Partying on the USS Hornet

Sometimes in life, you just get lucky and get to experience interesting places because you are in the right place at the right time.  While I have been privy to many different experiences because of my career, partying on the USS Hornet stands out to me the most because it was the first time I got to experience the “high life” so to speak.  As part of our annual Sales Kickoff, my employer decided to host the corporate party on the USS Hornet, a retired naval carrier moored in Alameda, a suburb 30 minutes Southeast of San Francisco.  Getting to the Hornet was an adventure in itself as we sailed across the Bay from the Port of San Francisco.

USS Hornet

Officially known as the USS Hornet (CV-12), this naval carrier first launched on August 30, 1943.  During its service in the later years of World War II, the Hornet saw lots of action fighting the Japanese in the South Pacific Islands.  Following the war, the USS Hornet did not see major action again until the 1960s when it was used mainly as a recovery ship during the Apollo missions before being permanently retired in 1970.  Since 1998, the USS Hornet has been opened to the public as a museum.

Fighter jets on the U.S.S. Hornet

Upon entry, we were numbered respectively not only so we could take a 2-hour tour of the ship and check out the fighter jets on display, but so that we could participate in a quirky team building exercise, as well.  Each group was given materials to build their own “missile” so to speak, and were given time slots when we could go to the top deck to launch these missiles into the San Francisco Bay for a mock recovery similar to the Apollo missions.

USS Hornet Runway

The only thing that really disappointed me this night was the amount of co-workers who decided to bail early around 10pm PST to take the boats back to our hotel.  This was a monstrous ship with tons of history to take in.  Why anyone wouldn't want to make the most out of their time on this epic venue is beyond me.  Regardless, the USS Hornet Museum is one of the most unique tourist attractions that you will see in San Francisco.  For more info about the USS Hornet Museum, please check out their official website.