MARITIME MUSEUM OF SAN DIEGO
Walk the decks of the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s historic fleet, afloat on San Diego Bay, representing 500 years of seafaring history
TOUR THE BAY AND SAIL, EXPLORE OUR CONNECTION WITH THE SEA Maritime Museum of San Diego Sdmaritime.org
At the area’s waterfront Maritime Museum of San Diego moors a worldclass collection of historic sailing ships, steam-powered boats, and submarine. As one of the nation’s best maritime museums, it enjoys an international reputation for restoring, maintaining, and operating sea-faring vessels—some listed as California State Landmarks and National Historic Landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places. Four historic vessels take passengers aboard for on-the-water adventures.
Learn About the Age of Sail
Lovers of storytelling and maritime history can explore 16th-, 18th- and 19th-century sailing ships. The world’s oldest active sailing ship, the 1863 Star of India, circled the globe 21 times. This San Diego icon celebrates her 160th birthday this year.
Explore the mighty gun decks of the H.M.S. Surprise, an 18th-century Royal Navy frigate replica and stage to the Oscarwinning movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. The San Salvador is a replica of the galleon that explorer Cabrillo sailed into San Diego Bay in 1542, discovering America's West Coast. California’s official tall ship, Californian, is also docked at the museum. She is a replica of the 1847 Revenue Cutter C.W. Lawrence, which patrolled the coast of California enforcing federal law during the Gold Rush.
Maritime History Comes Alive
Steamships include an 1898 steam ferryboat, Berkeley, a California State Historic Landmark and National Historic Landmark. The 1904 Royal Navy steam yacht, Medea, is one of the last active WWI warships. Plus, the world’s deepest diving sub, the 1968 USS Dolphin, amassed many naval accomplishments and you can venture underwater to explore.
Adventure Alive Ashore and at Sea
Find entertaining, educational exhibits aboard many vessels with daily dockside self-guided tours and docent-led group tours. You can also add on-the-water excursions, such as a 45-minute harbor history cruise on the 1914 harbor Pilot boat or Naval history tour aboard Vietnam-era PCF 816 Swift boat on San Diego Bay.
For sailing enthusiasts, the museum offers four-hour weekend sails aboard the Californian and San Salvador. For a truly unique step-back-in-time sailing vacation, book the multi-day ocean-going San Salvador Pacific Heritage Tour.