Give the Gift of a Visit to Battleship IOWA: Experience Life of a Sailor
Looking for a meaningful gift for a family member, friend, veteran, or former shipmate? Give them something more memorable than another item to unwrap. Give them an experience aboard Battleship IOWA in Los Angeles, where history comes alive and visitors become sailors for a day.
Located on the LA Waterfront in San Pedro, California, Battleship IOWA is one of America's most celebrated historic warships and home of the National Museum of the Surface Navy.
With the new Life of a Sailor experience, a visit is more than a traditional museum tour. It's an opportunity to step aboard an authentic U.S. Navy battleship, discover the people who served at sea, and experience the skills, teamwork, and traditions that connect generations of sailors.
Whether you're celebrating the holidays, a birthday, a special occasion, or simply want to reconnect with someone important, a visit to Battleship IOWA is a gift that creates lasting memories.
More Than a Museum Visit. Become a Sailor for a Day.
Imagine stepping aboard an 887-foot battleship that served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War.
You'll walk the decks where thousands of sailors once served, stand beneath enormous 16-inch guns, explore authentic shipboard spaces, and discover what it took to operate one of America's most powerful warships.
But this isn't just about the ship. It's about the people.
Through the new Life of a Sailor experience, visitors report aboard, receive a sailor assignment, and follow the story of a real Navy sailor. Along the way, they discover skills essential to life at sea, including navigation, seamanship, communication, watchstanding, and damage control.
As they explore, visitors learn how sailors from different backgrounds came together, depended on their shipmates, and found purpose as part of a crew.
Near the end of the journey, guests discover the identity and life story of the sailor they've been following.
It's a powerful reminder that behind every great ship are extraordinary people.
You don't just tour the ship. You join the crew.
A Gift for Family, Friends, and Shipmates
One of the best things about giving an experience is that it means something different to everyone.
For families and children, Battleship IOWA is an opportunity to explore, discover, and learn together. Young visitors can become sailor recruits, participate in interactive activities, and follow Vicky the Dog on a shipboard scavenger hunt.
For friends and loved ones, it's a chance to share an adventure unlike anything else in Los Angeles. Explore the ship together, discover its hidden stories, take memorable photos, and enjoy the views of the nation's busiest port complex.
For veterans and former shipmates, a visit can be especially meaningful. The ship's familiar spaces, traditions, and stories provide opportunities to reconnect with memories of service and share those experiences with family and friends.
For history enthusiasts, few experiences compare to walking through an actual Navy battleship. Instead of simply reading about naval history, visitors can explore the spaces where that history happened.
And for someone who seems to have everything? Sometimes the most meaningful gift is the opportunity to spend time together.
An Experience That Makes a Difference
A gift of a visit to Battleship IOWA also supports something larger.
Operated by the nonprofit Pacific Battleship Center, Battleship IOWA relies on admissions, donations, memberships, and community support to preserve the ship and advance its educational mission.
Every visit helps keep this historic national treasure accessible while supporting programs that honor veterans, educate young people, connect communities, and introduce future generations to maritime careers.
It's a gift that creates memories while helping preserve history.
How to Give the Gift of a Battleship IOWA Experience
Giving someone a visit to Battleship IOWA can be as simple as planning a day together.
Invite a family member, surprise a friend with an outing, reconnect with a former shipmate, or bring someone who's always wanted to explore a battleship.
The self-guided Life of a Sailor experience is included with general admission. Most visitors spend two to three hours exploring seven decks and more than 75 exhibits and displays.
For those seeking something extra, Battleship IOWA also offers special crew-led tours exploring the ship's history, engineering, gunnery systems, and presidential legacy. These experiences have limited availability and should be reserved in advance.
Plan your visit:
- Location: 250 S. Harbor Boulevard, San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA 90731
- Hours: Thursday–Monday, 10 AM–5 PM, with last admission at 4 PM
- Experience: Life of a Sailor, included with general admission
- Recommended time: 2–3 hours
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Parking, and Admission
Battleship IOWA Museum is open Thursday through Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last entry at 4:00 p.m. Special holiday hours and operational changes may apply.
Paid public parking is available adjacent to the museum in the shared LA World Cruise Terminal parking lot. Current posted museum parking information lists the first hour as free, followed by $3 per hour, with a daily maximum of $23. Rates are subject to change.
For cruise passengers, Battleship IOWA is approximately a five-minute walk from the LA World Cruise Terminal, making it a convenient attraction before or after a cruise when time permits.
Traveling from Downtown Los Angeles without a car? The Metro J Line serves San Pedro, with a stop across Harbor Boulevard from the museum. Check current transit schedules before traveling.
For current admission information, special experiences, and visitor details, visit Battleship IOWA’s official visitor page.
Give a Memory. Share an Experience. Honor a Legacy.
The best gifts aren’t always the ones we hold in our hands. Sometimes they’re the places we go, the people we share them with, and the stories we carry home.
This year, invite a family member, friend, veteran, or shipmate to experience something extraordinary.
Give the gift of a visit to Battleship IOWA. Become a sailor for a day and make memories that last a lifetime.
Gift a Visit
Limited time only!
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.