Some museums boast of being living history, but the Maritime Museum can attest that it is floating history. Located along downtown San Diego's Embarcadero, the museum is a collection of seafaring vessels, from large sailing ships to old-school yachts and Navy submarines that you can explore—and sometimes even ride on short voyages.
Ships to see at the Maritime Museum
The museum focused primarily on one historic ship, the Star of India, when it first opened in 1948, but today comprises nine permanent exhibits and a variety of rotating exhibits. The Star of India still makes a good place to start your visit: The iron-hulled 1863 sailing ship is a State and National Historic Landmark and the oldest active ship in the world.
To go even further back in history, embark upon one of a series of excursions that the museum offers. Whether you opt for one of the multi-day adventures or one of the four-hour day sails, you’ll be boarding the San Salvador, a replica of explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s ship that arrived at the port now known as San Diego on September 28, 1542. During these cruises, an onboard historian will add fascinating historical context, and guests can even learn how to steer a galleon with a whipstaff while assisting the sail crew. Military buffs will also love the USS Dolphin, the U.S. Navy submarine that holds the record for the deepest dive. Lookie-loos, meanwhile, can’t resist the Medea, a steam yacht from the Gilded Age.
“Visitors often remark about how the Maritime Museum of San Diego is unlike any other museum they’ve visited,” says Dr. Raymond Ashley, president and CEO of the museum. “Each vessel is like a time machine into a different world—going from ship to ship is like going on a series of voyages through time.” Kids especially love this fresh-air museum, even if they never leave the dock—getting an up-close look (and touch) aboard these vintage ships and feeling them rocking slightly as they explore.
How to visit the Maritime Museum
Entrance to all exhibits is included with general admission, and for as little as $10 more, visitors can enjoy a 45-minute narrated bay cruise on the 1914 San Diego Harbor Pilot boat or a 75-minute Naval History Bay Tour aboard the Vietnam-era US Naval PCF 816 Swift Boat (starting at $15).
Check out special exhibits, too, like the Art of Navigation, which showcases fascinating instruments, charts, and voyage accounts from European exploration voyages. During these 16th-century sailings—also the early days of the Scientific Revolution—these instruments were considered cutting-edge technology.
The museum hours of operation are daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets may be sold until 4 p.m. for same-day visits.
More things to do in San Diego
Located just outside downtown San Diego, the Maritime Museum of San Diego makes an easy stop during any San Diego vacation. Nearby, you can explore another floating museum—the USS Midway—then grab a bite or a cocktail in the city’s Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy.
You can also take to the local waters in more ways by going on these San Diego boat rides, kayaking off the city’s coastline, or enjoying some San Diego-style paddleboarding.