USS Hornet Museum
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USS Hornet - by Sanfranman59 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Description
The USS Hornet Museum consists of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (built for the US Navy during WW2), retired military aircraft and exhibits from the NASA Apollo Moon exploration missions. Self-guided tours have access to the flight, hangar and first decks whilst docent-led tours also take visitors into the ship's navigation system, flight deck control area and the propulsion turbines section. The link with the Apollo mission is that USS Hornet was selected as the prime recovery ship for the Apollo 11 and 12 missions.
Access & Transport
The USS Hornet is docked at the former Naval Air Station Alameda, just to the southwest of Oakland, California. Plenty of free parking next to it. There are direct ferry crossing form San Francisco Ferry Building and downtown Oaklan is only 5km away. By bus, take the #78 from 'Fruitvale' station in Oakland or #96 stops close by at 'Pacific Av & Main St'. Refer to this web page for accessibility info: https://uss-hornet.org/accessibility-information
Instructions & Recommendations
There are general admission tickets as well as daily docent-led tours (+$12 per pers.). Min. height for the latter is 4 feet (~122cm)
Environmental & Social
Repurposing of a ship so quite neutral from an environmental perspective (as long as it does not move and aircraft don't fly). Helps preserve a "technical heritage" and volunteers share their passion and knowledge.
Conclusion
If you are in the San Francisco Bay area and have never been on an aircraft carrier and/or have a particular interest in the Apollo Moon Landing missions, we strongly recommend a visit there. Not very difficult to reach, impressive and educational. Upgrade to the tours if you can.
Key positive
Visually extremely impressive, including the aircraft on deck
Apollo Mission exhibits and splashdowns related stories
Key negative
None
Suitability
Only partially accessible for visitors with reduced mobility because of the stairs and ladders between decks
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
August 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 30m
est. visit time:1h 30m
Monday10:00 - 17:00
Tuesday -
Wednesday -
Thursday10:00 - 17:00
Friday10:00 - 17:00
Saturday10:00 - 17:00
Sunday10:00 - 17:00