Things to do nearMaritime Museum of San Diego

The Maritime Museum of San Diego was established in 1948 with the preservation of the Star of India, an iron-hulled barque built in 1863 that remains the oldest active sailing ship in the world. That founding mission, to save vessels that would otherwise be lost, has shaped the museum into one of the most significant maritime collections in the United States. The collection has grown over the decades to include more than a dozen historic ships and boats, each representing a distinct chapter in naval and commercial seafaring history.

Visitors can board and explore nearly every vessel in the fleet. The Berkeley, a 1898 steam-powered ferryboat, houses the museum's main exhibit galleries and tells the story of San Diego's deep ties to the Pacific. The B-39, a decommissioned Soviet submarine, offers a sobering look at Cold War-era life beneath the waves, with original equipment still in place throughout its cramped interior. The HMS Surprise, a full-scale replica of an 18th-century Royal Navy frigate, will be familiar to fans of the film Master and Commander.

The museum's setting along the Embarcadero adds to its appeal. The bay views from the upper decks are sweeping, and the proximity to San Diego's waterfront dining and the neighboring USS Midway Museum makes the area a natural destination for a half-day or full-day outing. Docents stationed aboard the ships bring the vessels to life with personal knowledge and seafaring stories that go well beyond the written placards.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego rewards curiosity at every turn, offering a tangible, hands-on connection to the ships, the sailors, and the voyages that shaped the Pacific world.