USS Midway
The creation of a museum.
January 16, 2004.
I was invited to go aboard the Midway six days after it's arrival. Here are a few pictures from the tour I was given when I viewed a few spaces with the curatorial staff. It looks like I'll be helping out in that department for the time being. This was the first time I was aboard the ship since 1992 when it was decommisioned (I was 9 years old at that time).
-Museum Preparation and Planning-
Berthing area two decks below the hanger bay, directly across from the disbursement office. 57 sailors at a time would call this cramped room home. Notice how there were three beds per bunk. This room will be used for storage for the curatorial department of the museum.
This is a photo of the interior (looking out) of the old disbursement office. Sailors would go here to either get money before they went ashore or to store what money they had left after a few rounds of tequila at the local pub. It will serve as a cataloging room for the curatorial department.
These are a few of the main safes found in the disbursement office. No money left, unfortunately.
This is one of the ships galleys and is one deck directly above the disbursement office.
I can't even imagine just how many millions of meals were served here.
Hanger bay looking aft.
Note all the pipes laying around. The new fire sprinkler system was being installed.
Hanger bay looking towards the bow. Notice the fire doors that divide the bay in half.
This is an open air area at the stern. It will be the site of a cafe once the museum opens. The city sidewalks, streets, and tourists are literally feet away from the end of the ship here.
Hanger bay looking to the starboard side at the rear aircraft elevator. A cruise ship was visiting this day.
As I was leaving that day I took a photo from the gangway looking aft.
Also took one looking forward.
January 24, 2004.
Another full day of work aboard the Midway.
-cleaning and touring-
This is what used to be the ships library.
Here is a machine shop for aircraft maintenance. The room literally hangs down into the hanger bay.
The Jet Shop.
Jet engines were worked in this room at the aft section of the hanger bay. I love this mural. The years the ship served in Japan and the Pacific are a clear influence (some detail was lost when I compressed it).
There are always people coming up to the gate asking about the ship.
This is what I mean by sidewalks and such being only feet away from the boat.
The boardwalk looking towards Seaport Village.
Me in an area lacking enough light.
The point of the visit was to clean up the curatorial rooms. We got about half way though moving furniture, dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, etc.
I snapped this picture of the rest of the curatorial staff when no one was paying attention. From left to right: George, Ed, Art, Mike (obscured), and Sue. Clem was missing this day.
I found this 1990 year penny while sweeping the disbursement office. Out of all the countless thousands upon thousands of dollars that were stored in there over 47 years, this was the last original piece of currency to leave the office (can you tell I was excited to find a penny?).
February 20, 2004.
A neat day of scrounging around for furniture, as well as a lot of sightseeing.
The ship's post office. Later on I also discovered the mail sorting room.
Me in front of the post office.
Peering out of the hanger bay to the port side.
Fellow curatorial volunteer Ed ascending Rear Admiral Prueher's staircase from the hanger bay.
-The Admiral's Area-
Conference table.
Nice sofa!
Back behind the conference room is the Flag Display and Decision Room.
It was literally from this and adjoining rooms that the Naval part of Operation Desert Storm was fought by RADM Prueher.
The Flag and Decision room might look full of gear, but a lot had been salvaged. Would be a challenge to restore.
Same room looking in the opposite direction.
On to the next page.
Back to Midway home.