Accessibility & Safety
Battleship IOWA Museum is committed to providing a welcoming, safe, and enjoyable experience for all guests, including visitors with disabilities.
As an authentic World War II-era Navy battleship, IOWA was designed for military service rather than public visitation. Her original construction includes steep ladders (stairs), narrow passageways, raised watertight door thresholds, uneven decks, and low overhead clearances.
Throughout the ship, visitors will encounter raised thresholds known by sailors as "knee knockers." These 6–8-inch barriers were designed to maintain watertight integrity but can present challenges for guests with limited mobility.
While accessibility improvements have been made, the ship's historic design limits access to certain areas. We encourage guests to review the information below before visiting.
Accessibility for Guests with Disabilities
Wheelchair and Mobility Device Access
Portions of Battleship IOWA's exterior Main Deck are accessible to guests using wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility devices, subject to boarding conditions.
Due to narrow passageways, steep ladders, and raised thresholds, guests using wheelchairs and walkers are generally limited to exterior Main Deck areas. Some exhibits and experiences may not be accessible to all visitors.
Chairlifts
Battleship IOWA has installed three chairlifts to improve accessibility to certain shipboard areas, including the Captain's Cabin on the 01 Level and exhibit spaces on the Second and Third Decks.
Chairlift availability and use are subject to operating conditions, equipment limitations, and safety requirements. Chairlifts do not provide wheelchair-accessible routes to these decks.
Wheelchair Availability
Battleship IOWA does not provide wheelchairs for guest use or rental. Guests requiring a wheelchair should bring their own.
Physical Assistance
For the safety of our guests, employees, and volunteers, museum personnel are not authorized to push occupied wheelchairs up or down boarding gangways, lift or carry guests, or manually transfer guests between mobility devices or shipboard levels.
Guests who require physical assistance are encouraged to bring a companion who can safely assist them. A companion is not automatically required simply because a guest uses a wheelchair or other mobility device.
Our crew is available to provide directions, accessibility information, and assistance with reasonable accommodation requests.
Gangway Boarding & Safety
Battleship IOWA is a floating vessel.
Unlike a conventional building, the ship moves in response to tides, wind, passing vessel wakes, and other harbor conditions. As a result, boarding gangways may move or shift unexpectedly, and their angle of incline can change throughout the day.
These conditions can present additional challenges for guests using wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes, or other mobility devices.
ALL GUESTS BOARD AT THEIR OWN RISK.
Guests are responsible for exercising caution, using available handrails, and following posted signs and crew safety instructions when boarding, departing, and moving throughout the ship.
Museum personnel may temporarily restrict access when conditions present a safety concern. Guests with mobility limitations are encouraged to contact Guest Services before visiting to discuss boarding conditions and available accommodations.
Reasonable Accommodations
The Pacific Battleship Center is committed to considering reasonable accommodations that allow guests to experience Battleship IOWA as fully and safely as possible while respecting the ship's historic construction and operational limitations.
Available options may include accessible exhibit information, alternative visitor resources, and other reasonable modifications.
Service animals are welcome in accordance with applicable federal and California law.
Guests with specific accessibility needs are encouraged to contact Guest Services before their visit.
Family & Child Safety
Visiting Battleship IOWA can be a memorable family experience. Children of all ages are welcome, and our Life of a Sailor experience includes Vicky the Dog's Scavenger Hunt, offered at no additional charge with general admission.
However, Battleship IOWA is an authentic military vessel with steel decks, steep ladders, raised thresholds, and equipment originally designed for naval operations.
Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising children at all times. Running, roughhousing, and climbing on equipment outside designated experiences are not permitted.
Strollers and Child Carriers
Stroller use is limited to exterior Main Deck areas. Stroller parking is available.
For younger children, we recommend front-mounted child carriers rather than backpack carriers because of low overhead clearances around shipboard ladders.
Adults may not carry children by hand up or down the ship's ladders. Children who cannot safely climb ladders independently must remain on the Main Deck with a supervising adult unless secured in an appropriate child carrier.
General Shipboard Safety
Guests are encouraged to:
- Wear comfortable, secure footwear with good traction.
- Use available handrails when boarding and climbing ladders.
- Watch for raised thresholds, uneven decks, and low overhead clearances.
- Walk carefully and remain on designated visitor routes.
- Follow all posted signs and crew instructions.
- Contact a crew member if assistance or an early exit from the tour route is needed.
- Some areas may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, preservation work, weather, or operational requirements.
Our goal is to provide an enjoyable and authentic museum experience while protecting the safety of everyone aboard.
Questions About Accessibility?
We want every guest to have the opportunity to experience Battleship IOWA as fully and safely as possible.
If you have questions regarding accessibility, wheelchair use, boarding conditions, chairlifts, or reasonable accommodations, please contact us before your visit.
Battleship IOWA Museum
250 S. Harbor Blvd.
San Pedro, CA 90731
Phone: 877-446-9261
Help Improve Accessibility
The Pacific Battleship Center continues to seek opportunities to improve accessibility while preserving the historic character of Battleship IOWA.
We are actively seeking funding to support additional accessibility improvements.
If you are interested in supporting these efforts, please contact development@labattleship.com or call 877-446-9261, extension 709.
Safety
Visiting Battleship IOWA can be a very rewarding family experience. Children of all ages are welcome. Younger kids love the “Victory the Dog Scavenger Hunt,” and it is available, at no additional cost, at the beginning of your Battleship IOWA Museum experience.
Parents and guardians must supervise children at all times. Running and roughhousing are not permitted while on board. We point this out this is for safety reasons. The battleship will not be damaged if your child falls on the deck, but we do not want your child to suffer the consequences of falling or running into an object that was built to withstand enemy gunfire. Our staff makes the point, ‘Everything on the IOWA was made stronger than any part of your child’s body!’
Stroller parking is available at Battleship IOWA Museum. The use of strollers is limited to Main Deck exterior spaces only. For small children, we suggest the use of a front carrier (Baby Bjorn-type). Due to the low overheads (ceilings) around the ship's ladders, small children in backpack carriers are subject to hitting their heads as their parents negotiate the stairways which is why we suggest the front-loading carrier. Adults are not allowed to carry children up or down stairs unless they are in a carrier. If the child or children are not in a carrier and cannot climb stairs safely on their own, then the child and a guardian must remain on the main deck of the ship.
Designed as a military ship, Battleship IOWA Museum is a unique, authentic experience in which you traverse the same decks and stairways the sailors did when she was active.
However, please don’t try to act like a sailor by running throughout the ship. The sailors were acclimated to these conditions and were able to move quickly from one part of the ship to another.
If at any time you would like to exit the tour route, please locate a Battleship IOWA crew member and they will assist.
We are actively searching for accessibility funding.
If you are interested, please contact development@labattleship.com or call 877-446-9261 ext. 709 to discuss the opportunity.
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.