USS Hornet - Sea, Air and Space Museum — Attraction in Alameda

Superb, all-volunteer staff made an excellent museum from a ship that was stripped and about to be scrapped. True story. The Navy still owns it and comes onboard once a year to inspect that its sound, not about to sink or hurt anybody, not leaking anything toxic (The Navy still owns it).

So the ship's been cleaned up, interior furnishings found, equipment found from other Essex class carriers as the last were scrapped. Airplanes from WWII to recent vintage have been found, borrowed and buffed out. Besides the actual Airstream trailer the Apollo crews quarantined in.

You can see an FM-2 Wildcat and TBM Avenger from WWII. FJ-2 Fury and HUP-1 rescue helicopter from the Korean War era. An SH-2 Sea Sprite 1950s anti-submarine helicopter, Marine UH-34D Seahorse from the 1960s-60s. Navy SH-3 Sea King 1960s-70s anti-submarine and NASA recovery helicopter, A Navy S-2 Tracker, anti-submarine patrol plane, 1950s-1970s. An S-3 Viking, the 1970s jet powered replacement for the Tracker. An F-8 Crusader, 1950s-1970 fighter, TA-4J light attack bomber trainer F-4 Phantom II multirole fighter, from the 1960-70s, and an F-14 Tomcat from the 1970s to 2000s. Also a T-28 Trojan for the initial training of all Naval, Marine and Coast-Guard Aviators, 1960s-80s.

As the Museum story begins, Hornet was at Mare Island, the Navy had stripped off everything useful for other, still working, ships, and sold the hulk to to the breakers. Alameda Naval Air Station volunteers borrowed it (bring your own tugboat) for an Alameda NAS event. When they were done, the salvage company they borrowed it from had gone bankrupt and nobody wanted it. So a new set of volunteers stepped forward and has been operating it, as a museum, ever since.

USS Hornet volunteers pay for and/or perform ALL maintenance. Naturally there's some fund raising going on part of every day, and entrance fees, special tour fees, rentals for events and so forth, along with hats, tee-shirts and all the rest pay for the lot. Most of the volunteers have a Navy or Marine connection, but not all. Its mostly older men, who want to preserve something of value and have a work ethic. And Space heads, Hornet did pick up the Apollo 11 and 12 astronauts,...

The USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum is a maritime museum located in Alameda, California, aboard the historic aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-12). This vessel, a National Historic Landmark, played significant roles during World War II and the Apollo space missions.

Historical Significance:

World War II Service: Commissioned in 1943, the USS Hornet participated in key Pacific battles, including the Liberation of the Philippines, and earned numerous commendations for her service.

Apollo Missions: In 1969, the Hornet served as the recovery ship for both the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 missions, retrieving astronauts after their return from the Moon.

Museum Exhibits:

Visitors to the museum can explore various exhibits, including:

Aircraft Displays: A collection of vintage aircraft, such as the TBM-3E Avenger, F8U-1 Crusader, and F-14A Tomcat, showcasing the evolution of naval aviation.

Apollo Artifacts: Items related to the Apollo missions, including a Mobile Quarantine Facility used by astronauts upon their return to Earth.

Ship Tours: Self-guided and docent-led tours through the ship's flight deck, hangar deck, navigation areas, and engine rooms.

Visiting Information:

Address: 707 W Hornet Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

Hours: Typically open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM; it's advisable to check the official website for current operating hours.

Tickets: Admission fees vary, with discounts available for seniors, military personnel, and children.

Accessibility: The museum offers accommodations for visitors with mobility challenges, though certain areas of the ship may have limited access due to its historic structure.

For detailed information on exhibits, events, and planning your visit, please refer to the official USS Hornet Museum website.

Whether you're a history enthusiast, aviation aficionado, or space exploration fan, the USS Hornet Museum provides a unique and educational experience reflecting significant chapters of...

We just had a duel children's birthday on the ship. It was difficult to get a hold of someone to coordinate it, but I am gonna chalk it up to COVID. Once the communication was established they were very accommodating and extremely easy to work with. Normally half the class doesn't show up... But be had 85 people show up and it was totally attributed to the fact they were going on a real aircraft carrier. Both sets of parents coming out brothers and sisters all coming, it was very very very popular. Teachers were aware of the party and inquiring about it. The staff was very accommodating with our plans. We brought in our own food, and got to use the larger of the two mess halls. I though we could get by with 3 docents but you don't want no more than 15 people in a group. The corridors are narrow and smaller groups work much better.... You will hear the tour better. Our docents were former ship sailors and officers and knew a lot about their areas. You can easily spend 4 hours on the ship and still leave not seeing everything. The kids had an absolute blast and it was the talk of the school the following Monday. It was far better than any Rock-N-Jump or other canned kids party you can have where you just pay and show up and do the same thing every other kids Birthday Party is. Plus this ship has such significant history and it is not properly funded and they really will put your money to use. You should certainly and with out a doubt have your kids party aboard. We would have preferred a more scientific and engineering tour but it was more Military themed and the kids were still entertained. They really were in awe of the first footsteps back on earth and how big the planes are. Hands down you will go down as having on e of the most memorable bday parities. Bring a camera. You will not be...