Just a short distance from The Westgate Hotel, along San Diego’s historic Embarcadero, sits a floating monument to nearly half a century of American naval history: the USS Midway. For anyone curious about the city’s deep ties to the sea, a visit to this legendary aircraft carrier offers an unforgettable look at what makes San Diego, quite literally, Navy Town USA.
America’s Longest-Serving Aircraft Carrier
Commissioned in 1945, just days after the end of World War II, the USS Midway went on to become the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the entire 20th century. Over 47 years of active duty, she carried more than 200,000 sailors through some of the defining moments of modern military history, including deployments during the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. Sailors who served aboard coined the phrase “Midway Magic” to describe the ship’s uncanny ability to keep performing long after other vessels had been retired, a reputation that made her one of the most storied warships in Navy history.
A City Built on Naval Aviation
San Diego’s connection to naval history runs even deeper than the Midway herself. Just across the bay, North Island earned its title as the official birthplace of naval aviation, where pioneer Glenn Curtiss trained the Navy’s first pilot, Lieutenant Theodore Ellyson, in 1911. The very first seaplane flight in San Diego Bay took place that same year, and the firsts kept coming: the first non-stop transcontinental flight in 1923, and in 1927, Charles Lindbergh began the first leg of his historic transatlantic journey to Paris from Rockwell Field on North Island. It is no wonder San Diego is home to more military personnel than any other city in the country.
From Warship to Waterfront Museum
After her decommissioning in 1992, the Midway found a new purpose. She arrived at her permanent berth on San Diego’s Navy Pier in 2004 and opened to the public as a museum, drawing more than 3,000 visitors on opening day alone. Today, guests can explore more than 60 exhibits and over 30 restored aircraft across the ship’s flight deck, hangar deck, and lower decks. A self-guided audio tour, narrated by former Midway sailors, brings the experience to life with firsthand stories from those who once called the ship home. Plan to spend three to four hours aboard to take it all in.
Your Home Base for Naval History
After a morning spent exploring the flight deck and touring the ship’s history up close, return to the comfort of The Westgate Hotel, where downtown San Diego’s elegance meets easy access to the waterfront. Unwind with a cocktail or classic French fare at Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar, or head up to AquaVie for a workout, a dip in the rooftop pool, or a well-earned spa treatment. Our downtown location puts the Midway, the Embarcadero, and the rest of San Diego’s waterfront within easy reach, so you can spend your day steeped in history and your evening in comfort.
San Diego’s story is one written by the sea, and there is no better place to experience it than aboard the USS Midway. Come explore this remarkable piece of naval history, then let The Westgate Hotel be your welcoming harbor after a day of discovery.