USS Midway Museum facts for kids
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Midway moored at its permanent resting place at Navy Pier to this day in San Diego where it became the largest museum devoted to carriers and naval aviation. (2007)
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| Established | 7 June 2004 |
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| Type | maritime museum |
The USS Midway Museum is an exciting historical museum in San Diego, California. It is located right on Navy Pier. The museum is actually a huge aircraft carrier called the USS Midway. Inside, you can explore many different airplanes. Many of these planes were built in Southern California.
Contents
Discover the USS Midway's History
The USS Midway was a very important ship for the United States Navy. It served for a long time, from 1945 to 1992. That makes it the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century! About 200,000 sailors worked on this ship. It was known for amazing breakthroughs in naval aviation. The Midway also helped with many important missions around the world. It was the only carrier that served throughout the entire Cold War and even after it ended. Today, it is a popular museum ship in San Diego, California.
Becoming a Museum Ship
The Midway opened as a museum on June 7, 2004. It quickly became a favorite spot for visitors. By 2012, over 1 million people visited each year! As of 2015, the Midway was the most popular naval warship museum in the United States. The museum has over 13,000 members. It hosts more than 700 events every year. This includes many Navy retirement ceremonies and re-enlistments. The museum also welcomes about 50,000 students on field trips. Plus, 5,000 children get to experience its special overnight program each year.
What You Can Explore on Board
When you visit, your admission includes a self-guided audio tour. Former Midway sailors tell stories at over 60 different spots. You can see where sailors slept and ate in the galley. You can also visit the engine room, the bridge, and the ship's post office. There are also pilots' ready rooms and officers' quarters. You can even climb into some aircraft and sit in cockpits! The museum also has videos and flight simulators. There is even a special audio tour just for younger visitors.
The museum's membership has grown to over 25,000 people. In 2017, a cool new holographic movie theater was added. It's called "The Battle of Midway Theater." In 2019, the museum added a virtual reality flight simulator ride. This is in addition to its four other flight simulators. Film festivals like the GI Film Festival and the San Diego International Film Festival have shown movies here. In June 2023, a Grumman C-2 Greyhound aircraft was carefully lifted onto the carrier.
Exciting Events at the Museum
The USS Midway Museum hosts many special events. In 2012, it held a nationally televised NCAA basketball game. This game was between San Diego State University and Syracuse University. Many TV shows have filmed episodes on the Midway. These include American Idol, the Travel Channel, and the Discovery Channel. Other shows like The Bachelor and Extreme Makeover have also filmed here. Since 2017, the "Battle on the Midway" wrestling showcase happens every November. It takes place on the ship's flight deck.
Filming Location for Top Gun: Maverick
The USS Midway Museum has been a part of some very famous productions. In 2018 and 2019, parts of the movie Top Gun: Maverick were filmed here. This movie was very popular! Airplanes from the movie, like the F/A-18 Hornet Jet, are now on display. The museum even hosted the global premiere of the film on May 4, 2022.
Remembering Important Moments
Every year, on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the museum holds a special service. This service remembers the lives lost during that event. It is held with local fire departments and other groups. During the ceremony, the names of all the first responders who died on 9/11 are read. This service takes place on the flight deck. Hundreds of people gather there each year to remember.
Aircraft and Exhibits
The USS Midway Museum has an amazing collection of aircraft. You can see many different types of planes that were used by the Navy.
Types of Aircraft on Display
- Bombers/Attack Planes: These planes were designed to drop bombs or attack targets. Examples include the Douglas A-1 Skyraider and the Grumman A-6 Intruder.
- Fighters: These fast planes were used to fight other aircraft in the sky. You can see planes like the Grumman F4F Wildcat and the Vought F4U Corsair.
- Multirole Aircraft: These planes can do many different jobs, like fighting and attacking. The Grumman F-14 Tomcat and the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet are great examples.
- Helicopters: The museum has several helicopters, including the Bell UH-1 Iroquois gunship and the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King.
- Reconnaissance and Surveillance Planes: These aircraft were used to gather information and spy on enemy movements. The Lockheed S-3 Viking is one such plane.
- Trainers: These planes were used to teach new pilots how to fly. The North American T-6 Texan is a famous trainer.
- Transport/Utility Planes: These aircraft carried people or supplies. The Grumman C-2 Greyhound is an example.
Voices of Midway Film
Voices of Midway is a short film from 2015. It was directed by Scott Levitta. The film tells a true story about the Battle of Midway from June 4, 1942. This film plays continuously at the Battle of Midway Theater inside the museum.
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
