Discovered on 5 July 1859 by Captain N C Brooks, the island was named Middle Brook Islands. On 28 August 1876, Captain William Reynolds of the USS Lukawana took formal possession of the islands and renamed them Sand Island and Eastern Island. With no native populace, Midway's history may be traced through records in Hawaii. Click here to read more of Midway Island's history.

As a military island, Midway once boasted a population of about 3000; it now has 120 after the US withdrew the naval base. Midway is now an official bird sanctuary; its current residents include the white gooney, black gooney, frigate bird, booby bird, fairy tern, brown noddy, black noddy and the mynah bird. The islands are being cleaned up by a skeleton crew whose job it is to eliminate waste material, greet visitors and encourage the many birds that populate the island. Former residents retain a strong bond with their island home and have created a special page dedicated to its memory and the people who used to live there.