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Maritime Museum of San Diego in San Diego, CA

Maritime Museum of San Diego • San Diego, CA 92101
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A large black and red sailing ship with multiple white sails is sailing on the open water under a blue sky.
People walk and ride bikes near historic sailing ships and a docked steamboat on a sunny day at a harbor.
Two young boys look at a large model battleship displayed behind glass in a museum, with nautical flags hanging above.
A group of people, including children and adults, work together to pull a rope on the deck of a sailing ship under a blue sky.
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About Maritime Museum of San Diego

Overview

One of the finest collections of historic ships across the globe, Maritime Museum of San Diego offers exceptional exhibits, daily public tours, cultural events, educational programs and more for the whole family to enjoy. The museum is located on the North Embarcadero in downtown San Diego and is also home to the world’s oldest active ship—Star of India.

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Good To Know

  • Parking fees apply.
  • Self-guided tour.
  • Tour duration: approx. 2 hours.
  • Home to the world’s oldest active ship, the Star of India.
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Promotional Images (12)
Two young girls with windswept hair laugh while sitting on a boat with water splashing nearby; two adults sit behind them. A bridge is visible in the background. A large black-hulled sailing ship with white sails docked at a marina on a sunny day, with buildings and palm trees in the background. A man, woman, and young boy smile while standing on a boat deck. The boy leans on a large, round, metal nautical device. Sails and water are visible in the background. A tall sailing ship with multiple sails unfurled moves through the ocean under a partly cloudy sky, with an American flag flying at the stern. A white boat labeled "PILOT" carrying several people travels on the water near a city waterfront with high-rise buildings and a large ship in the background.
Customer Photos (2)
Maritime Museum of San Diego photo submitted by Philip Robertson Maritime Museum of San Diego photo submitted by Philip Robertson

Description

Experience one of the world’s leading collections of historic ships at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Known internationally for its preservation and operation of classic vessels, the museum features the Star of India, the oldest active sailing ship in the world, alongside a fleet of restored steamers, yachts, and naval replicas.

Step aboard the 1898 steam ferry Berkeley, the 1904 steam yacht Medea, and the 1914 harbor pilot boat Pilot. Visit Californian, the official tall ship of California, and walk the decks of H.M.S. Surprise, an 18th-century frigate replica featured in the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

Rotating and permanent exhibitions explore maritime history, commerce, and exploration. The on-site MacMullen Library and Research Archives supports global scholars and enthusiasts with access to rare materials, while the museum’s quarterly publication, Mains’l Haul, promotes the academic study of Pacific maritime history.

Founded in 1948 and rooted in early 20th-century preservation efforts, the museum remains a vibrant hub for naval heritage. Volunteers and skilled craftsmen continue to maintain its historic fleet, with the Star of India sailing annually as a tribute to living maritime tradition.
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Maritime Museum of San Diego Reviews

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777karinv
Phoenix, Arizona
"Great Museum"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed May 22, 2025
Haven't been here in years and went with my husband and thoroughly enjoyed it. What a wonderful museum. So much to see and the staff that we had interactions with were so nice. We had a gentlemen who was doing some work on the Star of India ask us if we had any questions and we asked a couple and he knew the answers and told us so much more.
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798BarbaraL
Coral Cove, Bundaberg Region, Queensland
"A museum not to miss!"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed November 10, 2024
We enjoyed the Maritime Museum as there is so much to see. Inside the Steam Ferry Berkeley are lots of museum pieces to admire and read about. There are numerous ships and a submarine to wander through and volunteers with loads of interesting information. Remember to bring a bottle of water, wear comfortable clothes and shoes and your camera.
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danapF2193HN
"Great Museum, A Bargain, Bad Parking"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed April 04, 2024
If you've got any interest in boats, past and/or present, this is a great museum. There is a lot to see, with a selection of boats. Personally, I found the U.S.S. Dolphin submarine absolutely fascinating. The "centerpiece" ferry boat acts as the museum's display facility, and that alone can keep you interested for hours. The cost for this attraction is amazingly inexpensive by comparison to most sight-seeing features.. There is only one problem, which has nothing to do with the museum, and that's the local parking. You can NOT park for a period longer than 3 hours, and it would be very easy to spend more than those three hours at the museum. For that matter, we had to give up seeing one of the ships because we ran out of time at the parking meter. It's near impossible to find other parking in the area.
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danielf827
Kemble, Georgian Bluffs, Grey County, Ontario
"To the lookouts"
TripAdvisor user rating 3.0 out of 5
Reviewed February 20, 2024
Nice to see all the ships are still here, even the uss dolphin “ a sub” is still afloat, a nice way to see what life was like aboard ship many many years ago, cheers
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Maritime Museum of San Diego is located at Maritime Museum of San Diego • San Diego, CA 92101
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Frequently Asked Questions about Maritime Museum of San Diego

What are the hours of operation?

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily. Museum Ticket Booth closes at 4:00 p.m. Last guest admission 4:00 p.m. daily. Hours of operation are subject to change and may vary with special events.

Is museum parking available onsite?

No. However, there are multiple parking spaces and lots located around the museum: (1) Metered Port Parking Spaces: The lot directly in front of the Maritime Museum has Port of San Diego metered spaces. They are enforced 10:00 am – 8:00 pm from Monday – Sunday and are good for up to 3 hours. Port does routinely check if a car has been parked for longer than 3 hours and will ticket. The 3-hour time limit applies to Sundays on Port parking. (2) Day Lots: There are also several day lots (pay to park) within a few blocks of the museum including: - County garage across the street holds about 257 cars, pricing varies from $10-$20 per car. - The Midway lot is open to the public. - Take the trolley. Trolley stations have lots at El Cajon, Amaya, Grossmont, Qualcom, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, and Old Town. - Rideshare and public transportation MTS bus systems are other alternatives.

Is the museum appropriate for all ages?

Yes.

What exhibits are at the museum?

The museum general admission includes entry to temporary and permanent exhibits including: - Wish You Were Here - Wind & Water - Swift Boats At War In Vietnam - Charting The Sea - Age of Sail - Age Of Steam - Harvesting The Ocean - San Diego's Navy - And more

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