Battleship USS Iowa Museum

What a great ship, museum, and tribute to every brave men/women who served on this spectacular battleship. I told myself that a good hour would be enough to absorb all the sights and sounds of the Iowa. Boy were we wrong! We definitely spent more time than we anticipated, but it was so worth it!

First off, parking is $1/hour and for those of you with mobility issues, it's probably best not to go on the self-guided tour because of the steep ladders. Otherwise, for those of us fortunate to experience the tour, it's one of those rare opportunities to engross yourself at a time when there was so much turmoil and danger on the high seas. There are docents scattered around the tour who will happily answer any questions you may have about any aspect of the ship. The informational signs help in putting things in context historically and practically for the shipmen. What I thought was really nice and thoughtful were the sporadic announcements to everyone that so-and-so veteran is on board who served in a particular world conflict. A nice gesture to say the least.

My daughter is four, and she had no trouble traversing the many hallways and stairways. Just be careful with young ones when going DOWN stairs as you should descent backwards. And yes, tall people, please be careful with the low ceilings.

The gift shop had many cool things that I wanted to purchase but was limited budget-wise. I was able to come away with some neat postcards and collectible magnet. After your tour, you can enjoy the new downtown harbor park or grab a bite to eat along 6th and 7th streets.

The USS Iowa museum is well worth a visit. Just to clarify, the signing of Japan's surrender took place on the USS Missouri, which is located at Honolulu, HI.

We've toured the USS Missouri and the USS New Jersey on other occasions and have included tours of the gun turret and engine room areas. Those additional tours are really interesting and worth it.

The USS Iowa museum self-guided tour is really well designed and is extensive! Yes, there's a lot of climbing of stairs and stepping over doorways. It's great exercise and It's a cool ship! There are benches placed where space allows along the tour route. The signage is informative and plentiful. The app is nice, but we enjoyed the tour without it. Wow, there's wifi!

On our visit, we saw several school groups visiting. It's a great resource for schools. All the volunteers were friendly and informative.

Our only gripe is the website. The ticketing was confusing. It would really be nice to have that cleared up and include information about parking.

Being from northern California, we remember when the Iowa was moored in Suisun Bay as part of the mothball fleet. It's great to see her looking so good and being shown off.

3.9/5

Visiting the USS Iowa battleship in San Pedro was a spectacular experience, albeit smaller in comparison to aircraft carriers. The preservation of its heritage and historical artifacts was impressive, especially the real-life size of the missiles used on these vessels, some as large as grown men. However, due to its age, the ship's floors are uneven and require caution, particularly for small children who should be supervised closely. Despite its smaller size compared to aircraft carriers, exploring the several levels of the ship offers a glimpse into its significant role in wartime. While battleships have become extinct in modern times, witnessing one in its full form is a reminder of its critical role and the bravery of those who served aboard. For history or ship enthusiasts, as well as military history buffs, visiting the USS Iowa is highly recommended, though it may not appeal to those seeking merely a grand spectacle.

Great living history museum! Really enjoyed the tour-we did the Presidents tour and thoroughly enjoyed it!

We spent the whole afternoon exploring the Iowa, the battleship on which Roosevelt accepted the surrender of the Japanese in World War II. It was very interesting to tour the original quarters, war room, gun turret, etc. Lots of original photography and documented historical events. Going up and down the ladders will be difficult if you're not fairly spry, so be aware, but if you love history, this is a must see.

First, you may want to download the app before getting here. No worries if you forgot, they have free WiFi. 2nd, always check-in as soon as you arrive anywhere. Never know when there's a freeby or discount for doing it. General admission is required for whatever you choose. But you can do special tours in addition to the general admission. The best day for special tours are Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesdays. Today is Tuesday so all we could get was the President's tour. But that was nice.

Best view and delicious hot dogs and tater tots.
This is one of my favorite spot for a quick lunch, just hanging out on the deck , the waiting is short and the veggie dogs are so yummy.

The USS Iowa is a beast!!!!
If you're fortunate enough to have a few hours to spend exploring her decks, you must!

This battleship's history (the good and bad) is well-worth learning up close, especially since not too many in its class are still standing.

Plus, if you're extra nerdy they even have a new escape room type game going on which seems fun.

A fascinating look at American and world history, the USS Iowa is an historic battleship that served the US Navy for more than 40 years. The ship features a tour of the deck, several below-deck areas, a maritime museum, and dozens of historical displays.

Our Cub Scout group stayed overnight at Camp Battleship: an experience that included two meals, two different extended tours of the ship, and an overnight stay in the enlisted area bunks. Sleeping three high in small, narrow racks really made me further appreciate our brave sailors who serve in the US Navy.

If you're a history buff, particularly military history from WWII through the Cold War, this is an outstanding experience.

This was surprisingly a cool experience! Lots of history here, and an awesome view of the port, and cruise ships. We took a good 2 hours to walk the entire ship.
One recommendation would be to wear close toed shoes. There are lots of stairs that are a bit high and steep and you have to walk backwards to get down. You're basically screwed if you're in heels.

Neat experience, and a nice way to spend the afternoon if you're a history buff. I took off a star for the rude employee who kept pushing us out, though we still had plenty of time.

Great place to learn about naval avionic history.
Self guided tour makes exploring the massive ship enjoyable.