{"id":24660,"date":"2020-07-15T10:44:51","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T14:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/?p=24660"},"modified":"2024-03-24T18:15:11","modified_gmt":"2024-03-24T18:15:11","slug":"los-angeles-has-a-battleship-all-aboard-the-uss-iowa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/los-angeles-has-a-battleship-all-aboard-the-uss-iowa\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes, Los Angeles Has a Battleship: All Aboard the USS Iowa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Visiting a navy battleship probably isn\u2019t the first thing that comes to mind when talking about a trip to Los Angeles, but there is one ship you should visit while you\u2019re here. It\u2019s a historic battleship visited by presidents and the only one on the West Coast that is open to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battleship USS Iowa is a retired battleship now docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, a community on the southern tip of the city of Los Angeles.  It\u2019s been rated one of the \u201cBest Cool Exhibits to See With Your Kids\u201d<\/a> by CBS Los Angeles. Want to know why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn about the history of this ship, what makes it special, and what you can see on board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Aboard the USS Iowa<\/h2>\n\n\n
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There are four Iowa-class battleships in the world, and all have been turned into museum ships around the country. The USS Iowa, though, is special as it is the first of its class \u2014 known as the \u201clead ship,\u201d if you want to use the lingo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The History of the Battleship of Presidents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Identified by its hull number, BB-61, the USS Iowa Battleship was built in 1942 in Brooklyn, New York, and has served in four wars. It\u2019s unique as the only Iowa-class battleship that served in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. The ship was also used in raids during the Korean War. It was eventually decommissioned in 1990 and then found a new purpose in 2012 when it opened as a museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

USS Iowa is the battleship that has hosted the most presidents, hence its nickname, the Battleship of Presidents. During the ship\u2019s 70 years of service, the USS Iowa hosted three presidents: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Captain\u2019s Cabin on USS Iowa has the only bathtub installed on a U.S. Navy battleship. It was installed for President Roosevelt since he was suffering from polio and hot baths were thought to be therapeutic<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People sometimes ask if the USS IOWA can be reactivated. The short answer is \u2014 technically yes. The USS Iowa was removed from the Naval Vessel Register (which allowed the ship to become a museum ship) and both the Navy and Marine Corps had certified that it would not be needed in any future war. However, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2007 required the battleship to be kept and maintained in a way that it could be returned to active duty — you know, just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fun fact: This ship had another nickname during the Cold War, \u201cBig Stick.\u201d Apparently the nickname referred to Roosevelt\u2019s view on foreign policy: \u201cspeak softly and carry a big stick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to See and Do Aboard<\/h3>\n\n\n
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It\u2019s one thing to read about history and another to walk the same ship the sailors did. The battleship is over 880-feet long and can house a crew of 2,800. There\u2019s plenty to see and a lot of history to take in, but wear your good shoes. There are a lot of steps to climb if you want to explore all levels of the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for something a little unique, take a gander at the ship\u2019s weaponry. The vessel carries the largest guns on any U.S. Navy battleship \u2014 nine 16-inch 50 caliber Mark 7 guns. Each one can fire a 2,700-pound armor piercing shell that can penetrate up to 30 feet of concrete. It\u2019s pretty impressive to see in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you visit, be sure to head up to the missile deck and the helicopter deck for another interesting find: a Korean War-era helicopter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are signs all around the ship explaining the history of what you\u2019re seeing and what life was like on the ship, but for the best tour experience, we recommend also downloading the app for an interactive tour<\/a>. You don\u2019t have to be glued to your device, though. The ship is staffed with a few volunteer veterans eager to share their personal stories with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The USS Iowa for Families<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is a great place for families if you want a museum-like experience that\u2019s not your normal framed-art-on-a-wall tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kids will enjoy seeing the guns and helicopter and other artifacts as well as simply the fun of being on a ship, but there\u2019s something especially made for younger visitors. You can let them do their very own USS Iowa scavenger hunt \u2014 just ask one of the staff about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scavenger hunt involves following the ship\u2019s floppy-eared mascot, Vicky the Dog, throughout the battleship. Vicky, short for Victory, has been part of the crew since the battleship was commissioned in 1943, reportedly brought on board by Captain John L. McCrea per his wife\u2019s request. This popular pup hobnobbed with some important people and slept at the foot of President Roosevelt\u2019s bed during the president\u2019s trip, so he\u2019s a perfect guide for any young explorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting the USS Iowa: What It Costs, Where to Eat, and More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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