Why is it called "Midway"?
Actually, the origin of the name is a hotly debated topic. Some believe it's name derives from the fact that it is less than 150 miles from the International Date Line, exactly halfway around the world from the Greenwich Meridian. Others believe it was named Midway because it is nearly midway between Asia and North America (actually its about 2,800 miles from San Francisco and 2,200 miles from Japan.

Is Midway part of the United States?
Midway was claimed for the U.S. in 1867 under the Guano Act. It was never officially a part of the Kingdom, the Territory or the State of Hawaii. It is now designated an insular (island) possession of the U.S., under the Department of the Interior.

When did the Navy become involved at Midway?
Midway was placed under Navy jurisdiction in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, the same year in which the President created the first National Wildlife Refuge (Pelican Island in Florida). However, Midway did not become a Naval Air Station until August, 1941, only four months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

When did the Navy leave Midway?
The Navy decided to close Naval Air Facility Midway Island in 1993, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process. The last contingent of Navy personnel left Midway in June, 1997, after an ambitious environmental cleanup program was completed.

Why did Midway become a national wildlife refuge?
Midway is home to a large population of migratory seabirds, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, threatened green sea turtles, spinner dolphins and a wide variety of marine fishes and invertebrates. It became a national wildlife refuge in 1988 while still under the Navy's primary jurisdiction. When the Naval Air Facility closed, the land and waters of the refuge transferred to the Department of the Interior, to be managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

What is Midway's most famous resident?
The Laysan Albatross is the best known resident at Midway. Nearly 400,000 pairs of Laysan Albatross are found nesting on Midway's islands during the peak of the breeding season. If you include the young of the year and immature birds that visit Midway before they are old enough to breed, the population of Laysan Albatross probably exceeds 1.5 million birds, making Midway the largest Laysan Albatross colony in the world.

Why is the Laysan Albatross referred to as the "gooney bird"?
Albatross are extremely graceful fliers. However, their landings often leave something to be desired. Even more entertaining are their courtship displays. They prance and bob around each other with their heads pointed upward or their bills clacking rapidly. The calls and "songs" continue, day and night. All the while, the dancing albatross seem oblivious to their human audience.