USS Midway Museum

The USS Midway was one of the longest serving military aircraft carriers and is currently a maritime museum in the city of San Diego, CA. The USS Midway is located at Navy Pier. The Midway was the first aircraft carrier to be commissioned after the end of World War II and served in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. The Midway was commissioned September 10, 1945 and not decommissioned until April 11, 1992. On September 30, 2003 the Midway set course from the Navy Inactive Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington to San Diego in preparation to become the museum. The Midway Museum was opened June 7, 2004 to the public and received nearly one million visitors doubling attendance estimates.

Visitors to the museum can tour the bridge, the flight and hangar decks, flight control center, and the tactical command flag center. They can also visit the captain's and admiral's quarters, the engine room and sick bay. One of the most popular displays are the USS Midway documents that feature genuine letters and notes written by previous personnel serving on the ship. Although the museum is widely popular in San Diego it was a source of controversy upon arrival as some opponents were concerned about environmental impact of the Navy Pier and the potential blocking of the San Diego Skyline.