I have two friends that I’ve known for 52 years and we have maintained a great friendship by getting together a few times a year.Most recently, we got together at the Battleship Iowa and had a blast!!! The tour was limited to the outside portion of the Battleship due to COVID restrictions. It was still fun and we were able to explore every one of the decks!Special thanks to all of the Sunday crew aboard the battleship. They were friendly and informative. We had the pleasure of talking with one of the staff at length. Paulie walked with us through the Battleship and shared some of his personal experiences with us. He served in the United States Navy and had been stationed aboard the Iowa. We found his stories fascinating!I would highly recommend touring the Iowa, she was an amazing Battleship! God Bless America and our Military!!!

I really enjoyed my self guided tour around the battleship. Crew on deck is very passionate about what they do and are very knowledgeable. I would love to see the propellers on the helicopter though.Nice views on the left side of the destroyer, you can see all the madness going on throughout the port.

A fantastic battleship museum in San Pedro, California that offers hours of enjoyment and a history lesson as well. Very scenic location with shopping and dining minutes away. A++

Historically significant to any history fan. This monument is a must visit for all ages alike. The experience alone of being upfront and personal with such an engineering feat in Americas arsenal that once protected the US in the seas is simply a force to be reckoned with still. This Battleship once was nearly scrapped, but hard working individuals have kept the spirit alive and now teaches Americans history that should never be forgotten. Citizens from the state of Iowa are waived the admission fees, but all the money they collect go towards the continued restoration of such a iconic symbol of American military strength.

Went here a long time ago and it was definitely worth the trip. Stop by when you get the chance and if you can get the tickets! I learned so much about the life my great grandpa led while he was in the navy during world war 2. This is an awesome place, and it is also fun for the whole family!

Still open during the pandemic. Impressive engineering. Great views of passing container ships

The Iowa museum is great except you cant go in because of Covid but it is great!

Because I did not download the app for a self-guided tour I ended up taking about 20 minutes to walk the path of all the designated areas. The best part was seeing the massive 16 inch guns and turrets.

Great place to visit. One of the last remaining WW2 battleships. Audioguide can be downloaded for free in the appstore.

This place really is fun for the whole family. My group consisted of a 9 year old, 7 y/o, 27 y/o, 37 y/o, 55 y/o & 65 y/o. We all enjoyed the battleship so much. It was fun to explore & learn at the same time. They have a little scavenger hunt type of game for the kids. They have to find things on a list & match it to which area of the ship thats in. At the end they can turn in the completed game & get a free bracelet & sticker. The kiddos really enjoyed that. All of the staff are extremely friendly, knowledgeable & helpful. If youre a AAA member, you can get discounted tickets. My family & I purchased tickets on the AAA website ahead of time.

This is a must visit for anyone in this area or Long Beach. Views are amazing even on your drive here. The ship is well preserved with knowledgeable and helpful staff. Awesome weaponry in display. Some of those are still elsewhere active in the US fleet. Ample parking available on site.

It was closed but we went to see a drive in movie. It was really nice. When it opens again you should definitely check out the museum. Its fun for kids.

Walking the same halls as the veterans on board was truly an unforgettable experience.

WW2 relic that served three campaigns in different decades. Its amazing that this magnificent piece of American engineering has been preserved for future generations to see.Visitors need to pay a very cheap entrance fee then partake in a self-guided tour to a lot of the ships key areas, giving them a chance to get up close to the ships exterior and interiors.There are helpful volunteers and veterans that will interact with you along the way, as well as pre-recorded videos and signs about a particular section or event that happened on that room or part of the ship.You can also download the Museums app which can also allow you to use your phones camera on specific augmented reality spots for a more interactive experience.Overall, visiting this place is worth it. Its a unique and memorable experience for me.

The USS Iowa is truly a grand lady. Shes filled with history and delightful tour guides. Everyone was helpful and very knowledgeable. I highly recommend a visit.

Loved every part of the ship. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff! Great experience for my family and myself!

Very cool museum for fan of navy!! I loved it.

Only in deck tours! No going inside, but you could smell the age and history! I wanted go go inside so bad!

Great place to learn and the stuff super friendly and knowledgeable.

Sadly I understand why the tour was restricted to only the weather decks. I will be back again very soon.

My Uncle and i visited the Battleship Iowa in April 2013, 6 months after it opened to the public it was impressive how big and armored it was. yet the beds and acommodations are quite tiny, the hatchways and stairs are small, makes me think that part of requirements to be a sailor is to be of small stature. in the center of the ship is a heavily armored control room that can control the main fuction of the ship, its armor is couple of feet thick and can take a direct hit and still be fuctional, they are planning on restoring more areas of the ship ready for visitors after they collected more money for restoration, i plan on visiting again after more section of the ship have been restored.if you are interested in History and military history , you should visit the battleship Iowa.

The USS Battleship Iowa Museum,located at one the busiest seaports in the world-The Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro,California, is a terrific museum and battleship to visit and climb aboard!The Battleship USS Iowa Museum is a maritime museum located at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, United States.Family friendly with all current CDC protocols in place, The USS Iowa fights Covid like it fought all the enemies it faced on the 7 seven seas during its commisioned years!USS Iowa (BB-61) was the lead ship of the last class of U.S. Navy battleships to be built by the United States. The battleship was originally commissioned in 1943 and served during World War II, the Korean War, and through the Cold War. Iowa earned 11 battle stars during her career and hosted three U.S. Presidents, ultimately earning the nicknames Battleship of Presidents and Big Stick. Iowa was awarded to the Pacific Battleship Center on September 6, 2011 for display at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California – home to the United States Battle Fleet from 1919 to 1940.Iowa opened in Los Angeles on July 4, 2012 to a crowd of over 1,500 supporters and veterans at Port of Los Angeles Berth 87.The USS Iowa Museum offers daily tours, group programs, education visits, special events, filming, military ceremonies, and is in the process of starting an overnight program.Daily tours include visits to see the largest guns on a U.S. Navy ship,officers ward room, President Roosevelts cabin, armored bridge, missile decks, enlisted berthing, mess decks, helicopter deck, and other areas. The ship is located at the Los Angeles World Cruise Center and has over 2,100 parking spaces available.Iowa has played various roles in films and television including NCIS: Los Angeles, American Warships, Bermuda Tentacles, and Dark Rising. Iowa is home to annual American-focused events including the City of Los Angeles Veterans Appreciation,a Memorial Day Celebration, and September 11 remembrance....#pacificfleet #atlanticfleet #portoflosangeles #sanpedro #battleshipussiowa #battleshipussiowamuseum #museums #usnavy #navy #historicallandmarks #waynesalvatti #photografxworldwide #losangelesworldcruisecenter #gonavy #seamen #visitsanpedro #visitlosangeles #visitlongbeach #fourthofjuly #covid #cdc #besafe #behealthy #safetovisit #family#nauticalmuseums

Had so much fun exploring the battleship with my 2 year old son and 5 year old daughter. They absolutely loved the big boat! and there were lots of friendly workers with great history and stories of the ship. We spent about 2-3 hours there. There are lots of stairs that I had to help my 2 year old with but it wasnt bad and was certainly worth the effort.

If youre in town this is something you definitely have to stop by and see. Parking is tough and so is lighting. You want to come at night so you can see it but the pictures dont come out as good.

Open during pandemic, we got there early and paid for the self tour. The tour guide gave us a short tour of the main deck before he had to do a tour for someone else . Great experience!

My family and I enjoyed it! Were definitely coming back!

Impressive monument of history. My first visit on a battleship, but it was great. Visited it in a Sunday morning and it wasnt crowded at all, so could enjoy the nice weather from the decks and also take a look through the small Chambers and corridors. Really nice to see this at least once.

This was a fun and interesting tour. We were able see many historical photos and furniture and enjoy stories of the ships history, every room has a story. The tour involves a lot of narrow, steep stairs (Ladders) so be prepared!

Due to the Corona virus the interior of the Battleship is closed to the public. The exterior the Battleship is still a good visit. Cant wait to go back once they fully open the Battleship to the public. Cant wait for the flight Simulator to be reopen as well.

Had a blast visiting all the Memorials on the ship. I for one could have walked through the entire ship all day just observing. Fortunately for my family it was a limited tour. Still took at least 3 hours to wander through and watch the videos playing.

Right next to the USS Iowa there were these amazing Navy ships during the 2019 Fleet week. When you get a chance come and see the great USS Iowa and all the other Navy ship that are deployed but currently docked on the port until Monday Sep 2 2019. So much to see and view..

Its part of world history. My dad worked at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard after serving in the US Army. At the time the US Navy would schedule open house for ships that returned to the shipyard for maintenance and shore leave for the crew.I remember riding the elevator from the hanger deck to the flight deck on a carrier, climbing down steep ladders on a destroyer.This was my second visit and I enjoy walking onto the deck of the Iowa. I appreciate the sacrifice of the men who served our great nation as I view the living quarters and battle stations.There were new exhibits to see.

Great experience, but cant tour the interior at this time due to Covid

Very interesting place to discover if you are near to LA. Also, you can take advantage and pay your entrance in a combo with the Aquarium of the Pacific. So, paying 45 dollars you can spend your day in these 2 places. If you are curious about history, discovering interesting information and have in memory those who fight in those times, this place is perfect for you. It offers different rates for elder citizens and other groups. The souvenir store is a little bit expensive. But, money goes for maintenance of the museum. Finally, workers are very passionate, lovely and hard-working.

Its fun but u cant go inside the ship rn sadly

Was a fun experience. And nice day. Was part closed due to covid 19 so only upper deck access tell further notice. Still was fun

It was a fun self- guided tour. Every level of the ship had something cool to see. My kids were excited and engrossed with the battleship every step of the way. My wife even had fun. This was an exciting trip to a WWII museum. Everybody had fun and Dad was a hero. Yeah Dad! I bought the tickets on Go City, so my wallet thanked me too. Until we got to the gift shop. Oh well, cant win them all.

Unbelievable experience, from the moment we embarked we knew we were in for a treat, so so much history on board, imagining all the tasks done on the ship over the years and how many men and women served our country on this amazing vessel, we are so grateful for them and for having had the opportunity to be on board.

Inside closed due to covid but its still a wonderful site to explore, fascinating piece of history.

Great service, and good information given to me. They do enforce masks, and only the top 5 decks of the ship are open due to covid.

Super cool activity to check out. The cocktails arent very high-end and you cant bring them into the exhibits, but that makes sense because some of the areas have sensitive plants and animals that would probably not appreciate a spill. I can definitely see potential for a special mixology night to let some of the local bartenders showcase their prowess while classing up the beverage selection :-)

Excellent self guided tour of this Historic Battleship. A must visit for anyone staying in Los Angeles. I would allow a couple of hours to make the most of the tour. Moderate level of physical movement needed to traverse the ship.

Great place to take the kids and learn a little US history. Its a great experience being able to tour such an impressive Battleship. There was even some Veterans that were crew members telling you there stories of when they were sailors in the USS Iowa it makes you respect the service they provided even more. Great experience would recommend it to anyone.

I love seeing old military sights. This ship was awesome. Take the guided tour you wont be disappointed. Our tour group even had a person who served on that ship in the 80s which was an added bonus. The volunteers are all still working to restore the ship so it will only get better. This ship was just as cool as the Midway in San Diego.

Beautiful. The history here is so interesting, you can almost feel it when you walk through the halls and corridors of this ship. There’s a lot of signs where you can read about what your looking at, sometimes there are videos to watch. There’s no ac inside some of the hallways so keep that in mind. Wouldn’t recommend going on a very hot day. Gift shop has some nice things and is the last stop you get to once you go through the whole ship. I hope y’all enjoy it as much as we did :)

NICE!! Breathe taking.Awesome machine. Must see. Hope they will open up more rooms later.Want to say thanks to all the soldiers that walk and work on the USS IOWA.

Amazing experience. The entire tour is wonderfully organized. Its a beautiful experience for first timers like me. The whole tour lasts for 2-3 hours depending on how fast you go through. A must for kids.

The USS Iowa Museum is a maritime museum located at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, United States. The museums main artifact is the USS Iowa (BB-61), lead ship of the Iowa class of battleships. USS Iowa (BB-61) was the lead ship of the last class of U.S. Navy battleships to be built by the United States. The battleship was originally commissioned in 1943, and served during World War II, the Korean War, and through the Cold War. Iowa earned 11 battle stars during her career and hosted three U.S. Presidents, ultimately earning the nicknames Battleship of Presidents and Big Stick. Iowa was awarded to the Pacific Battleship Center on September 6, 2011 for display at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California. We visited this museum on August 31, 2019 during our San Pedro trip. It was a great experience. The ship is still in surprisingly good condition. The staff was really nice. They know a lot of information. Overall it was a fun trip.

It was so great to bring my family here. My 4 year old loved the scavenger hunt. If you have a child that isnt able to walk they do require Bjorn type of harness for safety reasons.

Toured on a Monday with my husband and six year old son. They have a special cards for the kids to find Vicky the dog signs and Mark down what parts of the ship they were in. Made it a very fun tour for a little boy. Plan to climb lots of steep stairs up and down. Great ship to your and all the gentleman on the ship offered up great history and stories.

Very cool place. As cool and nice to visit as the Midway in SD

This place is a must to do if you like battleships and some history. Its amazing be able to walk in.

Loved it... Great experience... Great place to take my family and show them the incredible history of the USS Iowa. The docents were great especially Capt Williams. His historical knowledge of the ship was greatly appreciated.

Excellent historical museum. Lots to see, knowledgeable volunteers and staff. Honoring military and sharing history. Worth a visit, and if you live in the area its worth participating as a volunteer!

This is the second time visiting this boat The second visit was the best because we were able to explore the boat further and had a lot of veterans there to talk to you, then have experience being on that boat from years ago. It was Fleet Week today so it was pretty awesome. Labor day weekend.

The Iowa is well worth a visit, or many. Lots of self guided tours in their app. The Victory Dog facts were definitely fun. I couldnt get the AR to work but Id try that again. Lots to see and lots of cool history, plus lots of nice views of the water. Hard to take it all in at once. One tip: park by the Maritime Museum and walk over. The Cruise Terminal charges for parking.

I absolutely love museums and being able to experience them at night is an amazing opportunity. The vibes at nightlife are so classy and elegant. You can grab a drink and walk around casually with your friends. It is such a great date spot. The atmosphere is great and you get a unique experience.

This is the last marker of a bygone era in sailing ships. She can trace her lineage back to ships of the line of the British Empire. She stands as a reminder of a time when sea battles were fought among towering behemoths throwing tons of metal at each other over many miles.Unfortunately her long history, and large amount of required upkeep mute the impact of such a monument to the past. She sits in a neglected post 1980’s retrofit where countless hours of dedicated volunteers have barely managed to stop the metal from corroding. Most of the ship appears to be hastily pulled from the salvage yard. Having been on other museum ships such as the USS Edson where far more was open and what is open to the public was better presented I did feel let down. I know this due to the sheer magnitude of work and funds involved to bring the mighty battleship back to any state that’s even reminiscent of her past glory.I left the ship feeling that time has left her scarred and far from her glory days when her 16” guns were the last argument of liberty loving Americans, but she is well loved by her dedicated team of volunteers and will persist for years to come!

Great place to bring the family. Very knowledgeable volunteers and staff. You will learn a lot about military sea life and the personal history of those who served on this and other ships. WW2 Navy veterans were also present which made the tour come alive. Cherish these precious veterans while they are still with us. A trip to this ship will help you appreciate your country and the freedom we have as a Nation. Do it.

This is a great experience, on a real warship. We can see a lot of history and understand how they live at sea. The ship has multiple floors, and the scenery on each floor is very beautiful. If your timing is right, you may see a cruise ship passing by. What I want to say is that this is not suitable for disabled people, because this is a real ship, and the environment is like this. There are narrow stairs that can go up and down. Definitely worth a look.

The Battleship Iowa is an incredible sight to see! Not only is it a piece of history, but it is an engineering marvel. It is open for self guided tours of the top decks - even during the COVID-19 shutdowns. Take your family and friends and go check it out! Its a great way to get some fresh air and get out of the house!

This is an awesome experience. Well worth it!

Amazing tour, fascinating stories, and a marvel of engineering. Watch your head . I wracked up six on the scouts overnight. Be warned the bunks are cramped, uncomfortable, and claustrophobic for sleeping.

Historically significant, would recommend to learn about our WW2 Heros and veterans

Wonderful tour that leads you through a lot of the ship. Did not get to see the inside of the big guns unfortunately. Staff was very nice and friendly and posted along the tour route.

Great experience. Loved the way general path takes you through the main areas of the ship. Was very interesting. Loved the videos of past crew members at specific points of the ship. The volunteers were knowledge and eager to answer any questions. The briefing of the routes the ship took in its life was very interesting. Do not wear high hills. Be ready to climb steep stairs (ladders). They will store luggage if waiting to go or getting off cruise ship. Have special rate for cruise ship passengers and military.

Great piece of history! The staff and tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable. My kids loved it too

Great place to visit in order to learn and value the history behind this beautiful battleship and the men who served on board. My husband was delighted and acquired the membership in order to return some other day.

Fantastic museum! If youre looking for place to sightsee in LA, youll enjoy this gem. The museum team and volunteers have done a great job creating various displays and they are always adding something new. If you have an interest in ships or military history, definitely check it out. They even have a scavenger hunt for kids to keep them busy. Thanks Dave Way (curator) for an awesome tour!!!!!

An excellent visit onboard an educational and historic vessel. Took us approximately 75 minutes to walk the self-guided tour, thats with time to read signs and take a few photos. You go up and down decks, through doorways and climbing/descending a few steep stairs so perhaps not one for the less able. Worth every penny of the $20 ticket and parking next to the ship is fairly cheap. Thanks to the friendly volunteers who warmly welcomed us aboard and answered questions/gave useful information about various things on the ship.

Absolutely incredible experience! If you have even a slight interest in history I would highly recommend visiting this place. Even the standard tour lets you climb all over the ship. Visit the bridge, mess room, officers quarters, and many more! The Iowa is the sister ship of the famous USS Missouri currently located in Pearl harbor. The Iowa saw action during World war II, Korea, and was updated during the Cold war where it also saw service. Come down and check it out!

Truly fascinating and remarkable. Doug provided us with very interesting information and stories, and we had good conversations. Thanks sir. For us Dutchmen it was very special to be onboard this ship.

An amazing place to learn about the experiences of life in the U.S. Navy asea, as well as the history of an important battleship in U.S. naval history.

Great piece of history, only it was a reduced tour due to covid_19. Could not tour inside of decks.

Lots of great history. Fun educational family trip

I put my head in the main gun and it fired and blew my brains out. (JK) Great museum tho

We did not actually take a tour of the ship but we were able to walk by in the evening time and it was all lit up for the Christmas it was a wonderful view

We attended L.A. Fleet Week in San Pedro. We were able to get a quick lesson on how to use military weapons. Greeted active military men & women. It was an extremely hot day, but it was nice taking pictures on huge military vehicles and holding weapons, and just saying thanks to the men and women for their service. We did not go on the ship because we already toured the ship once before.

This is an awesome sight to behold! The self guided tour it great, many of the ships working have signs on them explaining the purpose of each thing. Excellent chunk of history. Highly recommend!

Took my family here and had an amazing time! My 4 year old loved it and the walkthrough was so much fun getting to go through most of the ship and up and down stairs and ladders. Would definitely come back!

Awesome visit!! Brought back memories 50 years ago.All personal were reserves enjoying helping everyone.They had a little tour for those that were handicapped which I found commondering.%

Great place to visit, low entry charge and very cheap parking compared with other attractions. We spent over 3 hours taking it all in. The self-directed tour is really well laid out, with loads of interesting information panels so you know what you are looking at. The guides were really friendly and interesting to talk to. There is a phone app included too. Come and have a look, you wont regret it.

A lot of history here, both wartime and peace time.

A very impressive ship. The people who show you the was are very nice and are really passionate about their job. Its very interesting and cool to see. When youre done theres a amazing fish place within a 5 minute walk

Self guided tour takes you smoothly and continuously through areas of general interest. Have to sign up for $$tours to see gun and engineering areas. Steep stairs a challenge. App had limited to no capability on board with my carrier (t mobile). Gift shop well stocked. Docents, when available, very helpful and knowledgeable.

The USS Iowa is a wonderful time capsule of our nations past military innovation and technology. The tour includes a good portion of the ship and a chance to see Navy life at sea. Its amazing how much of this technology has been replaced by modern weapons and with it, the reduction of lives on the line.A must see for any military enthusiast, American with pride in their nation or anyone interested in learning more about our past and our fantastic accomplishments.

If you are fan of the Navy, you need to step aboard this vessel. Very friendly staff, amazing history of the ship. Self guided tour was easy to follow and showed us everything we wanted to see on and in the ship. Took us 2 hours to walk through.

Great experience. Staff on scene was great and well informed and made the experience that much more amazing. Meeting some of the men who worked on this ship was an honor and a privilege. I highly suggest getting here and checking out this piece of history and radical machine of power. God bless America.

A glimpse into the past with one of the most legendary war machines ever made that still exists! The self guided tour is excellent and the ship is in great condition.

This was a great experience! It was very interesting to see how the men who served on this magnificent ship lived and worked. Well worth the admission fee. The self guided tour took a couple hours.

Great way to learn some Navy history. I had a good time telling my grandkids want was want for and I learned some stuff about a battleship. The only thing we missed was couldnt go inside cause of the virus. My grandkids would of love it

Really great experience and a lot of history. Worth the visit

We quite enjoyed our self guided tour around this legacy of a battleship! My husband comes from a family of Navy and Military and was able to explain many things to me. I also enjoyed meeting the veterans who were there that day and learning from them. This was an excellent start to our vacation, and so you know, if youre a cruise passenger you get a discount!

Best kept secret in so.cal ! History, technology,and a beautiful location. Low prices and they accept volunteers to operate and maintain this great American icon.

If you have any interest in history, war machines, or the military, there are few better places to just immerse yourself into. I had the privilege to be on a guided tour by CPT. Abele, USN, Ret. And a privilege it was (first and foremost, we thank him for his service). We hit every point of interest and learned about the function, the behind the scene stories, historical context, it made history come alive and give you the immense sense of how these magnificent ships projected our power and provided defense. It was said that the best weapons are the ones you dont need to fire. By having the best, it deters your adversaries from making the wrong calls. Being on these warships makes you feel those words come alive. Hi, take your kids, your parents, your dogs, even. There is a little something for everyone

Incredible history and technology all aboard one of the greatest Naval ships the United States ever built. Memorable experiences for the whole family. Wonderful way to spend a day!

It was amazing to be able to get on and walk through this ship. Seeing how big the guns were as well as some of the more modern missle systems. A very worthwhile tour that climbs up and down several decks of the ship.

Overall it was an amazing exciting visit to discover the swimming fortress from front to back. The engineering and logistics to run a boat with up to more than 2K people is amazing. On the other hand it is frightening what humans come up with to fight each other and the USS Iowa stands out as a memorial of war.Our tip: combine the USS Iowa ticket with the Aquarium or others and save some bucks.

This museum is definitely worth a visit. We actually got to stay overnight on the ship and toured in the evening with the docent - it was amazing. As part of the overnight stay, we got to eat in the mess hall and stay in the actual quarters where the crew members slept. Staying on the ship for the day/night definitely gives you a different perspective on what it might have been like to live on the ship back in the day.

A very important historical learning experience for everyone to vist.