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Location
Best time
Visit on a weekday morning right at opening to avoid crowds and maximize your time. Reviewers specifically noted weekday visits allowed for a more relaxed experience and better interaction with docents throughout the ship.
Visitor tip
The engine room is only open on weekends, so plan your visit accordingly if seeing this area is a priority. Different ticket options are available, so confirm what's included in your chosen ticket level.
Visitor tip
Bring kids aged 5+ and participate in the complimentary scavenger hunt game provided at the start of your tour. You receive a pencil and paper, and completed hunts earn small prizes at the gift shop—it enhances the educational experience and keeps children engaged throughout the tour.
About Battleship IOWA Museum
Navy warship with kid-friendly tours. Storied Navy warship offering kid-friendly tours (from the decks to the Captain’s Cabin) & exhibits.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Historic Battleship Museum
- Location
- Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro waterfront
- Main Attraction
- USS IOWA battleship with deck exploration and scavenger hunts
- Upcoming
- National Museum of the Surface Navy opening 2026
What visitors say
I was thoroughly impressed with this museum! It was clean, fun, educational, has great views of the harbor, and the staff/volunteers were very pleasant. There are a few different tickets you can purchase. We bought the general tickets.…
We were in town a few days prior to a cruise and visited this museum on a Friday morning right at opening. We spent two hours here and learned a lot from the passionate docents located throughout the ship. Be aware that the steps going…
Really loved the ship! It’s an amazing experience to walk the entire route — from bow to stern. The cannons are especially impressive. From the deck, you can watch other ships passing by. Words can’t fully describe the experience — I…
From 8,569 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- The USS IOWA battleship features an engine room that is only open to visitors on weekends, creating a special limited-access exhibit within the museum
- The National Museum of the Surface Navy is launching in 2026 at the Battleship IOWA Museum, featuring hands-on exhibits and stories of life at sea
- The museum offers youth overnight encampment programs that allow visitors to sleep aboard the actual USS IOWA battleship
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