Maritime Museum of San Diego

The Maritime Museum of San Diego is the region’s only waterfront maritime museum with an impressive historic collection of national landmarks and vessels that also offers on visitors a host of on-the-water adventure options. The Maritime Museum enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining and operating historic vessels, including the world’s oldest active ship, Star of India. Tour 500 years of seafaring history as you step from deck to deck….from sail to steam to submarine.

General admission tickets open a whole new world – tour ALL museum vessels plus art, photography, ship model, and maritime exhibits below deck too. The Museum displays permanent and temporary exhibits on maritime history, commerce and exploration

For extra fun, head out to the San Diego Bay for a high-speed naval history tour – only $10 with general admission ticket purchase. You’ll learn more about San Diego Bay and or deep military roots.

The Museum staff produce popular public events year round including the popular family overnights aboard Star of India.

Are you up for a tall ship sailing experience? Then join the Maritime Museum sail crew for an afternoon sail aboard the tall ship schooner Californian and galleon replica San Salvador. The Museum staff and volunteers built these ships right here in San Diego. So, grab your friends and family and head out for a weekend you will never forget. Jump in and join in with the crew or just sit back and enjoy the beautiful maritime wildlife.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego historic vessel collection includes the National Historic Landmark Victorian-era steam ferryboat Berkeley, 1863 barque rig Star of India, 18th century royal navy frigate replica featured in the award-winning motion picture Master And Commander, HMS Surprise, and now America’s West Coast Discovery ship San Salvador, a replica of the vessel European explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed into San Diego Bay in 1542. The Museum’s collection also includes the 1904 steam yacht Medea, 1914 Pilot boat and Vietnam-era PCF 816 Swift boat plus the USS Dolphin and Soviet navy foxtrot submarine.

Thousands of school children from throughout Southern California visit the Museum each year for a variety of dockside and at-sea educational programs.

Several ships in the fleet play host to more than 200 private events each year including weddings, private parties, pirate themed birthday events for young and old, corporate or convention receptions, civic/community group networking events, meetings and seminars, and team building charters.

Founded in 1948, Maritime Museum of San Diego grew out of the earlier efforts of a group of local historians and maritime enthusiasts who acquired the sailing ship Star of India in 1927. Now fully restored, the Star of India is maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers and skilled craftsmen and sailed at least once a year.

Current & Upcoming Exhibitions

NEW MARITIME ART EXHIBITS NOW OPEN THROUGH AUGUST 20

Arthur Beaumont “Art of the Sea” and “At Shore & Sea” Plein Air Paintings On Display for a Limited Time at Maritime Museum of San Diego

A fresh new visual display of passion to share our connection to the sea, plus the naval history and outdoor lifestyle San Diegan’s embrace.

Maritime Museum of San Diego has two new exhibits for maritime and art enthusiasts to enjoy. The art exhibitions are included with general admission ticket purchase and located aboard an historic national landmark: the 1898 steam ferryboat Berkeley. Visitors can locate the exhibits in the Gould Eddy and Compass galleries.

Arthur Beaumont’s “Art of the Sea” is curated by James Irvine Swinden and includes works in the Irvine Museum Collection at the University of California, Irvine. Beaumont’s body of work encompasses numerous portraits of specific naval vessels, including mighty aircraft carriers and battleships as well as personal yachts of presidents and celebrities. His art portrays not only admirals but also common sailors and soldiers. They formed the core of his series of significant wartime commissions for National Geographic Magazine. In 1958, Beaumont was named Artist Laureate of the U.S. Fleet.

To the artist Arthur Beaumont (1890-1978), the sea and the vessels that sailed on it held endless fascination. He sought to create an artistic record of the activities and accomplishments of the U.S. Navy, from the launching of the U.S.S. Constitution, to the fierce battles of World War II, to the Atomic Bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, and to the expeditions to the North and South Poles. All these historic events are recorded in his paintings.

Open concurrently with the Beaumont art exhibit, “At Shore & Sea” is on display in the Compass Gallery. This art exhibit features submissions from members of the Plein Air Painters Association of San Diego (PAPASAN). The artists of the Plein Air Painters Association of San Diego have been on the plein air scene since 1999, painting the essence of San Diego, whose very identity is uniquely defined by the sea. PAPASAN members paint San Diego’s beautiful beaches, tidepools, estuaries, harbors and marinas. The art of painting en plein air, or painting outdoors, is an essential endeavor for an artist. Plein air painting is perhaps one of the most difficult genres to master.

This group of professional fine artists are regionally and nationally known, have independently exhibited their works in museums and galleries throughout the country, and are members of national professional art organizations. Many of their works appear in national art publications, and some are included in recently published books such as California Light: Seascapes and Beach Towns. They continue to contribute to the artistic record of San Diego, especially documenting its vibrant maritime scene.

Visits to all exhibits found aboard the Museum’s historic fleet are included with one general admission ticket purchase. Visitors can purchase tickets to the Maritime Museum of San Diego at sdmaritime.org or visit the ticket booth and Gift Shop located at 1492 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101-3309. For more information, call 619.234.9153.