USS Iowa is a museum at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro which opened on the 4th of July 2012. It preserves U.S. Navy Battleship BB-61 which served during World War II, Korean War and Cold War. Three presidents have been hosted aboard and President Roosevelt's Cabin exhibit is a highlight. The tour also includes several rooms, berths, bridges, decks and has wonderful volunteers revealing its history.
#187 Maritime Museum of San Diego
Since 1948, The Maritime Museum of San Diego has preserved and replicated some of the best sea vessels in the United States. Its 'star', the Star of India, is the oldest active ship in the World. The Berkeley was a ferryboat that operated between 1898 and 1958. It served between the San Francisco Bay and Oakland Pier. Yachts, pilots boats and submarines are also part of the collection.
#34 USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum is an important museum at San Diego's Navy Pier and is one of the most visited museums with well over a million visitors annually. USS Midway was the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century. Commissioned after WWII, it was the largest ship in the world at the time. It sailed between 1945 and 1992 and served about 200 thousand sailors. San Diego is a fitting home since naval aviation was born here. Explore over 60 areas of this massive ship.
#3 RMS Queen Mary
The RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner docked in the Port of Long Beach. It sailed the Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967. Luxury & Opulence is the key to this Art Deco Dream. Queen Mary was the last great ocean liner built during the golden age of world travel. Elizabeth Taylor, Lucille Ball, Gloria Swanson & Fred Astaire among many other silver screen stars called this sailing palace home while on voyage to Europe.
During WWII, it was nicknamed the 'Grey Ghost' and transported 765,429 Military Personnel. It became the worlds largest and fastest troopship. Winston Churchill even considered it his headquarters at sea. In 1947, passenger service resumed. Modern amenities such as air conditioning were added but this would not prove to be enough as jet planes began to change the industry.
Queen Mary opened as a tourist attraction in 1971 and continues to delight today with a hotel, museum and restaurants. The ship in full can be explored at your leisure. It is even on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Historic Hotels of America. One visit to Queen Mary will have you longing for more. Are you ready to set sail?
