Great pics, Jim. Gotta point out one thing, though, pic 3 on facebook says that this is the bow… it’s the stern. Forgive me for asking a dumb question, but were those mannequins wearing the flight deck suits? I couldn’t tell, but it looked like it. My son-in-law, while he was with VS-32 wore a white suit when he was up on the “roof”.

Closest one to me is in Charleston, the Yorktown. Every time we’ve been in C’town, the wife was with me and much more interested in shopping and sightseeing that a dirty old carrier that you had to do all that climbing to see anything

I served about Midway in 1971 with VF-161. Going aboard is an emotional experience. Different than the Intrepid in NYC, the ship itself is the experience–they are bringing the ship back to life, in a sense. They are opening more and more areas to visitors each year, and many of the docents include retired officers, enlisted and flight officers who share their personal memories.

I heartily concur with the recommendation to visit the old girl. But be warned. You really need to set aside a MINIMUM of 3-4 hours to see her.

Great post!

I moved to Las Vegas about four and a half years ago – not long after Midway opened. I’ve been aboard her several times since she opened for business and once before that when they were prepping her for mothballs over at North Island.

My Godfather flew Phantoms off of Midway in Vietnam with VF-161 and I’d heard a few stories so it was a great experience to go tour the ship. I’d highly recommend it to everyone. Definitely set aside three to six hours and be prepared for ladders and more ladders!

I don’t know how they’d do it, but I wish they’d put a Nimitz class boat up as a museum someday since the Navy no longer gives tours of active carriers like they used to. I remember going aboard Kitty Hawk and Ranger when I was little and they gave public tours at North Island.

I’m glad we have Midway as a museum and that the exhibits and staff are the caliber I’d hoped for. Here’s a big THANK YOU! for all the guys and gals who made this happen.

I am a children’s author and video maker currently producing a new series for children titled MEET ME AT THE CORNER.

This series of virtual field trips is being distributed over the Internet as video pod casts on our web site http://www.meetmeatthecorner.org

Each video is linked to fun websites and a Learning Corner of questions and extended activities. New episodes are uploaded every two weeks.

Take a virtual field trip to San Diego. Our young host Robert interviews a veteran who served on the USS MIDWAY to learn about life on this floating city.