Battleship IOWA Museum: Self-Guided Tour on LA Waterfront

Seven decks of a working battleship, no guide required

The Life of a Sailor self-guided tour takes you through the USS Iowa, a decommissioned battleship preserved on the LA Waterfront since 2012 and now home to the National Museum of the Surface Navy. You walk at your own pace through 75+ exhibits across seven decks, including the navigation bridge, crew spaces, massive 16-inch guns, and missile systems, with a mobile app providing stories from veterans and former crew. Families get a scavenger hunt tied to Vicky, the ship's dog. The experience runs 2–3 hours and suits all ages and fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Battleship IOWA Museum

• Step aboard Battleship USS Iowa
• Explore seven decks and exhibits
• Visit Surface Navy Museum galleries
• See 16-inch guns and missile systems
• Tour navigation bridge and Captain's quarters
• Discover crew spaces and stories
• Participate in Vicky the Dog scavenger hunt

The experience

The USS Iowa sits at the LA Waterfront, and admission gets you a brochure and access to a companion app loaded with veteran stories and multimedia content. You board and move through the ship on your own schedule: no group pace, no waiting for a guide to finish a story before you move to the next space. The seven decks hold the navigation bridge where officers plotted course, the Captain's quarters, crew berthing areas, and the massive gun turrets that defined the ship's role in the Pacific.

Over 75 exhibits are spread across the decks, and the new Life of a Sailor galleries focus on what daily life looked like for the sailors who served aboard. The app fills in context: interviews with former crew, historical photos, and explanations of how the ship operated. Families with children can follow Vicky's interactive scavenger hunt, which gives kids a reason to explore specific spaces and learn the ship's layout. Volunteers are stationed throughout if you have questions, but the tour itself is yours to shape.

The whole visit runs 2–3 hours depending on how long you linger at exhibits and how many decks you climb. Wheelchair access is available, and strollers work for infants and small children. Service animals are welcome. When you're done, the gift shop and museum store are on-site if you want to take something home.

What’s included

• Admission ticket to the Battleship IOWA Museum.
• brochure.
• access to the companion mobile app with multimedia content and stories from veterans and former crew.
• Vicky's interactive scavenger hunt for families.

Information

Lasts 1h–2h, runs every day, 13 start times, from US$ 29.95 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30 and 16:00

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 to 61 years) · Senior (62 and older) · Youth (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Battleship USS Iowa Museum

Is this one for you?Choose the self-guided format if you want to move through the ship at your own pace without waiting for a group or a guide to finish explaining each space. It works well for families with children who move at different speeds, and for anyone who prefers to linger on the decks and exhibits that matter most to them.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How many decks can I walk through on the USS Iowa?

The Battleship IOWA has seven decks open to visitors. You move through them at your own pace, accessing the navigation bridge, Captain's quarters, crew spaces, gun turrets, and missile systems across the self-guided route.

What's included in admission to the Battleship IOWA Museum?

Your ticket includes a brochure, access to the companion mobile app with veteran stories and multimedia content, and entry to all 75+ exhibits and galleries across the ship's seven decks.

How long does the self-guided tour of Battleship IOWA take?

The experience runs 2–3 hours depending on how much time you spend at each exhibit and how many decks you explore. You set the pace, so you can move quickly or spend longer in areas that interest you.

Can I visit the Battleship IOWA if I use a wheelchair or stroller?

Yes, the USS Iowa is wheelchair accessible. Strollers work for infants and small children, and service animals are allowed throughout the ship.