Why You Should Visit The Uss Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum is one of the unforgettable San Diego Attractions that tourists often come to see time and time again. The entire family can enjoy exploring more than 60 exhibits and a collection of 29 restored aircraft.
San Diego visitors who are wondering What to do in San Diego, and who love historical sites, will surely love visiting the USS Midway Museum. At this San Diego Museum, take a self-guided audio tour narrated by Midway sailors and enjoy history coming to life. If you dare to take to the sky, try out one of the USS Midways thrilling flight simulators.
Who Visits The Uss Midway Museum
Visiting the USS Midway Museum in San Diego is fun for many reasons. Nearly everyone, including entire families, can visit and enjoy the experience. Youll see veterans and active-duty military personnel, especially Navy service members, visiting this museum.
Children frequently visit on school-sponsored field trips conducted by USS Midway staff . It is a must-visit for San Diego tourists, and for locals alike.
Duration Of The Audio Tour
While using Midways audio tour, visitors can choose which section and exhibits they want to stop and explore.
The audio tour lasts two to four hours, depending on the visitors selection.
The audio tour is included with the USS Midway ticket.
Some visitors qualify for free entry into Midway Museum, San Diego. They are:
- Children five years and below
- Two kids under 13 years are free to enter with a ticket-holding adult
- Active military personal with a valid ID
- Active Sworn Law Enforcement with a valid ID
- Active Sworn Fire Fighter with a valid ID
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Why You Should Spend A Day At The Uss Midway Museum This Summer
If youre looking for an inexpensive yet educational commemorative experience to add to your summer vacation bucket list, then youll definitely want to plan a trip to the USS Midway Museum. San Diego, California, is the location of this unforgettable adventure.
Since the start of World War II, aircraft carriers have become the backbone of the U.S. Navy. Today, there are around two dozen carriers still afloat, with some still in active service and others mothballed. Five of these carriers have been transformed into aircraft museums.
Today, we are going to look at one of these museums the USS Midway Museum. Well give you an overview of the USS Midways history and tell you everything that you should know before you decide to step foot on the carrier this summer.
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Entrance Ticket Details For Uss Midway Museum
Uss Midway Museum Online ticket prices –
- Adult : USD 21
- Senior : USD 18
- Retired Military : USD 8
- Student : USD 15
- Youth : USD 8
- Child : Free
- Buy online USS midway tickets to save USD 2 per ticket!
- USS midway museum parking costs between $10 – $20.
USS Midway Museum Group Tickets –
- Adult : USD 18
- Senior : USD 15
- Youth : USD 8
Private Docent-led tour price –
- Group of 10 or less: USD 320
- Group 11 or more: USD 32 per person
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Uss Midway Discount Tickets
Kids get the most significant discounts at USS Midway Museum.
Children five years and below get a 100% discount on their tickets .
Up to two kids below 13 years accompanying a ticket-carrying adult also qualify for a 100% discount on the ticket price. They can collect their free ticket at the ticket booth.
If you dont want to stand in the ticket booth for the free ticket, you can still purchase a discounted ticket for your 6 to 12 years old child.
The full adult ticket costs US$ 26, but your child will get a 30% discount, and you will pay only US$ 18. Find out more
Purchasing your tickets for Midway Museum online is a better experience for three reasons:
- Online tickets are cheaper than the price you will pay at the entrance
- You dont wait in the ticket counter queue and waste your time and energy
- Tickets on-site are sold on a first come, first served basis. Booking your tickets online ensures a slot on the tour
Cancellation policy: USS Midway tickets can be canceled up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund.
Mobile tickets: The tickets get emailed to you, and on the day of the visit, you can show them on your mobile and walk in through the special entrance for online ticket holders. You dont have to take print outs.
Re-entry: This ticket allows for same-day re-entry. If you want to take a break, stop at the Visitors Information Center by the ships exit, inform them, and then step out. You can use the same San Diego Museum ticket to re-enter.
Uss Midway Museum Entrance Ticket San Diego Overview
Activity Location: 910 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Activity Timing: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Activity Days: Monday – Sunday
About the USS Midway Museum in San Diego:
Spend a day exploring the longest-aircraft carrier of the 20th century which is located at the Navy Pier in downtown San Diego, California. The aircraft is now converted into a historical naval aircraft carrier museum and offers an in-depth view of 60 exhibits with a self-guided audio narrator.
About the activity:
- Arrive at the location and get ready for this amazing self-guided USS Midway Museum tour in San Diego.
- This naval aircraft carrier which is now structured as a museum holds great importance in the most unfortunate time of World War II.
- While exploring, you will be able to listen to the informative narration which will explain to you the history of the carrier and the United States as well.
- Explore 60 different segments in the USS Midway museum which include a gallery, engine room, post office, officers’ quarter, and many more.
- Do not miss the climb-aboard cockpits for aircraft, short video, and flight simulators at USS Midway Museum.
How to reach?
- Take the route via USS Midway Museum from the city center, it will take you approximately 4 minutes to reach the location.
- Take the bus from the city center at Broadway and alight at the USS Midway Museum, a 2-minute walk will take you to the location.
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The History Of The Ship
The USS Midway was the longest serving aircraft carrier in 20th century. It was commissioned on September 10, 1945. US Navys first midwinter sub-Arctic operation. Midway was the first ship to launch a captured German V-2 rocket.
The success of the trial made the dawn of naval missile warfare.Midway served with Atlantic Fleet for 10 years, making 7 deployments. It was rebuilt with an angled deck after it returned from its round-the-world cruise in 1955.
Midway is the first combat deployment of aircraft in Vietnam. 17 aircraft are lost during this cruise.Operation Frequent Wind was a chaotic two day period to evacuate refugees from Saigon in 1975. Midway is decommissioned for four years for an overhaul in 1966, while being used as a floating base for large helicopters during Operation Frequent Wind.
Potential threats to the Arabian oil supply have grown and Midway was used as a floating base Midway was the first carrier to be homeported abroad. Deployed in Operation Desert Storm and had no losses.
Lost its final mission during evacuation of civilians after Mount Pinatubo eruption. The USS Midway was donated to the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum in 2003It opened as the USS Midway Museum in 2004.
Uss Midway Museum Tickets Prices Discounts Free Entry What To See
USS Midway is an aircraft carrier that served in the United States Navy for 47 years, and till 1955 was the largest ship in the World.
Today, USS Midway is a museum in San Diego, a tribute to the Battle of Midway, which happened in June of 1942.
The Midway Museum receives more than one and a half million visitors annually.
In this article, we share everything you must know before buying your USS Midway tickets.
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Uss Midway Museum Dining Options
A lot of people visiting the USS Midway Museum choose to eat at one of the many downtown San Diego restaurants nearby, but there is also a self-service bistro called the Midway Marketplace on the Hangar Deck that offers pre-made sandwiches, salads, snacks and more for sale. Bring a credit card as transactions here are cashless. Food is also prepackaged and can be enjoyed in an outdoor dining area.
*san Diegos Most Popular Family Attraction
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a historic aircraft carrier. Activities for all ages including self-guided audio tours, theater, flight simulators, climb-in aircraft, ejection seats and cockpits, guided tours of the bridge and more. Audio tours are available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, French and German.
Spectacular flight deck views of the downtown skyline, San Diego Bay Bridge, and active U.S. Navy ships! Midway is an opportunity to experience the uniqueness of San Diego, original home of TOP GUN.
Conveniently located in downtown San Diego along the Embarcadero. Parking available alongside on Navy Pier. Closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
*Cited by TripAdvistor
USS Midway Museum – a real aircraft carrier…fun for the family, once in a lifetime memory for everyone! Create a once in a lifetime memory exploring the USS Midway, the longest-serving U.S. Navy aircraft carrier of the 20th century! Imagine living aboard a floating city at sea with 4,500 shipmates, by exploring galleys, officer’s country, sleeping quarters and the 4 acre flight deck. Admission includes a self-guided audio tour to over 60 locations from the engine room to control tower, narrated by Midway sailors who lived or worked in each.
Parking
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Tips On What To Do When You Arrive At The Museum
-Adults must show a government-issued photo identification to enter the USS Midway Museum. One ticket gets you into the USS Midway Museum and Navy Pier.
-There are no drink, food, or book vendors at the museum. Bottled water is available for purchase in the museum bookstore.
-Pets are not allowed in the USS Midway Museum or on Navy Pier.
-All cell phones, cameras, and bags are subject to search before entering the USS Midway Museum. Lockers are available for your convenience inside the museum.
-There is ample seating indoors in the museums theater and on the flight deck outside. When you arrive at Navy Pier you can park either in their parking lot or on the street.
How To Get There
Rent a car
For tourists planning to rent a car and drive, USS Midway Museum is located on North Harbor Drive alongside the Navy Pier in downtown San Diegos famed Embarcadero area.
Public transport
The citys bus lines have a few routes that pass near USS Midway Museum: Bus number 215, 923, and 992. The nearest train stations to the museum are Santa Fe Depot Station with a 12-minute stroll and North Harbor Dr and Ash St with a 13-minute walk. America Plaza Trolley Station is 14 minutes on foot to the museum. Theres also an efficient trolleybus that will get you there: just hop on the Sycuan Green Line.
Taxi
Hail a taxi off the streets for a stress-free way to get there or arrange for a taxi pick-up.
Uber/Lyft
Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft make it easy to book a ride and get to this destination quickly and easily.
Parking information
The USS Midway Museum does not offer specific parking lots for this attraction but there is a parking area situated on Navy Pier adjacent to the museum. The Navy Pier parking lot provides front-row handicapped parking on a first-come-first-serve basis. Be aware this lot only allows passenger vehicles. No RVs are permitted. Parking rates at this lot usually range from 10 to 20 USD. Metered city-street parking is also found adjacent to the museum.
Skip the Line: USS Midway Museum Admission Ticket in San Diego
Duration: 2 to 5 hours
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Highlights Beyond The Vintage Aircraft
Everyone who visits the USS Midway Museum will find their own favorite spots. My daughter and her friends enjoyed these areas of the ship the most:
- The brig, which is tiny!
- The kitchen, which fed hundreds at a time in a remarkably small space.
- The electrical turbines in the engine room.
- A sentry post where a guard , stationed in front of an access door to weaponry/missiles, was apparently authorized back in the day to shoot any trespasser who crossed a yellow line painted on the floor in front of him.
- The tight sleeping quarters.
What To Know Before Visiting
Visiting the USS Midway Museum involves a lot of walking, stair climbing, and bending. Thats because this WWII-era U.S. Navy ship has very narrow stairs, low ceilings, and cramped hallways that may pose unique challenges for some visitors. That said, there are several elevators, and about 60% of the exhibits are wheelchair accessible.
The sights on the USS Midway that are most popular with visitors are deep inside the ship, far from natural light, wind, or other weather. Dont skip a visit if you happen to be in San Diego on one of our rare drizzly days.
As mentioned above, the flight deck on top is one of the biggest draws. It is totally open to the sky, and accessible no matter what the weather. Bring some sun protection if you plan to spend time here .
Its a good idea to wear layers when youre visiting the USS Midway Museum. You might want a hat or a cover up when youre exploring the flight deck and its nice to be able to take off a layer when you check out the cramped hot quarters below.
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Missions In The 1980s
Following a period in Yokosuka, Midway relieved Coral Sea 30 May 1980 on standby south of Jeju-Do Island in the Sea of Japan following the potential of civil unrest in the Republic of Korea.
While transiting the passage between Palawan Island of the Philippines and the coast of Northern Borneo on 29 July, the Panamanian merchant ship Cactus collided with Midway. Cactus was 450 nautical miles southwest of Subic Bay and heading to Singapore when she struck near the carrier’s liquid oxygen plant two sailors working in the plant were killed and three were injured. Midway sustained light damage and three F-4 Phantom aircraft parked on the flight deck also were damaged.
On 17 August, Midway relieved Constellation to begin another Indian Ocean deployment and to complement the Dwight D. Eisenhower task group still on contingency duty in the Arabian Sea. Midway spent a total of 118 consecutive days in the Indian Ocean during 1980.
On 16 March 1981, an A-6 Intruder from VA-115 aboard Midway sighted a downed civilian helicopter in the South China Sea. Midway immediately dispatched HC-1 Det 2 helicopters to the scene. All 17 people aboard the downed helicopter were rescued and brought aboard the carrier. The chartered civilian helicopter was also retrieved from the water and lifted to Midway‘s flight deck.
Midway
Tips For Visiting The Uss Midway Museum
- The USS Midway Museum has a wonderful café on board, with patio dining in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Stop here for salads, sandwiches, and more family-pleasing meals while you Tour San Diegos USS Midway Museum.
- The USS Midway Museums gift shop is located on the ships hangar deck, where the Midway sailors once repaired jet engines. This newly-expanded facility now houses a nice range of clothing, books, CDs, DVDs, souvenirs, and USS Midway memorabilia.
- The USS Midway Museum presents many fun San Diego Events throughout the year, so check the Museum calendar for San Diego Activities and exhibits that occur when youre visiting San Diego.
- The USS Midway Museum is open every day of the year, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
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Activities At Uss Midway
The Midway Museum also has some exciting activities which appeal to all age groups.
Theatre Experience: watch the 15-minute movie called Voices of Midway on the Battle of Midway. It is free for all ticket holders.
Flight Simulators: Air Combat 360 and Screaming Eagles are two flight simulators, which help you live the life of an aviator.
Guided Island Tour: This tour is part of the regular USS Midway ticket, and a world-class volunteer Docent acts as your guide and takes you up serpentine ladders through the navigation and flight control sections of the ship.
Kids get to complete the tasks provided, and at the end, a Midway Docent awards them their Junior Pilot Wings in a small ceremony.
Catapult and Trap Talks: The Catapult and Trap talks are an excellent opportunity to learn how aircraft land and take off from carrier decks.
Entry tickets to the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier include a self-guided audio tour.
Tourists who have tried the audio tour highly recommend it.
They say, it brings Midways history to life and adds a personal touch to the experience.
There are two audio tours one for the adults and one for kids.
Both the self-guided audio tours are available in English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, German, and French.
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Anyone vacationing in California is sure to enjoy the brilliant beaches, temperate weather, and limitless tourist attractions. If your travels take you to San Diego then a true crowd-pleasing adventure is the USS Midway Museum. This massive historical naval aircraft carrier – which is now a floating museum – is so enormous, it was unable to pass through the Panama Canal during its years in use! An essential vessel of the US Navy between 1945 and 1992, this jewel of engineering is the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the past century and accommodated over 4,500 crew members aboard its many polished decks. To get the most out of your visit, we have put together a guide to USS Midway Museum. Scroll down to find out more.
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Air combat flight simulators
Too compelling to dismiss is the collection of elaborate air-combat flight simulators in the central hangar. Though not included in the admission price, this is something thrill-seekers find difficult to pass up. The cost for one ride with one or two participants is 16 USD. To experience an action-packed addition to an unforgettable museum experience, this wild ride is completely worth the extra money.
Flight deck
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