Midway prepares to moor at its final resting place at Navy pier in San Diego where it became the largest museum devoted to carriers and naval aviation. (10 January 2004)
The USS Midway Museum is a historical naval aircraft carrier museum located in downtown San Diego, California at Navy Pier. The museum consists of the aircraft carrierMidway. The ship houses an extensive collection of aircraft, many of which were built in Southern California.[1][2]
History
The USS Midway was the United States' longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, from 1945 to 1992. Approximately 200,000 Sailors served aboard the carrier, known for several naval aviation breakthroughs as well as several humanitarian missions. It was the only carrier to serve the entire length of the Cold War and beyond. It is currently a museum ship in San Diego, California.[3]
Midway opened as a museum on June 7, 2004. By 2012 annual visitation exceeded 1 million visitors. As of 2015 Midway is the most popular naval warship museum in the United States.[4] The museum has over 13,000 members, and hosts more than 700 events a year, including more than 400 active-duty Navy retirements, re-enlistments, and changes of command. The museum also hosts approximately 50,000 students on field trips and 5,000 children in its overnight program annually.[5]
Admission includes a self-guided audio tour, narrated by former Midway Sailors to more than 60 locations, including sleeping quarters, engine room, galley, bridge, brig, post office, foc's'le, pilots' ready rooms, officers quarters, primary flight control, and "officers country". Other features include climb-aboard aircraft and cockpits, videos, flight simulators, and a narrated audio tour for youngsters.[5]
Membership has grown to more than 25,000. A high definition, holographic movie theater, "The Battle of Midway Theater", was added in 2017, and in 2019 the museum added a virtual reality flight simulator ride in addition to its existing four flight simulators. The GI Film Festival and the San Diego International Film Festival have scheduled screenings at the museum.[6][7][8]
The USS Midway Museum has had the opportunity to host various vital events and productions throughout its lifetime. In 2018 and 2019, scenes from the critically acclaimed film Top Gun: Maverick were filmed on the museum premises. Additionally, planes featured in the movie, such as the F/A-18 Hornet Jet, are displayed at the museum now that filming has concluded. Moreover, the USS Midway Museum had the opportunity to host the global premiere on May 4, 2022.[10]
Memorial services
On every anniversary of the September 11 attacks in 2001, the USS Midway Museum hosts a memorial service to remember the lives lost during the incident. This is in conjunction with the FDNY retirees of San Diego, San Diego Fire & Rescue Department, National City FD, SDFF Emerald Society and the Wounded Warrior Project.[11] During the ceremony, the names of all the first responders that have died during 9/11 are read out loud.[12] The service takes place on the flight deck, where hundreds of people gather each year.[13]
