Great place! My boyfriend and I spent more than 3 hours here exploring all the rooms and exhibits and planes. I wish we had more time that day, we could have easily spent at least another hour looking at everything more closely. Super interesting piece of history that is well worth your time. I want to come back with my parents for a tour, the docent we spoke (thanks Sydney!) to was knowledgeable and enthusiastic and we enjoyed hearing the insights and interesting details he told us, about the small cutout models used to keep track of planes on the two level model deck!

It was a really amazing expansive place. If you want to read everything it could take days. Ask questions and explore, you can pay extra for a led tour. We spent 3 hours on our own and didn't see everything. I can't wait to go back and do a vip tour. They offer random tours, some that show you off limits parts, but those are usually run once a month so check their website. Make sure to visit the special room dedicated to the history of our Japanese soldiers. You can get on board (with help) in a wheelchair or walker. But you won't get to see much of the ship. It still would be awesome to see the planes in the center hanger. But much of the ship is down narrow corridors with straight vertical staircases. It could be challenging if you have a mobility issue but I'd say don't let that stop you from seeing some of it.

It was truly an awe-inspiring experience, seeing and touching a vessel that played such a pivotal role in the Pacific Theater of WWII. I was personally most excited about visiting the USS Hornet CV-12 because of her involvement in Operation Ten-Go, which sunk the massive Japanese battleship Yamato. The static displays of aircraft on the hangar-deck are beautifully maintained and lovingly displayed. I've seen countless documentaries on naval aviation and was completely unaware of the size difference between the FM-2 Wildcat and the TBM-3E Avenger. The Avenger is HUGE!!! I had no idea. I was genuinely impressed. You could walk the fight-deck and see all the aircraft on display on the hangar-deck in about an hour, but if you go below decks and explore the rest of the ship, you could easily spend 3 1/2 to 4 hours exploring everything. Every volunteer we spoke with was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. Please make a generous donation to the USS Hornet Sea, Air, and Space museum. She served her country well. We owe it to the old girl to keep her afloat and looking fierce.

This ship is living history! Is in fantastic shape for it's age, really well taken care of and the volunteers do a superb job at showcasing the ship. The historical installations are a wonderful peek at the past. My family and I loved it and spent considerable amount of time exploring on our own, its more than worth the entrance. Visit and support the mission of preservation of this piece of the past

We decided to visit the Hornet for my husband on our recent bay area trip. To my surprise, my kids (9 and 13) loved it almost as much. There was so much to see and being able to explore so much of the ship at our own pace was great! The docents on board were friendly, hilarious, and full of stories and knowledge. We spoke with several and they engaged our kids in the history of the ship which was really special. We spent almost 3 hours here (we had just flown in and were pretty tired) but could easily spend more time. The views from the top deck are amazing. We also enjoyed the Japanese installation in the front of the ship. Well worth the price and a must visit!

Amazing place. So much history and the older ex-navy/ ex-marine Docent’s are so knowledgeable and friendly. The tours are well worth the time. Went on a warm day and had amazing views of the SF skyline. Everything was clean and the exhibits were kept up well. For a family in the area, getting a membership is well worth it since we were only able to do one of the tours when we were there.

Title: A Trip Back in Time with Modern Amenities - USS Hornet Museum 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲 Review: Visiting the USS Hornet - Sea, Air and Space Museum in Alameda was an incredible experience. Located at 707 W Hornet Ave, this museum offers a fascinating glimpse into maritime and military history, all the while being surrounded by modern-day amenities. I went there primarily for a photoshoot, and let me tell you, the backdrop couldn't have been better. The ship itself is a majestic sight, a true representation of American craftsmanship and ingenuity. What's equally great is the variety of food and drink options nearby. The area has a multitude of breweries and eateries that serve up delicious treats, making it a full-day outing. Just a heads up: Many of the breweries operate only on weekends, so plan your visit accordingly. Overall, the USS Hornet is a must-visit. It's not just a museum; it's an experience that combines historical learning with present-day fun. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

Stayed for one of their overnight programs (Grey Ghost Paranormal Conference), where ghost hunters can bring their tools/tech, hear from keynote speakers, get dinner/breakfast catered, and sleep in your very own bunk. Highly recommend (whether a regular day trip or one of their community programs)... really cool history and fun experience!

Pretty cool! I went right at Noon on a Saturday... not busy at all which was great, less people! I enjoyed just walking around the ship checking out everything. Also it was decorated for Halloween which was cool. Recommend

An inspiring museum. Great for history education! The tour is great and you can learn a lot great story! The tour cost for only 10 and I think it definitively worth it, especially if you love great story! If you don’t want to be bothered, the view is amazing, especially on the stern, where you can see the San Francisco-Oakland bridge and Alcatraz. View from flight deck also great but windy. I am happy that this decorated ship is preserved! Quarantine unit and command module from Apollo mission is also impressive! I spent about 3-4 hours in the ship and discovered so much story. My wife and I strongly recommend this place!

It is amazing the work to preserve and bring back The Hornet! They took many years to open to the public that giant peace of History. The volunteers and all workers were very friendly and we enjoyed the tours to check the Engineering (better choose no heal shoes because the stairs and the floors aren’t high heels friendly) and the Captain’s room. Hidden in a corner we checked little area dedicated to the Japanese who were living in the US by the WWII time. There were toilets, small area for kids, snacks/drinks cafeteria (very simple) and gift shop.

We have been living in walking distance from the carrier for quite a while and we finally took a tour. It was certainly worth the time. We chose the self-guided tour and could walk around on three decks: the flight deck, the hangar deck and the deck below the hangar deck. There is so much to see and to learn, that we will come back. Aircraft exhibits from WW II fighters to the F14 Tomcat, Apollo memorabilia, crew quarters, the ship's hospital. Trying to imagine how over 4000 men and women served on this ship. Take your kids for a fascinating history lesson. We will come back for the island tour (was sold out today) and for more.

Great staff and definitely great piece of history!! BTW William was a great tour guide. Couldn't of asked for a better experience. We became members and we can't wait to return to see more of the ship! BTW I'll be posting a video of my experience on my YouTube channel if anyone is interested. Thanks everyone!

This was fun and interesting to visit. We love learning new things and history. As soon as you walk in you're greeted with a warm welcome. Then you get to watch this short video about the USS Hornet. Once the video is over one of the veterans provides information on where you roam freely and the guided tours. He also gave directions on where the bathrooms were. Once we left the introduction, we began to explore. You get to walk around the engine room, living quarters, and so much more! Keep in mind this museum is not like others where you can just breathe through. This museum is an event. Also, they do have hot food and snacks if you get hungry. We didn't get any food though. There's a small gift shop and plenty of photo opportunities. Heads up! If you're not comfortable walking around and/or climbing stairs, this could be a challenge to explore the entire USS Hornet. The host for our introduction made a great point, the vessel is "created for young 19yrs olds".....lol And let me tell you...he wasn't lying 😂😂

Absolutely loved the USS Hornet Museum. Seen most of the ship but not all of it. Met Leuitenant Willie Sharp a Vietnam Veteran that shared his experience with us. Will be doing an overnight investigation in Oct. Super excited to be returning.

Great piece of history here. Really get the feel of being on these ships and climbing the stairs and visiting the offices, sick bay, sleeping quarters and the bridge. But can't imagine the reality of being one of those service members and the risks they took, the bravery they demonstrated and the sacrifices they made to serve. Don't miss this if you're a history buff or even if you're not. Much respect. And the docents are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

Absolutely epic ship and super friendly staff. We got shown around the flight deck by a very nice 86 year old veteran, the name of which i sadly do not remember right now. The picture my dad took of him and me I will definitely frame and put in my room, it was an honour. There were around 20 other people total so the carrier was pretty empty. Excellent experience!

Tickets purchased online are valid for a year and I advise to purchase advance tickets on their official website to avoid any last minute surprises. Having said that, there wasn't any wait time when we visited the place. It was a week day. I absolutely loved the place. The receptionist was helpful and patiently answered all of our queries. Don't miss the five minute orientation video if you are visiting for the first time. I would suggest reaching the place early so that you can explore all parts of the ship. Main, lower and upper decks have too much to cover. I am quite surprised to see F14s. The retired officials over there are so sweet and welcoming. Their erudition on those jets is simply amazing. I visited the place with my two little nephews and they were super excited.

Loved this stop. Such a wonderful time. There is so much history here, and to be able to literally walk through it and touch it is truly something. This ship and the items on display here individually have such a rich history to read and go through. Not to mention to see how much times really have changed. We really enjoyed this stop and hope others will as well.

Not much to see here. However a cool experience to go down to the lower level to see the infirmary and bunks. The flight deck had great views of the bay and the San Francisco skyline.

Spent overnight on the ship with our scout pack. It was an amazing experience and a really cool look into such a historic ship. Lou Somontes was our guide/docent and you could tell he truly loved teaching people about the ship and history. His experience in the navy, on this and other ships made for a tour that felt like a VIP tour. Highly recommend.

Great museum for WW2 and military geeks. 20$ per adult but you need to pay more if you want to go up the captain's deck. There are planes, choppers, jets and even the Apollo 11 shuttle over here. Workers are very nice too. Please come here to support this museum so they can keep it running

The USS Hornet is awesome! Lots of fascinating history throughout. The ship is sprawling with multiple levels to explore. I heard from one of the docents that for an extra $10 you can get an extended tour of the control tower on the flight deck. To our surprise, there were a bunch of incredible classic cars on display when we entered the ship. Highly recommended!

They had airplanes and you were able to explore the ship itself on ur own if you wanted. You could get lost in there for days, the ship is so big and with multiple levels and exhibits in every room it's incredible to walk through. They even have an exhibit on how Japanese Americans aided the war effort by decoding messages.

Did an overnight hunt on October 20th this year and everything was amazing. Faye and Steve were absolutely wonderful and lead us the entire way. We were fed dinner which is pretty unusual for most of the overnight tours I've done and was a welcomed surprise. We were able to sleep in the barracks and had a lot of access. It was an amazing time and we will definitely be back.

The USS Hornet is an amazing place to visit ! I spent more than 3 hours wandering around all the rooms, the exhibits they have. Everything is super interesting ! I spent more than an hour on the flight deck, one on one with Captain Bill Nelson, a former Navy pilot. He showed me so many things and told me amazing stories during his time in the Navy ! The visit is really worth it and you will definitely have a great time ! (The docent-led tours are suspended which is a bummer but totally understandable considering the sanitary situation.)

We did an overnight with my son's Cub Scout troop and it was fantastic. Really great, engaging & knowledgeable tour guides (about 2.5 hours). Surprisingly good meals, and an unforgettable experience!

This was a great place to explore and it was nice to take time to learn new things while enjoying our trip throughout the museum. Taking a tour is definitely worth it if you want to learn about a subject in detail. The older docents were very knowledgable and also friendly. A great place to check out if you’re looking for a relaxing and interesting trip with friends and family.

Came here today and got to experience this for the first time. We used the Museums for All and got in with discounted tickets. The place was full of history and the volunteer docents were all super knowledgeable. It was fun exploring the ship. No ghost encounter today lol

Nice place to visit it needs some work, though. The ship looks pretty rough with the paint missing on the part you see when walking up to it. I've been to plenty of musem ships from the carrier in Texas to the battleships in honolulu, so I do understand the reasons it looks so bad. The interior was in good shape and lots of things to see inside. The free parking was nice to see for the location it's at. It was the entire reason I drove to SF.

Excellent place to visit! My boyfriend and I spent nearly 5 hours here to take in everything. Rich history, so much to see from planes on the flight deck and inside, Apollo missions, WWII history, sister ship exhibits, the post office, sick bay, crews quarters and so so much more. Stairs are sometimes steep and narrow and passages are tight but as a larger woman I didn't have too much trouble. We took the island tour and Bruce was amazing! Super knowledgeable, answered all our questions, knew fun facts and had great stories. He took his time showing us around. Highly recommend!!

For history and military enthusiasts, the USS Hornet - Sea, Air and Space Museum is a must-visit destination. The museum's displays are expertly presented and there's so much to explore that you'll struggle to fit it all into one day. The ship itself is a fascinating labyrinth of passageways and floors, providing hours of engaging exploration. To avoid crowds, it's best to plan your visit on a weekday. You'll also have the opportunity to interact with the friendly and knowledgeable docents, who are always willing to share their insights and stories with those who show an interest.

The crew is doing an outstanding job of restoring this ship. The hangar deck has interesting and well presented artifacts and exhibits. Below decks are restored, and you can self-guide through her berthing spaces, the galley, ready rooms, sick Bay, and so on. It's really extraordinary to see. The island, engine room, and other spaces are guided only, so I recommend planning to spend extra hours here seeing everything.

A fascinating floating exhibit with a myriad of aircraft on display. There is even moon landing hardware. If you have any interest in aviation, military history, or just want to gawk at the sheer size of the thing, you would be well served by a visit. Docents are very knowledgeable about the ship and many are ex-servicemembers. Guided tours are also available of some of the more intricate engineering areas of the ship, which I intend to experience on my next visit.

This place was amazing! Highly recommend to plan at least 2 hours there in order to see it all. The docents are very friendly and knowledgeable. Made me very proud of my country :)