May 22, 2023

USS Midway Museum  

The aircraft carrier USS Midway was commissioned in 1945 and served for 47 years supporting U.S. military and humanitarian efforts around the world. The carrier was decommissioned (retired) in 1992.   

The ship opened as the USS Midway Museum in June 2004 and today is the world’s most visited naval ship museum. It is currently rated by Tripadvisor as the “#1 thing to do” in San Diego out of more than 468 experiences in San Diego. The museum attracts more than 1 million guests coming aboard each year. 

Dedicated to providing engaging, inspiring and educational and entertaining experiences, Midway is a hybrid of an attraction and museum that emphasizes the “experience.”  Visitors can experience firsthand the legacy of this amazing aircraft carrier museum through Midway’s extensive collection of 30 restored military aircraft, which not only lets guests enjoy more than 80 years of naval aviation history, but discover what it’s like to be a pilot. The world-famous Midway volunteers bring the flight deck to life with gripping stories of launching and landing naval aircraft as well as tales of adventure on high-seas. 

As an important San Diego community partner, Midway’s education program hosts 50,000 K-12 students annually and the ship is a critical training platform for U.S. military and Department of Homeland Security units. The USS Midway Foundation has provided over $3.2 million in grants to organizations that support active-duty military, veterans, and first responders, and has awarded over $4 million in educational scholarships to more than 80,000 students.  The museum hosts nearly 600 military ceremonial events annually