Three smiling women pose together indoors at a Veterans Update event. Two wear dark coats, and one wears a yellow and purple coat. A band performs in the background, while city lights twinkle through large windows behind them.

A smiling man wearing a black beret plays an electric bass guitar at an indoor Veterans Update event. A drummer sits nearby, and a ship with an American flag is visible through large windows behind them.

View from the deck of a battleship looking toward a harbor with calm blue water, several boats docked, buildings along the shoreline, and a clear sky with clouds in the distance. An American flag is visible on the ship—capturing a scene reminiscent of a CEO Update, where progress and stability are reflected both on deck and across the horizon.

A large gray battleship is docked near a green suspension bridge, with smaller boats nearby and shipping containers visible in the background under a clear blue sky, offering a scene reminiscent of a CEO Update on bustling port operations and maritime strategy.

A row of large, gray industrial control panels with switches, dials, and warning labels inside a facility stands ready for operation. Announcements regarding system status are often posted nearby to ensure safety and awareness. One panel has a red tag attached to its handle. The floor and ceiling feature exposed industrial piping.

An architectural site plan showing a ship docked by a waterfront, adjacent green spaces, paths, buildings, parking lot, and landscaped areas with trees and walkways highlights designated zones for announcements and community gathering.

Architectural site plan showing a community building, open park spaces, walkways, trees, parking, and access to a waterfront. The layout is labeled with functional areas and pathways for visitors, with dedicated announcements areas strategically placed throughout the site for sharing community news and events.

A man in blue coveralls stands in an industrial room with large pipes, gauges, and machinery. The area appears clean and organized, suggesting a professional work environment—an ideal setting for a CEO update on operational excellence and workplace standards.

A man in a yellow shirt stands in a colorful, crowded engine room with machinery, pipes, and gauges. Wearing a camera harness and an ID badge, he looks toward the camera—capturing the environment as part of a special CEO Update.

A person in a light uniform and cap walks on the deck of a naval ship, holding a drink, perhaps taking a moment to reflect after delivering the latest CEO Update. Large machinery and hoses are visible in the background.

Three people in navy blue uniforms kneel and work on a red fire hose system on the deck of a ship, surrounded by pipes and safety equipment under a clear sky, as part of the Hull Preservation 2021 initiative.

Seven people in casual attire and face masks stand around a podium on the deck of the USS Iowa battleship during the Hull Preservation 2021 event. Some wear hats or uniforms, and there are flags and ship equipment in the background.

Two older men wearing masks sit in front of a wall of vintage electronic equipment with dials, switches, and screens. One holds a control device on their lap. Both appear to be engaged in technical work or discussion, possibly as part of the Hull Preservation 2021 project.

Three people wearing masks stand in front of a large blue shipping container tilted off a truck, as if overseeing the scene for a CEO update. The setting appears to be outdoors, with vehicles and palm trees visible in the background.

A black helicopter hovers above a ship as people rappel down ropes; several others in uniform stand and walk nearby. Overcast sky, bridge, and docked ships are visible in the background, setting a dramatic scene akin to critical moments highlighted in a CEO Update.

A man sits on top of a green ladder holding cables and tools, inside a light-colored industrial room with pipes and beams, preparing for an important CEO update.

A black and gray patrol boat with the number 8221 is next to a dock, viewed from above. Several people in dark uniforms are on board, and the boat stirs the water as it maneuvers alongside the pier.

A person looks down from a dock, immersed in their own sea story, while another person in a life vest works with ropes on a floating platform next to a large ship.

A person wearing a life jacket stands on a small, flat boat loaded with yellow items in a harbor, as if part of a real-life Sea Story, with a large gray ship and palm trees visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

A blue shipping container with two windows and an open doorway sits on wooden blocks in an outdoor area, resembling the kind of workspace often highlighted in a CEO Update, with another container and industrial equipment visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

A room with exposed pipes, tan lockers, yellow walls, and green metal bed frames lying flat on the floor. The space appears to be old and somewhat industrial, reminiscent of a facility that might once have supported a Veterans Resource Center or offered veteran support services.

Industrial basement room with exposed pipes, support columns, peeling green floor tiles, brown storage cabinets, and scattered tools on the ground. The area appears to be under maintenance or renovation for a future Veterans Resource Center.

A large group of people gathers on the deck of a battleship docked at a harbor, socializing near tables, with the ships large cannons visible and an overcast sky above.

A woman stands and points at a chart on the wall while two people sit at a table listening. The table holds papers, notebooks, and markers. The room appears to be a workshop or classroom with industrial decor.

People, including veterans, walk between vendor tents set up on the deck of a large battleship, with cannons and ship structures visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

Three uniformed military personnel stand at attention and salute at a ceremony under a tent. A person stands at a podium nearby, delivering a CEO Update, with red, white, and blue bunting adorning the stage.

People, including several veterans, sit and work at tables in a classroom filled with papers and folders. One woman writes, while others stand or sit nearby. The room has fluorescent lights and a projector screen at the front.

A woman in a white dress and military hat delivers a CEO Update at a podium on a covered outdoor stage. There are items arranged on the stage, with a large tent and fence visible in the background.

Two elderly men in blue shirts and hats sit facing each other, talking, inside a ship. In the background, people—including children with backpacks—gather beneath metal pipes and beams, their attention partly drawn to a colorful Welcome Sign Campaign displayed nearby.

A person in blue overalls, participating in the Welcome Sign Campaign, uses a heat gun and a scraper to remove old flooring from a narrow hallway while sitting on an overturned bucket.

Three boys wearing masks look at a large map on a table while an adults hands use a ruler to measure. The scene appears to be in a classroom or lab with various equipment in the background.

Two boys work on a craft project with cardboard tubes and tape at an orange table in a room with blue chairs. Water bottles, scissors, and cardboard pieces are also on the table.

Six children wearing masks stand and kneel outdoors by a whiteboard under a tent, each holding objects wrapped in foil. A ship and ocean are visible in the background. The whiteboard welcomes participants to Battle Trip activities.

A smiling man in a blue shirt stands in front of a large battleship with three big cannons under a bright sky, the sun shining behind his head, as if posing for a CEO Update.

A diverse group of people smiling and holding certificates and U.S. flags at a citizenship ceremony under a white tent, with a ship visible in the background, embody the spirit of the Welcome Sign Campaign.

Six people, including a child holding an American flag, stand smiling in front of large naval guns on a battleship deck under a clear blue sky, proudly participating in the Welcome Sign Campaign.

A food stand made from a shipping container with two red awnings and a sign reading Mickys Doghouse featuring a cartoon dog in a chefs hat. Nautical flags and yellow caution tape are visible outside.

Three smiling adults pose outdoors at an event, two wearing tan USS Iowa BB-61 hats and one wearing a red RED Support Sake Foundation shirt. People and a stage are visible in the background.

A diverse group of people, some in military hats, pose and smile together on the deck of a battleship with large cannons and machinery visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Two women talk near a large gray battleship. One faces the camera and gestures, wearing a red mask and shirt. The other woman, in a black top, faces away. Flags hang along the ship, and cars are parked nearby.

An older man in sunglasses and a navy shirt holds a Volunteer of the Quarter certificate from the Pacific Battleship Center while standing on a ship deck, with crew and cranes visible in the background.

Event poster for the Freedom of the Seas awards dinner, showing event details, sponsor logos, and photos of three awardees: Robert C. OBrien, Michelle Howard, and Eric Garcetti. Chef Andre Rush is also featured.

Six people, including some in military uniforms, stand together on a dock in front of a sign that reads California with a bear. A cloudy sky and water are in the background.

A group of people gather around a roulette table, placing bets with chips. One man holds a drink, while a woman wearing a mask stands nearby. The croupier watches the players.

Five people pose for a group photo in front of blue curtains. Four younger adults sit on stools, while an older woman stands and smiles in the center. All are dressed formally.

Two men in work uniforms stand in a workshop, talking near a large metal table. Tools, equipment, and supplies are visible around them, and sunlight streams through a window.

A person in protective gear welds a metal structure at night, standing on wooden pallets. The scene is illuminated by bright welding sparks near a ramp or bridge. Tools and equipment are scattered on the ground nearby.

A man wearing a lei takes a selfie at an outdoor event with tables of people in the background at sunset. Industrial equipment is visible nearby, lending the scene a unique blend of festivity and professionalism—an atmosphere reminiscent of a lively CEO Update gathering.

A group of people wearing navy shirts and badges pose at a booth with flags, brochures, and memorabilia. One person is seated at the table; others stand behind him. A silver car and banners are visible in the background.

Museum exhibit with historical photos, a mannequin in a navy uniform, informational displays, and a wooden chair. Overhead lighting and visible pipes create an industrial atmosphere.

A ship deck with peeling paint, safety cones, caution tape, a broom, and a AUTHORIZED ACCESS ONLY sign near a hatch. Some tools and cables are scattered on the ground.

A group of people stand on an outdoor stage under a white canopy, some in military uniforms. Several people watch from the audience in front. The sky is clear and blue.

Five people stand side by side on a battleship deck; two in Navy uniforms, three in business attire. Large ship cannons are visible behind them under a clear blue sky.

A woman speaks at a podium labeled U.S. House of Representatives on a ship, with American and California flags beside her, addressing a seated audience.

A blue and gold U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Los Angeles banner stands on a battleship deck with large naval guns and ship equipment visible in the background.

Annual Information

Reopening was a rebuilding process

Battleship IOWA entered 2021 with travel, schools, events, and public confidence still affected by the pandemic. Reopening required more than unlocking the gate. Staff had to be rebuilt, volunteers retrained, programs restarted, health procedures maintained, and visitors invited back without assuming that 2019 attendance would quickly return.

The museum welcomed 74,502 visitors during the year. That remained far below pre-pandemic levels, but every returning tour, youth group, event, and volunteer shift helped restore the operating rhythm that preservation and programming depended on.

Vicky’s Doghouse changed the visitor experience

The organization designed, built, and opened Vicky’s Doghouse, a food-and-gathering venue inspired by IOWA’s wartime canine mascot. The concept connected hospitality with history while giving visitors and waterfront guests a reason to spend more time aboard.

The project also reflected a broader strategy: revenue-producing experiences could support mission work while making the ship feel more welcoming. Events, food service, and gathering spaces were not separate from preservation; they helped fund it.

Veterans West moved direct service to the center

Pacific Battleship Center established and launched Veterans West, becoming the Veteran Peer Access Network provider for Los Angeles County Supervisorial District 4. The Veterans Resource Center opened aboard the ship, creating a dedicated place where veterans and families could connect with peers and services.

The annual report recorded 6,580 direct services, both virtual and in-person. This was a substantial shift in identity. The organization was no longer just a museum that welcomed veterans; it was also operating a service network that leveraged the ship's trust, familiarity, and community to help veterans navigate present-day needs.

The inaugural Freedom of the Seas Awards

The first Freedom of the Seas Awards brought together government, military, business, and community leaders from around the country. The program recognized service and leadership while also giving the organization a national platform for explaining the idea behind the future museum.

Freedom of the seas connects maritime security with trade, humanitarian response, diplomacy, and everyday economic life. Framing recognition around that principle helped Pacific Battleship Center communicate why the Surface Navy matters beyond naval history.

Community activity returned

The museum hosted 3,447 attendees across 19 community-open events and served 1,585 on-site groups and programs. Youth participation in day and overnight programs, including STEM experiences, reached 3,643. Nine first-responder training days also reinforced the ship’s value as a complex, realistic training environment.

These uses demonstrate that reopening was not one-dimensional. Tourism, education, events, public safety, veterans' support, and community gatherings all returned at different rates.

Preservation and volunteers kept pace

Volunteers contributed 43,780 hours during the year. Preservation included a ten-week hull effort and continuous shipboard maintenance. The work took place while the organization was still rebuilding staffing and revenue, underscoring how dependent the museum remained on volunteer expertise and commitment.

The ship also marked a decade since the rescue and relocation campaign. Looking back at the years in the reserve fleet put the 2021 recovery in perspective: the organization had already survived one seemingly impossible challenge by relying on persistence, volunteers, and community support.

Why 2021 mattered

Battleship IOWA reopened, but Pacific Battleship Center did not simply recreate its 2019 operating model. Vicky’s Doghouse, Veterans West, the Veterans Resource Center, the Freedom of the Seas Awards, first-responder training, and a rebuilt event business expanded the organization’s role.

The year demonstrated that recovery could be used to redesign the institution rather than merely restore it.

Research basis and further reading

• Pacific Battleship Center 2021 Annual Report

• Veterans West and VPAN program materials

• Freedom of the Seas Awards materials

• Pacific Battleship Center internal reopening and operating correspondence

Limited time only beginning on September 5, 2026!

Kids Board Free

In the all-new Life of a Sailor experience, kids become sailor recruits, building their skills, following the story of a famous sailor, and joining Vicky the Dog on a scavenger hunt through Battleship IOWA.

Kids board free with a paid adult.

Learn About the Experience

2021: Reopening Battleship IOWA Without Returning to the Old Normal