Avisit to the Maritime Museum of San Diego presents a fascinating glimpse intolife on the high seas. Located on the piers at the North Embarcadero indowntown San Diego, this is one of the world’s largest and finest collectionsof restored vessels. More than a century of seafaring craft is on display.
The Star of India, amassive sailing ship, is the centerpiece of the museum and iconic to SanDiego’s waterfront. It’s sure to set your imagination in motion, calling up thelives of the immigrants that made passage from the UK to New Zealand, or thecrews that lived aboard for months at a time during its life as a fishingvessel. On board, there’s a play area where kids can get dressed in costumesand play sailing games. The Star of India is the oldest active ship in theworld, sailing into the harbor once a year — a real sight to behold.
For a revealingglimpse into California’s past don’t miss The Berkeley, a passenger ferry thatserved 60 years transporting passengers across San Francisco Bay. You can standwhere Russell Crowe stood in the 2003 Hollywood film Master and Commander: TheFar Side of the World aboard the HMS Surprise, an impressive replica of a navyfrigate. Visitors are also able to explore the inner-workings of the B-39, agenuine Soviet Attack Submarine that was tasked with tracking the movements ofU.S. warships. And for a true sense of majesty, take in The Californian, areplica of the wooden tall ship by the same name.
If you fancy gettingout on the water, the museum offers a 45-minute narrated cruise on San DiegoBay aboard a fully-restored 1914 Pilot boat, which offers great views backtowards the city. For a more in-depthunderstanding of the maritime history of San Diego, spend some time in themuseum’s five permanent exhibitions. The displays explain the ages of sail andsteam and the process of charting and harvesting the sea. The area’s navalhistory is also explored. Threeor four hours is enough time to see everything in the museum, and you can avoidthe stress of finding parking on the busy waterfront by catching the trolley,San Diego's light rail system.
