Maritime Museum of San Diego

The Maritime Museum of San Diego, at 1492 North Harbor Drive on the Embarcadero in San Diego, California, is a floating museum of historic ships that preserves the city's seafaring heritage. The museum grew out of efforts in the 1927 purchase of the Star of India by local citizens, and it was formally organized in the 1940s and 1950s as the fleet grew. Its collection of about a dozen vessels spans more than a century and a half of maritime history. The centerpiece is the Star of India, an iron barque launched in 1863 and the world's oldest active sailing ship. Other major vessels include the Berkeley, an 1898 steam ferry that carried evacuees after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and now houses exhibits and a ship model gallery, and the Medea, a steam yacht built in 1904. The collection also includes the Californian, a replica of an 1847 revenue cutter, and the B-39, a Soviet Foxtrot-class submarine from the Cold War that visitors can walk through. Smaller vessels, such as the Pilot, a San Diego harbor pilot boat, add local context. The museum's approach is immersive and hands-on, with visitors boarding vessels, exploring engine rooms and cabins, and seeing displays on shipping, exploration, naval history and fishing. Preservation depends on constant maintenance, including hull work, rigging repairs and restoration led by staff and volunteers, and some vessels sail on special occasions. The museum is generally open daily from about 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and admission covers all the ships. Two to three hours is typical for a full visit. The waterfront location places it near the USS Midway Museum and the Embarcadero promenade, and the ships offer harbor views and photography opportunities, particularly at sunset.