Maritime Museum of San Diego

The Maritime Museum of San Diego enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining and operating historic vessels. The Museum has one of the world’s finest collections of historic ships, including the world’s oldest active ship, Star of India. Experience 500 years of seafaring history from sail to steam to submarine with just one ticket. Visitors may also add an on the water historic bay cruise to learn more about San Diego Bay and or deep military roots.

The Maritime Museum’s tall ship schooner Californian and galleon replica San Salvador take passengers sailing on San Diego Bay most weekends.

The Museum displays permanent and temporary exhibits on maritime history, commerce and exploration and stages popular public events year round including the popular “Pirate Days” and family overnights aboard Star of India. Thousands of school children from throughout Southern California visit the Museum each year for a variety of dockside and at-sea educational programs.

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.

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

MARITIME MUSEUM OF SAN DIEGO OPENS NEW EXHIBIT

MAN-OF-WAR: ADVENTURES ABOARD A FIGHTING SHIP

Maritime Museum of San Diego, home to one of the world’s finest collections of historic vessels, from sail to steam to submarine, announces the opening of Man-of-War: Adventures Aboard a Fighting Ship Friday, May 25, 2018.

Staged aboard His Majesty’s sixth-rate British Royal Navy frigate, HMS Surprise, the new exhibit transports visitors back in time 200 years to the wooden world of the fighting sailing ship. This interactive exhibit encourages visitors of all ages to learn what it was like to live as cabin boy, marine, sailor, midshipman, surgeon, and captain on a “man-of-war” from the age of sail.

Visitors will walk the length of her gun deck, sit in the captain’s cabin, visit the surgeon’s berth, and stand at the helm. You’ll see and hear the sights and sounds of dramatic battles at sea, with Surprise’s fearsome guns answering those of her enemies. Much like all interior and interactive exhibits on display throughout the Museum’s historic fleet, this experience aboard HMS Surprise is free and included with general admission to the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

HMS Surprise is a replica of that most famous ship in author Patrick O’Brien’s series of historical novels chronicling the naval career of Captain Jack Aubrey. In 2003 she was featured in the 20^th Century Fox epic drama Master and Commander, starring Russell Crowe in the role of Aubrey. Since then the Surprise has been part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s fleet of historic and replica vessels.

The Museum encourages visitors to learn about some of the curious expressions that sailors used to describe their life on board, find out how to fire one of the guns and experience the thrill for adventure that called so many to this life, despite its hardships.

Visitors can purchase general admission tickets online at sdmaritime.org, call (619) 234-9153 ext.101 or visit the Maritime Museum of San Diego Ticket Booth and Gift Shop located on the North Embarcadero in downtown San Diego.