,000 sailors have served on this aircraft carrier, which is renowned for its numerous humanitarian missions and notable naval victories.
The largest museum ship in the United States has a crew of over 25,000 and hosts hundreds of events annually. Thousands of students visit it for field trips.
Visitors can explore every corner of the largest museum ship in the United States, from the deep-deck engine room to the spacious flight deck. The museum offers an interactive experience with statues in several areas that depict life aboard the ship during its service.
Volunteers enrich the visitor experience by sharing their experiences and stories related to the ship.
The self-guided audio tour, narrated by former sailors of the ship, covers more than 60 locations, including the lounge area, the wheelhouse, the kitchen, the engine room, the post office, the officers’ quarters, the main flight control center, and more.
The tour is available in multiple languages. Other features include boarding the aircraft and the cockpit, flight simulators, and more.
The flight deck features more than 26 restored aircraft on display, along with an interactive exhibit showcasing the carrier’s landing system. The museum also has seven rooms for mission planning and meetings, as well as a guided tour of the flight control center that can be accessed from the island or the wheelhouse.
The hangar deck features interactive exhibits about the Battle of Midway, as well as aircraft engines and designs from the World War II era. In addition, the deck features bunk beds and cabins that showcase the life of the sailors.
The lower deck area features a kitchen, mess hall, dining hall, chapel, dental office, post office, engine room, and control room.
A high-definition 3D theater, the Battle of Midway Theater, opened in 2017, and in 2019, the museum added a virtual reality flight simulator to its existing four.
Special Events
The San Diego International Film Festival and the American Legion Film Festival have both hosted exhibits at the museum.
America’s largest museum ship has also hosted many high-profile events and productions. In 2018 and 2019, scenes from the movie Top Gun: Maverick were filmed on the USS Midway, a museum ship. Aircraft from the movie are also on display at the museum.
In addition, a special memorial service is held on the command deck every year on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, where hundreds of people gather. The names of all the victims are read aloud to remember their loved ones.
Additionally, America’s largest museum ship is very family-friendly, and most tours offer interactive exhibits that allow children to learn. Most areas are accessible by elevator for strollers, but some areas are only accessible by stairs.
The audio guides are suitable for visitors of all ages, and the radio room is also popular with young children.
Due to the large number of exhibits, visitors often spend four hours or more on the tour and wish they had more time to explore.
The museum is an ideal destination for a day trip, offering a cafe that serves snacks and meals, a gift shop, and convenient parking.
