Visitor Tips

Tips and guidelines to fully enjoy your visit to the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum!

There is a lot to see on the ship and more spaces are opened every month. Some areas of the ship start closing by 3 PM, so we recommend arriving no later than 2 PM for the engine room and other docent-led tours.

Additionally, our hatches between decks can be narrow at times. For your safety and the security of the Museum, upon arrival Security will ask that all bags larger than 12” x 8” x 12” are either returned to your car or kept in a rentable locker by Admissions for a small rental fee. This includes backpacks, camera bags, tote bags, diaper bags, ladies purses, etc.

 

Please note: for safety reasons, backpack-style infant carriers are also not permitted.

A museum map is available at Admissions and you can inquire about docent-led tours at Orientation. We also invite visitors to download our Museum’s app. You can find it in your app store by searching “USSHornet.”

Spaces are available for buses and RVs. Please, no vehicles on the pier (exceptions are made for those with valid disability placards).

 A virtual tour is available for viewing on the Hangar Deck; ask the orientation docent for assistance. For more information, please see our Accessibility Information page.

Our guideline is to allow adults and children taller than 48 inches to go on those tours to special locations. This policy is due to having to traverse very steep ladders and stairs, narrow walkways, and significantly raised thresholds that can prove extremely challenging.

Our Flight Simulator also has a height restriction of 38″.

Keep you and your camera safe by using the neck strap or wrist strap while exploring the ship.

For commercial or professional photographs, photoshoots, or filming, please contact Private Events: events@uss-hornet.org

They are great about sharing information about the ship, the restoration process, and their own experiences in the service. Many of our volunteers are veterans. Our Docents are unpaid volunteers. They tend to leave the ship early on weekdays. We can not guarantee that there will always be Docents available to take you on a tour. Audio tour devices are always available at Admissions.