“Damn The Torpedoes! Full Speed Ahead!”

An Update on the National Museum of the Surface Navy, at Battleship IOWA

The National Museum of the Surface Navy: Life of a Sailor is more than a museum experience — it’s the living story of service, sacrifice, and spirit that defines every sailor who’s stood the watch.

It’s also the story of all people. Each of us faces trials and challenges that test our strength and shape our purpose. For sailors, those lessons play out at sea, where teamwork, resilience, and courage are forged in real time. The museum connects those universal values to the experiences of everyday life, showing how the sailor’s story belongs to us all.

What makes the Life of a Sailor journey unique is where and how it unfolds. Aboard the historic Battleship IOWA, a ship that once defended freedom on the open seas, visitors will walk the same decks sailors did and feel the heartbeat of life at sea. Immersive exhibits and storytelling bring these spaces to life through real voices, hands-on technology, and powerful cultural touchpoints — from film and music to sports and pop culture — creating bridges between generations. The experience is designed to spark curiosity in young visitors, connect communities, and deepen understanding of the Navy’s enduring role in safeguarding our nation.

As guests progress through the experience, they’ll feel the challenge of becoming a sailor, the pride of belonging to a crew, the grit of deployment, and the growth that comes with leadership and service. They’ll leave with a renewed sense of purpose — ready to carry the watch for freedom and community in their own lives.

We’ve made great progress, but much work remains to reach our opening milestones over the next two years. The story of the Surface Navy — your story — deserves to be told now and for generations to come.

If you’ve ever stood a watch, served alongside shipmates, or supported someone who has, this museum is your legacy. Help us keep the momentum going by sharing the mission, encouraging others to join the Freedom of the Seas Campaign, and ensuring the story of America’s sailors sails on — full speed ahead.

A Sneak Preview: Great Ships

When the lights dim and the sea-blue glow rises, visitors step into a place where time, technology, and legacy converge. Before them stretches a 68-foot-long wall of motion and memory — the Great Ships Showcase — where two and a half centuries of American sea power come alive.

Across its vast high-definition expanse, the Navy’s story unfolds through 15 iconic vessels — from

the age of sail to the nuclear era — each one a symbol of innovation, courage, and command of the seas. Surrounding them, the silhouettes of 90 identifier ships and 200 fleet vessels pulse in rhythm, a living constellation of steel and spirit that represents every sailor who ever took the helm.

This is not a static gallery. It’s an encounter. The Great Ships respond to the curiosity of each visitor — revealing missions, battles, and untold stories that defined our maritime might. You might trace the path of a destroyer through the Pacific, follow the carrier decks where history turned, or discover how a single decision in rough seas changed the fate of a crew.

As guests walk along this lively wall, to their right is another gallery of subtle cultural threads connecting the Navy’s influence to the wider world. You’ll spot a familiar silhouette gleaming in gold — the Starship Enterprise — a tribute to the imagination the Navy inspired far beyond the waterline. This room features a handful of pop-culture references and visuals that spark curiosity, build bridges and pay homage to their naval roots.

More to Come

It’s all hands on deck here at Battleship IOWA, as our crew works to complete the entire phase one build of National Museum of the Surface Navy. Great Ships is just one of eight experiences that make up Life of a Sailor, and we have much work to do in order to open our doors on time. The grand opening will take place during Los Angeles Fleet Week, Southern California’s largest Memorial Day Weekend Event. We will open our doors for the first time in the presence of active duty Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, other military, veterans, and over 100,000 visitors that come out to the Los Angeles Waterfront for the weekend activities.

In the next issue, we plan to share a more in-depth preview about the National Museum of the Surface Navy: Life of a Sailor experience.

We Need Your Support

Your generosity keeps this vision moving forward. While every gift strengthens our mission, legacy gifts, annual gifts, and scholarships make the greatest impact by helping us plan boldly, preserve stories, and open doors to opportunity for those we serve. If you’d like to explore the type of involvement that best matches your interests, please reach out to Kyle Aube on our Development team at kaube@surfacenavymuseum.org — we’d be honored to connect with you.