"Historical Naval Aviation Museum!" Top 5 Page for this destination USS Midway Tip by lmkluque

Every Sunday the US Navy offered a tour of one of it's ships. It was awesome and interesting to board one of these huge vessels and look around. It was one of the few ways to see a military ship in San Diego, if you didn't have personal connections. (Since 11 September 2001 these tours have been suspended.)

However, there is another option still on offer. The restored, historical and "retired" aircraft carrier, the USS Midway of World War II fame is open for tours and is quite an experience. This aircraft carrier was not deployed during WWII, but named after a decisive battle of that war.

It has been commissioned to stand as witness to the U.S. Navy and to the importance of the Navy to San Diego's history.

Surviving the controversial opposition of placing a huge Military vessel on this section of the Harbor, the Midway, is now berthed at the Harbor, downtown San Diego. It is a multi-dimensional, interactive, educational and entertainment complex. The projected grand opening was for early June 2004. It did open in the summer of 2004 and was a great success!

In real life the Midway was a floating city, population about 5,000 and it will be interesting to see if visitors still get lost on this huge vessel. I've been on a couple of aircraft carriers and can speak to the awesome size of these ships.

Beware: The ladders are steep, wear good walking shoes and bring a jacket, the breeze on the flight decks can be pretty cold. If walking is difficult for you, consider touring the Midway in a wheelchair. There is a map of the ship on their web site that points out the areas that are and are not wheelchair accessible.

There are exhibits, self-guided tours, restored air craft and even flight simulators for a visitor to enjoy. It would be a good idea to check their website before a visit for any events planned while you're here. Some events are open to the public and some are not.

The price of a ticket is $18.00 Adult (17 and up and $10.00 Children (6 - 17 years). Small children (5 years and under) and active-duty military personnel in uniform are free.

The Jet shop offers souviners and for a drink, snacks or a great view, try the Fantail Café.

Address: 910 North Harbor Drive
Directions: Across from the Navy Supply Depot, the Midway is located off Harbor Drive between Seaport Village and the Star of India.
Phone: (619)544-9600
Website: http://www.midway.org/