Maritime Museum of San Diego

The museum has one of the world’s finest collections of historic ships, including the world’s oldest active ship the Star of India.

Explore the insides of these historic ships and submarines.
Sail aboard the official state tall ship of California the Californian for a Tall Ship Adventure.
Learn about the museum's majestic tall ships.
Take a 75 minute Swift Boat Tour.
Take a Historic Bay Cruise aboard the Pilot!
Educational Programs for All Ages
Explore the Exhibits
The Perfect Venue For Any Event On San Diego's Beautiful Waterfront
Kid's Pirate Parties
The Maritime Museum of San Diego makes her historic ships available for event venues in a truly iconic setting.
The museum provides an event coordinator to assist with the planning and preparation of your special event.
The experienced staff will help to ensure an incredible experience that is both unique and memorable.
Book a Private Charter for Your Next Corporate or Team Building Event!

Walk along downtown San Diego’s waterfront, and you’ll see one of the city’s most treasured attractions — the floating Maritime Museum of San Diego, anchored in the bay. The museum is housed in an iconic collection of ships, with the magnificent Star of India, an 1863 iron bark, as the main draw.

The museum’s collection includes the steam ferryboat Berkeley, a B-39 Soviet submarine, an American research submarine the USS Dolphin, and the HMS Surprise (star of “Master and Commander” and “Pirates of the Caribbean 4.”) Most recently, the museum has added the San Salvador, a newly constructed replica of the first European ship to reach America’s West Coast in 1542.

Visitors not only explore the decks of these world-class vessels, but experience firsthand the thrills of sailing on them too. Enjoy a tall-ship adventure aboard the schooner Californian, a traditionally rigged tall ship. Haul a line, man the helm and end your day with a cannon salute. Or enjoy a 45-minute harbor cruise aboard the Pilot, an assistance craft for commercial ships first launched in 1914. If you’re lucky, the boat will take you right under the flight deck of the awe-inspiring aircraft carrier USS Midway nearby. Also enjoy a narrated Swift Boat tour, describing the PCF 816’s role in the U.S., Malta, Vietnam and more.

Aside from these unforgettable tours, the museum also takes passengers on gray whale and blue-whale watching excursions, in season. Landlubbers shouldn’t miss the museum’s world-renowned research library for members as well as a retail shop with lots of souvenirs, historic and academic books or memorabilia for sale.

Getting married? Having a party? The venue is available for weddings, anniversaries, corporate events, retirement celebrations and children’s pirate-themed birthdays!

Where it’s the Festival of Sail, watching Independence Day fireworks or listening to eerie haunted ship tales, the Maritime Museum of San Diego offers something for everyone. Don’t miss exploring this exciting and memorable attraction. The venue is open year round from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.sdmaritime.org/. Be sure to use the Maritime Museum of San Diego discount coupon for $2 Off Admission.