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2022: Ten Years in Los Angeles — and the Future Became Buildable

December 31, 2022 | Year In Review

Two men stand indoors, one proudly holding the Jonathan Williams Award certificate. Behind them is a display promoting the National Museum of the Surface Navy’s 2022 leadership events. A small crowd appears on a screen in the background.
Smiling man with a white beard wears a khaki jumpsuit, black cap, and lanyard, standing in an industrial workshop with tools, cables, and red storage cabinets in the background.
A large tent with red and blue lighting covers rows of white chairs and standing heaters; a few people stand and sit inside, suggesting an event setup at night.
Illustration of a museum exhibit showing people interacting with displays on disaster relief and refugee assistance, featuring photos, screens, and a large central map table.
A man in a USS Iowa cap and plaid shirt smiles while pointing to a framed photo of a naval ship firing guns. A lamp with a striped shade is beside him.
An older man in a suit talks to two seated women who listen intently. Another woman stands nearby, and a man faces away. Theyre under a canopy near water, with food and drinks on the table.
Silhouettes of people stand onshore at night, watching a ship illuminated on dark, stormy waves under a cloudy sky.
A metal work platform is suspended above water by ropes next to a concrete wall. Equipment and cables are visible on the platform and a concrete block floats nearby.
Five women pose and smile on a wooden pier with string lights, cranes, and water in the background. It is daylight, and they are dressed in semi-casual attire, standing close together.
A commemorative coin featuring Battleship Iowa BB-61, an eagle with USS Iowa text, a battleship, a bridge, and the words LEG-X PRAELIA, Commitment, Pride, and Perseverance..
Nine people pose for a group photo indoors; six stand in the back, three sit in front. They are in front of a framed landscape photograph on a white wall, all dressed in business casual attire.
Person in an orange life vest and purple cap inspects or repairs a weathered, rusted metal wall, using a tool along the bottom edge. They are kneeling and wearing gloves in an industrial or maritime setting.
A close-up of a metal tape measure pressed against a rough, dark, and textured surface, possibly concrete or stone, with the tape extending downward.
Worn, rusted metal surface with patches of peeling paint and four round holes in a pattern. There are shades of blue, tan, and brown, and a metal corner with bolts is visible on the right side.
A worker in safety gear sits in a suspended platform next to a large ships hull, with ropes and equipment nearby and floating objects on the water.
View looking up at the superstructure of a navy battleship with blue sky above, signal flags hanging from the mast, and various platforms, railings, and ship equipment visible.
Close-up view of a shiny metallic ships hull with the number 61 visible, sunlight reflecting off the surface, and a partly cloudy sky above.
A cream-colored vintage convertible car with its hood open is parked on the deck of a battleship, with large cannons and a submarine labeled 82 IOWA visible in the background under a blue sky.
A vintage car is being lifted by a crane as several workers in safety gear stand nearby on a dock under a clear sky.
Five vintage cars are parked in a row on a cracked pavement near a large navy battleship, which is docked in the background. A few people are walking nearby under a clear, sunny sky.
Narrow, industrial room with gray metal lockers and empty beige shelves, some with open compartments. Exposed pipes run along the ceiling and a large vertical pipe is in the center. The floor is tiled.
A woman speaks at a podium while two people sit at a table onstage, with an outdoor audience watching. A large ship and palm trees are visible in the background.
Three students sit at a table, building scissor lift models with craft sticks. The boy in front wears a mask and striped shirt, adjusting his model. The background shows a classroom setting.
A group of children stand in line at a cafeteria counter, served by staff in uniform. An adult stands nearby talking to them. The scene appears to be inside a ship or industrial kitchen.
Three people stand on a ship stage holding a framed award. A guitar, microphone, and ship equipment are visible in the background. The scene appears to be part of a naval or military ceremony.
A person wearing safety gear uses a welding torch on metal. The image includes a news banner stating MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH and displays weather and time information at the bottom.
A group of smiling children and an adult pose on a ships deck by the water, with cranes and shipping containers visible in the background on a cloudy day.
A crowd gathers near a military aircraft on a ship deck during LA Fleet Week 2022. The event logo with a ship and bridge is centered over the image. Colorful flags and another ship are visible in the background.
A large crowd gathers on a dock by the water, with many people dressed formally, some applauding, and a few wearing orange vests walking toward a man standing at a podium.
A man in a suit speaks at a podium on the deck of a large naval ship, with microphones in front of him. Another person with gray hair is seen from behind in the foreground.
Athletes in blue uniforms play dodgeball on an outdoor court, with one player mid-throw. Spectators and tents are visible in the background on a sunny day.
An older man in a blue shirt and suspenders plays a trumpet on a ship deck, with maritime signal flags above and a clear blue sky in the background.
A smiling woman stands by a police motorcycle on the deck of a battleship, with large naval gun turrets visible behind her under a clear blue sky.
A smiling person in a USS IOWA BB-61 hat stands by the shore, holding white debris in both hands. A bridge and the sea are visible in the background.
Two classic cars sit on the deck of a battleship with large cannons, a dark blue military plane, and clear skies in the background. The sun shines brightly, casting shadows on the wooden deck.
A large battleship is docked beside a parking lot. PARKING is painted in red on the ground near the ship. Cars and trees are visible; water reflects nearby buildings.
A person in safety gear sits on a small boat near a dock, examining a muddy, barnacle-covered pipe pulled from the water. Industrial cranes and a bridge are visible in the background.
A scout leader and a boy in uniform receive food from two people serving behind a metal counter in an event venue cafeteria-style setting with industrial decor.
A group of people stand on the deck of a large ship, listening to a guide. The sky is blue with some clouds, and the ships metal structure and details are visible around them.
Five people stand on a battleship deck holding a large check for $28,000 made out to Veterans West LA Battleship Iowa. The battleship and clear sky are visible in the background.
A group of people gathered under a tent at a port, two people in the foreground shaking hands, with shipping containers and a large ship visible in the background—a lively scene reminiscent of a museum update unveiling moments of progress and collaboration.
A diverse group of people sit under a large tent, many holding small American flags, likely attending a citizenship or naturalization ceremony. Some are dressed formally, and the atmosphere appears celebratory and official, reminiscent of a memorable museum update that highlights the significance of such moments in American history.
Three men in business attire stand together smiling near a harbor with large shipping cranes and water in the background. It appears to be a sunny day.
Four people stand on stage in formal attire. The man second from left holds an award. Behind them, a screen reads California Trucking Association CEO Eric Sauer, Commerce & Communications Award Recipient..
Four men sit and smile together outdoors at night with a ship and colorful flags in the background. The group appears happy and relaxed, enjoying an event or gathering.
Two women smiling and holding award certificates at a table set for dinner, with a banner in the background reading Freedom of the Seas Awards and a waterfront view behind them.
People are dining at round tables under a large white canopy. A stage with a screen is in the background, and a docked ship is visible outside. The event appears casual and social, with daylight streaming in.
This week, a large outdoor screen shows a Dodgers baseball celebration. The setup is on a waterfront stage with industrial metal structures, shipping containers, and water visible in the background.
An older man in a white naval uniform kneels and smiles with two young children dressed as sailors on a ship deck under a blue sky, capturing the spirit of adventure brought to life by the museum update.
People line up at a hot dog stand called Vicky’s Doghouse on a pier beside a large battleship, part of the recent museum update, decorated with colorful flags and big cannons.
A person wearing protective gear and a welding helmet uses a welding torch on a metal surface, producing bright sparks in an industrial setting—highlighting the dedication and hands-on expertise often discussed in our latest CEO Update.
A presenter stands on a circular stage in a modern auditorium, delivering a CEO Update to an attentive audience. A large screen displays a Navy ship and the National Museum of the Surface Navy logo, while blue lighting highlights the room.
A futuristic museum exhibit, inspired by a recent CEO update, features interactive displays labeled History, Today, and Tomorrow, with people of all ages exploring the exhibits. Blue and white lighting highlights naval imagery in the background.
Close-up of a painted American flag on a battleship deck, with two large cannons and masts visible in the background at sunset. As part of the recent museum update, new exhibits and restorations enhance the scene, while buildings and structures are seen along the horizon.
A battleship fires its cannon at night, producing a bright burst of flame. People watch from the deck and pier, reminiscent of a dramatic scene in a CEO update, with city lights and reflections shimmering on the water.

Annual Information

A decade transformed the ship

In July 2022, Battleship IOWA marked ten years as a museum on the Los Angeles Waterfront. The anniversary connected two very different images of the same vessel: an inactive battleship awaiting a viable future and a public institution serving visitors, students, veterans, volunteers, first responders, and the maritime community.

The museum welcomed 113,948 visitors during the year. Youth participation reached 8,562, and the organization recorded 6,806 direct services, both virtual and in-person. Operations were no longer primarily in emergency mode; the focus shifted toward rebuilding scale and advancing long-term projects.

California made a major capital investment

A defining development was $6.7 million in State of California funding secured with the support of Assemblymember Mike Gipson. The investment supported critical work connected to Battleship IOWA and the National Museum of the Surface Navy.

Funding at that scale represented a vote of confidence in the organization’s public value. IOWA was being treated not simply as a local attraction but as a nationally significant artifact, educational platform, veterans' resource, cultural institution, and anchor of the public waterfront.

The museum vision moved into experience design

Applied Minds was selected to develop the first phase of the National Museum of the Surface Navy experience. That step changed the project from broad aspiration to practical design work: what should visitors understand, what emotional journey should they take, how should stories unfold, and how could immersive media coexist with a preserved ship?

The physical constraints were substantial. New museum experiences had to fit within historic compartments while respecting structure, weight, utilities, egress, fire safety, accessibility, ventilation, and the vessel's character.

Preparing the ship for the future

The crew cleared approximately 10,000 square feet of former bunk spaces and advanced electrical and infrastructure work in support of future museum development. These projects were labor-intensive but strategically important. Exhibit design could not move forward without usable, supportable space.

The work illustrated the distinctive challenge of building a museum inside an artifact. Every wall penetration, cable path, lighting decision, and structural change must balance visitor experience with preservation.

LA Fleet Week and public programs regained momentum

LA Fleet Week returned with more than 65,000 waterfront visitors and more than 70 events. Education, veterans support, first-responder training, community events, and donated admission broadened the organization’s impact beyond traditional ticket buyers.

The annual report recorded eight first-responder training days and 3,447 attendees at 19 community events. These uses reinforced Pacific Battleship Center’s growing identity as a civic platform as much as a museum operator.

A growing national support community

Volunteers contributed 47,202 hours, and the Plank Owner community grew to 9,857 supporters. SkillBridge participation brought transitioning service members into the organization, giving them civilian work experience while adding current military knowledge and discipline to the crew.

The expanding supporter base mattered because the National Museum of the Surface Navy would require national advocacy and philanthropy over many years, not simply a one-time capital campaign.

Preservation became an ethos

Throughout the year, the organization increasingly described preservation as an ethos rather than a maintenance department. The idea extended beyond steel and paint to collections, documents, oral histories, technical knowledge, and institutional memory.

That framing was important for a museum preparing for a larger national role. Preserving the ship without preserving the stories would be incomplete; preserving the stories without protecting the ship would remove the most powerful setting for telling them.

Why 2022 mattered

The tenth anniversary was not simply retrospective. Stronger attendance, major state funding, professional experience design, infrastructure preparation, revived events, and continued program growth made the future museum more credible and more buildable.

A decade earlier, the organization had proven it could save USS IOWA. By the end of 2022, it was proving that the ship could support a national institution.

Research basis and further reading

• Pacific Battleship Center 2022 Annual Report

• State of California funding announcements

• National Museum of the Surface Navy design and development materials

• LA Fleet Week 2022 materials

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Smiling man and child stand on a ship deck near large equipment. Text reads Kids Board Free Launching Labor Day Weekend. Promo details mention free admission for children with a paid adult.

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