What is it?:
The Maritime Museum of San Diego enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining and operating historic vessels. The museum has one of the world’s finest collections of historic ships, including the world’s oldest active ship the Star of India. Founded in 1948, the museum grew out of the earlier efforts of a group of local historians and maritime enthusiasts who acquired the sailing ship Star of India in 1927. Now fully restored, the Star of India is maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers and skilled craftsmen and sailed at least once a year.
What can you see?:
First and foremost, the Maritime Museum is all about ships. The Maritime Museum of San Diego features one of the finest collections of historic ships in the world, including; the world’s oldest active ship Star of India; the 1898 steam ferry Berkeley; the 1904 steam yacht Medea; the 1914 harbor Pilot boat; the HMS Surprise a magnificent replica of an 18th century Royal Navy frigate and Californian a replica of a mid 19th century revenue cutter.
The Star of India:
You might say the Star of India is the unofficial symbol of the San Diego waterfront. Its presence along the embarcadero draws looks from anyone walking the waterfront, and its tall masts harken back to another time. The Star of India is the world's oldest active ship. The Star came to San Diego in 1927 but it was decades before it was restored to sailing shape. Finally, in 1976, the fully restored Star of India put to sea for the first time in fifty years, under the command of Captain Carl Bowman. The Star of India now sails at least once a year making her the oldest active ship of any kind in the world.
The Berkeley:
The Berkeley is an 1898 steam ferryboat that operated for 60 years on San Francisco Bay. A California State Historic Landmark, and a National Historic Landmark. She is, in a word, "irreplaceable." The upper deck of the ferryboat has played host to thousands of weddings, corporate and other special events since her arrival in San Diego in 1973. Berkeley has a unique historical and architectural significance that is reminiscent of the Victorian Age.
HMS Surprise:
Strike a pose at the helm of the HMS. Surprise just like Russell Crowe as Captain "Lucky Jack Aubrey." The ship used in the academy award winning film, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World found a permanent home at the Maritime Museum of San Diego in 2004. The HMS Surprise is a magnificent replica of an 18th century Royal Navy frigate. HMS. Surprise is a 179-foot full rigged ship. Her designers and builders made a painstaking effort to recreate a 24 gun frigate of Great Britan's Nelson era Royal Navy. The result is a replica vessel unmatched in its authenticity and attention to detail.
B-39 Soviet Attack Submarine:
One of a fleet of diesel electric submarines the Soviet Navy called “Project 641,” B-39 was commissioned in the early 1970s and served on active duty for more than 20 years. 300 feet in length and displacing more than 2000 tons, B-39 is among the largest conventionally powered submarines ever built. She was designed to track U.S. and NATO warships throughout the world’s oceans. PLEASE NOTE: Persons that have trouble bending, crouching or climbing or are uncomfortable in confined spaces may have difficulty touring the B-39 submarine.
What else is there?:
The Maritime Museum of San Diego's permanent collection is presented in five galleries representing major themes of maritime history and their relation to San Diego, its harbor and strategic position on the Pacific: Age of Sail, Age of Steam, Charting the Sea, Harvesting the Ocean, San Diego's Navy.
Your About Guide's Take:
Address:
Maritime Museum of San Diego, 1492 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Maritime Museum of San Diego, 1492 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
For anyone interested in maritime history, the Maritime Museum of San Diego is a great place to start. You can't beat the setting: the scenic waterfront of San Diego Bay amid the historical seafaring vessels from another time.
Locals certainly know of the Star of India, the majestic tall ship anchored alongside North Harbor Drive. But even locals might not even be aware of the other ships in the museum's fleet.
The museum offers lots of programs for students and adults alike, including sleepovers aboard the Star of India.
Hours of Operation: Open every day of the year, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (open until 9:00 p.m. Memorial Day - Labor Day)
General Admission*: Adults $12, Seniors (62 and over) $9, Active Military (with valid military ID) $9, Children (6-17) $8, Children 5 and under are free. *General admission includes entrance to all of the museum's historic ships and the exhibits on board.
