The USS Midway Museum is a historical naval aircraft carrier museum in San Diego, California, United States, located at Navy Pier. The museum consists of the aircraft carrier . The ship houses an extensive collection of aircraft, many of which were built in Southern California.Ogden, Bob. Aviation Museums and Collections of North America, Sudbourne, England, 2007. .Parker, Dana T. Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II, Cypress, CA, 2013. .

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.

In February 2001, a restoration facility was established in Hangar 805 at Naval Air Station North Island.

Midway opened as a museum on 7 June 2004. By 2012 annual visitation exceeded 1 million visitors. As of 2015 Midway is the most popular naval warship museum in the United States. 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.

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, fo'c'sle, pilots' ready rooms, officers quarters, primary flight control, Carrier Intelligence Center (CVIC), and "officers country". Other features include climb-aboard aircraft and cockpits, videos, flight simulators, and a narrated audio tour for youngsters.

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.

A Grumman C-2 Greyhound was craned aboard the carrier in June 2023.

On 18 July 2025, a private sportfishing boat collided with Midway at slow speed. There were no injuries, or significant damage, and the captain of the vessel was later arrested on suspicion of boating while under the influence.

Exhibits and collection Aircraft Bombers/attack Curtiss SB2C Helldiver Douglas A-1 Skyraider Douglas A-3 Skywarrior Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Douglas SBD Dauntless Douglas TBD Devastator (replica) Grumman A-6 Intruder Grumman TBM Avenger LTV A-7 Corsair II Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler

Fighters Grumman F4F Wildcat Grumman F9F Panther Grumman F-11 Tiger North American FJ-2/-3 Fury Vought F4U Corsair Vought F7U Cutlass Vought F-8 Crusader

Multirole Grumman F-9 Cougar Grumman F-14 Tomcat McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

Helicopters Bell UH-1 Iroquois gunship Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight Kaman SH-2 Seasprite Piasecki HUP Retriever Sikorsky HO3S Sikorsky H-34 Seabat Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk

Reconnaissance and surveillance Lockheed S-3 Viking North American A-5 Vigilante Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye

Trainers North American T-2 Buckeye North American T-6 Texan

Transport/Utility Cessna O-1 Bird Dog Grumman C-1 Trader Grumman C-2 Greyhound

Voices of Midway (2015) Voices of Midway is a 2015 short film directed by Scott Levitta and written by Richard Christian Matheson. The film is based on true events at the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942 and plays continuously at the Battle of Midway Theater.

Events In addition to private events, the museum has hosted several events, including a nationally broadcast NCAA basketball game between San Diego State University and Syracuse University in 2012. American Idol has filmed an episode on Midway, as have the Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, FOX News, The Bachelor, Extreme Makeover, History Channel, and Military Channel. The nationally televised annual "Battle on the Midway" collegiate wrestling showcase has been staged each November on the flight deck of the museum since 2017.

The USS Midway Museum has had the opportunity to host various high-profile 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 hosted the global premiere of the film on 4 May 2022.

Memorial services On every anniversary of the September 11 attacks, 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. During the ceremony, the names of all the first responders that have died during 9/11 are read out loud. The service takes place on the flight deck, where hundreds of people gather each year.

See also U.S. Navy museums (and other aircraft carrier museums) National Naval Aviation Museum San Diego Air & Space Museum – Another air museum in San Diego located at Balboa Park

References

External links

USS Midway Museum official website A podcast from Speaking of History about a tour of the USS Midway in July 2006