SAN DIEGO -- The Aircraft Carrier Museum aboard the USS Midway, now residing in the port of San Diego, provides a unique experience for anyone with an interest in naval aviation history.

The Midway is the longest serving aircraft carrier in naval history. It offers visitors an unmatched opportunity through an interactive experience across its long and distinguished past that moves the visitor from its cramped living and work spaces to the wide-open expanses of its flight deck.

Stepping aboard the Midway, visitors follow in the footsteps of the more than 225,000 American servicemembers who called her home during the course of a 47-year tour of duty.  Midway's service at sea began with her keel laying in the heat of World War II and closing in 1991 as the flagship for operations in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm.

Upon entering the ship's cavernous hangar deck, visitors are welcomed by one of the dozens of onboard volunteers and handed an audio receiver and headphones, through which explanations of the 35 exhibits throughout the ship are accessed by pressing their corresponding numbers.

Deep in the ship's belly, visitors walk through the junior officer and enlisted berthing spaces, where up to 4,500 men lived in areas designed for 3,600.

"I don't understand how they could all live together in such a small space and stacked three beds high," said Robert L. James, a 13-year-old San Diego native.

After touring the hangar and second decks, visitors make their way outdoors onto the 4.02-acre flight deck, home to 12 aircraft and a breath-taking view of downtown San Diego, as well as the Midway's modern, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier brethren across the bay.

The aircraft on the flight deck include helicopters - crucial to replenishment of the ship stores, anti-submarine warfare, and also rescue of those lost at sea, including astronauts from the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s. Eight jet and prop airplanes, crossing the spectrum of naval aviation missions and history, are placed in their launching or landing positions atop the carrier museum.

Most notably, perched topside on the Midway, is the first F-4 Phantom fighter to down enemy aircraft during the Vietnam Conflict.

Modernized twice during its time on the high seas, the Midway grew from displacing 45,000 tons at her commissioning to 74,000 tons at her decommissioning in 1992.  Similarly, visitors to the museum gain appreciation and admiration for the thousands of Sailors and naval officers that kept the Midway operating and able to answer every time her nation called her into action.

"I volunteer here because it's a lot of fun," said Lt. Cmdr. John R. Western, medical officer, Marine Aircraft Group 46, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing. "I encourage anyone who wants to give just four hours a month to come be a part of this community."