Celebrate July 4th on the Battleship Iowa in San Pedro!
Friday, July 4th, 2025 at 10AM
Battleship USS IOWA Museum
Berth 87, 250 S. Harbor Blvd.
San Pedro, CA 90731
Tickets for the Self-Guided Tour are $29.95
Tickets may be used up to 1-year after purchase.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
The USS Iowa is a retired US Navy battleship, famous for its long and distinguished service and for being the lead ship of its class. It is now a maritime museum located at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California.
What better way to celebrate Independence Day than on the only Battleship open to the public on the West Coast!
Here's a summary of its key features and history:
- Commissioned in 1943: The USS Iowa served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War.
- "World's Greatest Naval Ship": It was known for its powerful weaponry, heavy armor, speed, and ability to keep up with technological advancements.
- "Battleship of Presidents": It hosted four US presidents, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Joe Biden. Notably, it has the only bathtub installed on a US battleship for a president (FDR).
- Served in major conflicts: It participated in significant events like the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay and campaigns in the Pacific during WWII. During the Korean War, it provided crucial gunfire support.
- Modernization in the 1980s: It was reactivated as part of the 600-ship Navy plan, receiving advanced weapons systems.
- Explosion in 1989: A tragic explosion in its second gun turret killed 47 sailors.
- Decommissioned in 1990: Due to the turret damage and defense budget cuts, it was decommissioned for the final time.
- Became a Museum in 2012: After undergoing restoration, it was donated to the Pacific Battleship Center and opened to the public as a museum in San Pedro.
Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the ship in the LA World Cruise Terminal parking lot.
Parking is free for the first hour and $2 for each additional hour with a maximum of $22 per day.
There is a cafe (Vicky's Doghouse) if anyone wants to grab a bite after the tour.
The USS Iowa has a dark and tragic connection to the LGBTQ community. In 1989, the USS Iowa experienced a devastating explosion in Gun Turret #2, killing 47 sailors.
The initial Navy investigation concluded that a crew member, Clayton Hartwig, had deliberately caused the explosion. The Navy implied that Hartwig, who died in the explosion, had a romantic relationship with another sailor, Kendall Truitt, and that the explosion was the result of a soured homosexual relationship. This conclusion was met with criticism and led to further investigations. These subsequent investigations disputed the Navy's findings, suggesting that the explosion was likely accidental, potentially due to an over-ramming of powder bags.
This incident transfixed the nation, eventually discredited the U.S. naval command and resulted in the retirement of four historic battleships. It also provides a textbook example of how the military used homophobia to cover its mistakes.
Additional information can be found here
If you have any questions about this event, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Trip Leader.
Richard Norman
Email: [email protected]
626-319-4740
