A firefighter sprays water from a hose at a large fire engulfing trees and a structure at night, with thick smoke and intense flames lighting the scene.

Navy ship silhouette with Fire Dept badge overlay and the words Rock for Responders in bold yellow and white text below, honoring veterans, on a blue background with a yellow border.

Poster for Rock for Responders on Feb 27, 2025, at Battleship Iowa, San Pedro, featuring Kings of Chaos, special guests, sponsor logos, and a large battleship illustration honoring veterans.

A group of people in a cafeteria gathers for a surprise celebration; an arrow labeled SURPRISE PARTY VICTIM points to a standing person as others sit or watch. Tables and party food are visible.

Eight people stand in a grand hall with ornate arches and tile floors; one person in the center, halfway there on their journey, uses a walker and holds a plaque with another. Informational display boards are behind them.

Two people work on installing a wooden deck beneath the curved overhang of a large, gray metal structure—possibly part of the historic battleship IOWA—inside a covered area at the museum, with tools and materials scattered around them.

A close-up of a pneumatic tool and rust flakes on a corroded metal surface, with a worker wearing a yellow helmet using tools in the background aboard the historic battleship IOWA in Los Angeles.

Rotted wood and crumbling debris are shown beneath a damaged exterior wall at the museum, revealing extensive decay and deterioration likely caused by moisture or termite damage.

A person in a black hoodie and red gloves kneels on a wooden deck, sanding the surface with a power tool, much like volunteers restoring the historic battleship in Iowa. Tools, cords, and other equipment are scattered nearby.

Wooden deck of a large battleship with metal railings, two large vents, and a ladder on the right. Boats and buildings are visible in the background near a harbor in Los Angeles. Visitors can explore historic naval features or even donate to help preserve this iconic vessel.

Eight men pose in front of a large naval ship docked at a pier, with a bridge, shipping containers, and water in the background. Some men wear navy uniforms while others don casual or commemorative attire, reflecting a strong sense of community among those gathered.

A large gray battleship marked with the number 61 is docked, with flags hanging above. Text reads IOWA EXPRESS EXPERIENCE. Enjoy VIP access and much more at this unique museum! A bridge and palm trees are visible in the background—get ready for an unforgettable experience.

People gather at an outdoor event near the USS Iowa battleship, with tents, tables, and food trucks visible. Some groups attend as part of private events, while others mingle in the lively atmosphere. Many attendees wear sports gear and take photos beneath the sunny sky, adding to the busy scene full of activity.

A group of Navy sailors in white uniforms stand and talk on the deck of a large naval ship during daytime, with ship equipment and city buildings visible in the background—an impressive setting often reserved for private events or special groups.

A group of naval officers and civilians gather on the deck of a ship at a busy port, making it an ideal setting for private events. Cranes and containers fill the background under a partly cloudy sky, highlighting the dynamic atmosphere where groups come together amidst maritime activity.

A group of uniformed military and police officers stand on a ship deck behind a podium labeled LA Fleet Week 2023, with large guns and flags on the ship, and docks visible in the background—an impressive scene often reserved for special Groups or Private Events.

Four smiling women pose in front of a military vehicle, with a uniformed soldier sitting on top. A large navy ship—the Battleship USS Iowa at the Los Angeles museum—stands proudly in the background on a sunny day, while other people walk nearby.

Experience a delicious twist at Vicky’s, where four hot dogs in paper trays are topped with various ingredients like onions, cheese, and chili. Each is served with sides such as tater tots, fries, or onion rings. Condiments and toppings are visible in the background, creating a display worthy of a culinary museum.

Experience the grandeur of a large battleship adorned with decorated flags, docked majestically at the port. Three big cannons are pointed forward as a red helicopter flies nearby. In the background, several green shipping cranes and containers are visible, adding to the vibrant atmosphere—making it feel like you’re visiting a floating museum.

A group of men, some in red uniforms and hats, talk and laugh under a red canopy at an outdoor community event with tents in the background, highlighting the spirit of togetherness and shared programs.

A large ship’s bell hangs on a metal frame aboard a battleship, with the ship’s guns and structure visible behind it. Often maintained by dedicated volunteer crews, the historic vessel rests in view of a shipping port and a green cargo ship beneath a clear blue sky.

Four people stand holding a framed plaque with military emblems at an outdoor ceremony in Iowa. Flags are displayed in the background, and people seated behind them are clapping.

A smiling volunteer in a USS Iowa cap and uniform stands by a decorated sheet cake with an American flag design in a ship galley, with others and supplies in the background.

A group of people on a dock smile and pull a thick rope attached to a large metal weight, with a man in a navy jacket supervising. This engaging activity is part of community programs designed to foster teamwork and learning. A ship and water are visible in the background.

A football player stands in front of a battleship with text promoting a Game Day event, 49ers vs. Rams, on November 9, 2025, aboard Battleship Iowa, honoring and celebrating veterans.

Poster for a fan tail football game on Nov 9, 2025, featuring the 49ers vs Rams, held on Battleship Iowa. Text reads Game Day and Honoring Veterans with a football player and battleship image, celebrating our veterans and their service.

Annual Information

In 2025, Pacific Battleship Center turned several long-planned ideas into operating programs and visible experiences. A new disaster-recovery network launched as Los Angeles faced devastating fires; major deck and hull work protected Battleship IOWA; the Great Ships experience opened for preview; and LA Fleet Week connected service members with communities across the region.

The year showed what the organization had gradually become: not simply the operator of an historic ship, but a platform linking preservation, education, workforce development, veteran transition, public safety, maritime awareness, and civic connection.

A new resilience mission begins during a regional crisis

The year opened under smoke-filled skies. The January 2025 wildfires devastated communities across Southern California, displaced residents, and placed enormous demands on first responders and recovery organizations. Battleship IOWA remained safe, but members of the crew and the wider community were directly affected.

Pacific Battleship Center worked with the City of Los Angeles to support relief and formally launched the Los Angeles Disaster Recovery and Recovery Collective, or LADRRC. The initiative was built on years of Defense Support of Civil Authorities exercises, emergency management forums, and relationships formed through LA Fleet Week. Its purpose was straightforward: connect government, industry, nonprofits, and community organizations before, during, and after a disaster.

The February Rock for Responders benefit concert publicly introduced the initiative as honoring first responders, military personnel, and emergency management partners. By year-end, the LADRRC network included 53 government, industry, and community members. Pacific Battleship Center reported seven public exercises involving local, regional, and national safety agencies, 215 people trained, and more than $130,000 in donated venue use and experience tickets.

IOWA's decks, hull, and historic character

Preservation work reached a visible milestone in 2025. Supported by the State of Iowa, the organization addressed approximately 4,500 square feet of the 01-level deck, including some of the ship's thinnest and most vulnerable steel. The port side was unveiled in March, the remaining work advanced before LA Fleet Week, and the completed refurbishment was formally celebrated in June.

The engineering team also executed below-waterline hull repairs and prepared third-deck spaces for the Great Ships experience. Smaller projects restored pieces of the ship's lived history, including Franklin D. Roosevelt's bosun's chair and a signal light installed to communicate with harbor traffic. Work also advanced on SimPlot, an interactive recreation of the 16-inch gun fire-control process. Together, these projects reflected the two sides of preservation aboard a working museum ship. Structural work protects the platform. Restored equipment, spaces, and operational details help visitors understand how sailors lived and worked aboard it.

The National Museum of the Surface Navy becomes an experience

Construction and exhibit development accelerated throughout the year. The 68-foot Great Ships presentation, intended to interpret more than 600 surface combatants through immersive media, lighting, sound, artifacts, and personal ship connections, was completed for invitation-only receptions in October as the Navy marked its 250th birthday.

The Great Ships opening was not the completion of the National Museum of the Surface Navy. It was proof that the larger idea could be rendered tangible. Work immediately shifted toward the Life of a Sailor experience, an immersive expedition intended to follow the transformation from civilian to trained sailor, technical professional, leader, veteran, and contributor to the wider community.

That approach placed people, not hardware, at the center of the museum. Ships provide scale and drama, but the long-term story is about purpose, teamwork, skill, responsibility, sacrifice, and the relationships formed in service.

Education, veterans, volunteers, and guest experiences

The 2025 annual report recorded 7,643 student program participants and 2,223 overnight-program participants. Hands-on STEAM activities, history programs, guided exploration, and overnight encampments used the ship as a real-world learning environment rather than a conventional classroom.

Military and Veterans Affairs programs reported 7,344 participants, three SkillBridge interns mentored, 15 career-connection engagements, and five veterans organizations with chapters aboard IOWA. Ceremonies included the April 19 memorial, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Pearl Harbor remembrance, K9 Veterans Day, and Navy chief-season activities.

The volunteer crew stayed central to daily operations. A reported 787 volunteers contributed 51,928 hours, valued at approximately $1.81 million. Their work supported restoration, guest engagement, education, events, technical innovation, and the preservation of institutional knowledge.

Across tours and special events, Battleship IOWA reported more than 185,000 guests engaged and 104 events hosted. The organization also welcomed more than 500 visitors from Iowa. It strengthened its national visitor reputation: Tripadvisor named Battleship IOWA a 2025 Travelers' Choice winner, placing it in the top 10 percent of listings worldwide and ranking it No. 7 among things to do in Los Angeles at the time of the announcement.

LA Fleet Week grows beyond the waterfront

LA Fleet Week 2025 demonstrated how far the event had grown beyond a traditional ship-tour weekend. Approximately 1,000 service members connected with communities across Southern California through the waterfront festival, neighborhood activations, civic programs, military demonstrations, STEM activities, ceremonies, competitions, and community-relations projects.

Pacific Battleship Center reported more than 100,000 guests at the LA Waterfront and approximately 250,000 attendees across more than 100 activities citywide. Programs took place in communities across Los Angeles and neighboring cities, bringing sailors and other service members to residents who might never travel to the harbor. The annual report also recorded more than 800 million media and digital impressions. At the same time, post-event survey results found that 94 percent of visitors said they learned something new about the U.S. Navy.

The event's value was not limited to scale. LA Fleet Week gave military and civilian leaders a recurring place to build relationships, helped the public understand the role of the sea services, connected students to STEM and career pathways, and reinforced disaster-preparedness networks that had already proved useful during the January fires.

Connections between Iowa's naval namesakes

The commissioning of the Virginia-class submarine USS Iowa (SSN 797) on April 5 opened a new chapter in the state's naval story. Battleship IOWA helped connect that new ship with its predecessor by providing reclaimed teak for a hand-built display case holding the submarine's commissioning pennant. In August, the pennant was presented to Governor Kim Reynolds during a Veterans Day parade kickoff at the Iowa State Fair.

The gesture linked two very different vessels, generations of sailors, and a state that continued to play an essential role in preserving BB-61. It also demonstrated the museum's broader purpose: to use physical objects and personal relationships to link past service with the fleet of today.

Preparing the next phase

Planning also advanced for the 17,500-square-foot Freedom of the Seas Pavilion and waterfront park. The proposed year-round community and visitor center was designed for education, veterans services, conferences, receptions, and public programs, with flexible spaces that can accommodate hundreds of guests. At the same time, a $500,000 gift from the Timken Foundation launched an Engineering Career Track intended to expand maritime workforce opportunities for students and young adults.

These investments pointed toward a campus model: Battleship IOWA as the historic and immersive platform, the National Museum of the Surface Navy as the interpretive experience, LA Fleet Week as the region-wide public connection, LADRRC as the resilience network, and the Pavilion and park as a year-round place for programs and gatherings.

Why 2025 mattered

Pacific Battleship Center reported approximately $12.47 million in revenue and $7.12 million in expenses for 2025, producing about $5.35 million in net income on an unaudited basis. The result included a year of significant capital support and investment as the organization prepared new museum and waterfront facilities.

The deeper importance of 2025 was visible across the mission. The deck was stronger. A new regional resilience network was operating. The Great Ships experience moved the national museum from renderings to reality. Education, veteran, and workforce programs continued to connect people to opportunity. LA Fleet Week operated at a citywide scale. And the relationship among BB-61 (today's fleet), the State of Iowa, and the Los Angeles community became more tangible.

By the end of the year, Pacific Battleship Center was no longer only preparing for its next chapter. Visitors, sailors, donors, students, veterans, volunteers, and community partners could begin to experience it.

Research basis and further reading

This retrospective consolidates the organization's annual report, dated website updates, and official or independent coverage. Figures are presented as reported by the cited source; annual-report financial figures were identified as unaudited.

Pacific Battleship Center 2025 Annual Report
Southern California wildfire update, January 8, 2025
Rock for Responders and LADRRC announcement, January 30, 2025
Building the National Museum of the Surface Navy, March 10, 2025
01-level deck progress update, March 27, 2025
Preserving the Watch, June 10, 2025
Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice announcement, July 23, 2025
USS Iowa commissioning pennant presentation, August 19, 2025
Great Ships completion update, October 12, 2025
LA Fleet Week 2025 overview

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2025: From Vision to Visible Transformation