EXHIBITS & TOURS
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In-Person Exhibits
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Online Exhibits
SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Your safe visit to the Battleship USS Iowa museum is our utmost priority. We have implemented numerous measures for in-person tours that adhere to Los Angeles County public health guidelines. A few of the measures include:
- Limited capacity and physical distancing.
- Increased disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces.
- Hand-sanitizer stations throughout the tour.
- Face coverings are required for all guests and crew.
- Non-essential personnel are working remotely.
- Daily temperature checks for all crew working onboard.
- Signage promoting social distancing and hand washing.
- New virtual options to experience the museum.
Surface Navy Museum
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Learn the History
USS Iowa’s history began in 1943 and continues through today.
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GET INVOLVED
Battleship USS Iowa is a community platform leveraged for engaging and impactful programs. We focus our activities into three primary pillars; education, veterans, and community.
- Education programs and resources inspire future leaders.
- Veterans programs and resources empower those who served.
- Community programs and resources strengthen our community.
Support your favorite pillar today by donating or by becoming a volunteer.
We're wrapping our VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER WELCOME SIGN INSCRIPTION Campaign this week with a message from our board chairman and a discussion of a tough subject that is a huge driving force behind the VRC.
Link in our Weekly Updates highlight.
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #veterans
At the age of nineteen, Haywood Truxillo of Port Allen, Louisiana enlisted in the United States Navy. It was November 1942, a little less than a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Straight out of boot camp, Haywood found himself a Machinist's Mate stationed in one of the massive engine rooms aboard the newly commissioned USS IOWA. He served reliably through the IOWA's WWII combat missions and was discharged from the navy after the war, in February of 1946. He never forgot his time on the battleship. He spoke of it with incredible pride and attended many crew reunions.
Haywood passed away on February 26, 2002 at the age of 79.
Did you or someone you know serve on the USS Iowa? We'd love to hear your stories and see your photos. Share your story with us at development@labattleship
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #VeteransWest #Veterans #Community #Navy #Military #History #WWII
It’s time for another Sunday Fun Day! For Independence Day this year we “dressed” the IOWA, a tradition reserved for special occasions such as commissionings and special holidays. The “Battleship of Presidents” looked the part for this 4th of July with bunting along her sides and over 120 flags flying. Which photo is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
A huge shout out to the photographer, Rick Stipa, for sharing these with us.
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Veterans #Education #Community
Our VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER WELCOME SIGN Campaign focuses on the amazing experience we had last Saturday with five World War II veterans. Check out fascinating details from their personal stories by swiping up in our weekly updates story highlight.
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #WorldWarII #veterans #livinghistory
Happy National Hot Dog Day! We’re excited to announce that we’re bringing the American culinary staple to the main deck of the IOWA. At the end of summer, we'll be opening VICKY'S DOGHOUSE. Named for the ship’s adorable canine mascot, this gourmet hot dog stand will welcome visitors - with or without tour tickets. Grab a dog and drink on the fantail and enjoy them along with our beautiful view of the harbor. Stay tuned for more information about the menu and opening date by subscribing to our newsletter. Link in bio.
Every good local food place has some solid punny names for their menu items. Drop your best San Pedro and naval hot dog names in the comments. Who knows, you just might be naming the new best hot dog in LA.
#NationalHotDogDay #BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Veterans #Community #Education #Museum #History #Military #Navy #DiscoverLA #DiscoverCa #HotDog
FIVE World War II Veterans Aboard Battleship IOWA 7/17/21. There's always something special happening at Battleship IOWA, but occasionally even we out-do ourselves. Saturday, July 17 we had the incredible privilege of hosting not one, not two, but FIVE nonagenarian World War II veterans aboard ship. They shared stories with us and compared experiences with one another - turns out two were on different ships at the Battle of Leyte Gulf!
Since her opening as a museum, IOWA has been the perfect platform to facilitate opportunities like this one. We've been talking a lot lately about our new VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER (VRC). The Center will create even more chances for veterans like these to come together, share camaraderie, and pass on history from the perspectives of eye witnesses.
You can honor these and other veterans by supporting the VRC. Click the link tree in our bio to get your name inscribed on the sign that will welcome them to their space aboard the battleship and leave a lasting legacy, both for yourself and them.
#veterans #BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #LivingHistory #WWII
Happy National Ice Cream Day! Since Ice Cream became a popular American staple in the mid 20th century, it has become a favorite among sailors in the U.S. Navy - so much so that during her 1980s commissioning, a soft serve ice cream machine was installed in the IOWA’s mess deck. If the IOWA was an ice cream flavor what would it be? Let us know in the comments.
Visit the IOWA and learn more about her unique history by doing an in person tour. Book yours today at the link in our bio.
#NationalIceCreamDay #BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Veterans #Community #Education #Museum #History #Military #Navy #DiscoverLA #DiscoverCa #IceCream
This summer, culture is making a comeback – and so are we! We’re pleased to share that we’re one of seven must-see venues in Tiqets’ Your Summer of a Lifetime in the Los Angeles and San Diego list.
Be on the lookout for the launch of our new hotdog stand: Vicky’s Doghouse on the fantail in the coming month.
Ready to get your spark back? Click on the link in our bio to see which other venues made the cut.
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #TiqetsSummerOfALifetime #LosAngeles #DiscoverLA #Museum #DiscoverCA #DiscoverLA
James H. Conroy Jr. first laid his eyes on the IOWA in 1942 while she was awaiting her launch day in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. As a 19 year old fresh from bootcamp, James was filled with a great sense of pride as he looked forward to stepping foot on her magnificent teak decks. Until his passing he called that moment one of the proudest of his life.
He was part of the “Mighty I’s” very first crew. He was onboard when she launched in August of 1942 and sailed through the Panama canal for the first time with just a foot of clearance on each side. James was also part of the crew that delivered President Roosevelt to the historic Tehran Conference which marked the beginning of the end of the second World War. He was also there at the end of the war in the Pacific to stand at IOWA’s railings and watch the Japanese surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri in the waters of Tokyo Bay.
Along with the moment he first saw the IOWA, James fondly remembered manning the ship’s bell during times of heavy fog. He never forgot being engulfed in the fog’s eerie blanket of grey and seeing the silhouettes of the ship’s mighty 16” guns and superstructure rise out of it.
James retired from the Navy in 1946 after WWII as a Seaman 1st Class. He lived long enough to see the IOWA be pulled back into duty, this time as a museum, and rested easier knowing that his home for four years would be revered in the manor she so deserved.
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #History #Veterans #Navy #Military #Education #Community
Check out this week's message from our CEO & President. Jonathan discusses our impressive continued rebound from COVID-19, how awesome our crew is, and why he's going off the grid for a little while. Link in Weekly Updates story highlight.
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Museum #Education #Community #Veterans
Time for a Monday adventure! Where are we headed? Hit our IOWA BTS highlight and swipe up for full video or head over to our YouTube channel, Battleship USS IOWA Museum.
#behindthescenes #BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #adventure
Looking for an awesome place to send your kids for some educational summer fun? Look no further than STEM Adventure Camp aboard Battleship IOWA.
Experiment with buoyancy and energy, practice different forms of ship-to-ship communication, learn the basics of marine navigation, and build prototype rockets to investigate projectile motion. Local LA Harbor families can attend camp for FREE thanks to the Port of LA's Community Investment grant. Apply for a scholarship today. Link in bio.
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Education #STEM #SummerCamp #LosAngeles
Just as the IOWA was one of the fastest ships of her size during WWII our Operations Team is one of the highest quality and fastest in the game today. They’ve been working nearly nonstop, seven days a week to get the Veterans Resource Center ready for opening and to provide its life changing, and saving services to the Los Angeles veterans community, the largest in the U.S. Take a look at these progress photos to see the great work the Ops Team has done to date.
You can support the creation of the VRC and show that you care by participating in our Once-In-A-Lifetime Inscription opportunity campaign today. Link in bio.
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Veterans #Community #Education #LosAngeles
This week, our VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER WELCOME SIGN CAMPAIGN focuses on all three of our pillars: Veterans, Education, and Community. Check out our blog for our latest endeavors in these core areas. Link in weekly update story highlight.
The IOWA could not only dish out major blows, she could take them as well. Her status as one of the fastest, most well-armored ships at sea was a leading factor in the choice of the “Mighty I” to transport President Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference to meet Churchill and Stalin.
At its thickest point the IOWA’s Class A armor belt measures 12.1 inches. Her hull’s armor then tapers to 1.9” at the bottom of the ship at a 19 degree angle.
The defensive capabilities were not just in the thickness of the armor, but also its strategic placement and construction. The armor is in a double layer design so that enemy shells and bombs would explode on impact with the thinner outer layer before hitting the more critical base layer. The general concept when armoring a ship was for it to be able to take hits from a ship of equal or lesser firepower.
Why is the armor at an angle and thinner the further below the waterline it gets? Throw your guess into the comments!
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Military #Veterans #Education #Community #History #Navy #LosAngeles #DiscoverCA #DiscoverLA
Hot off the press! In this week's update, CEO and President Jonathan Williams discusses Independence Day, some exciting grants we've received, and his thoughts on the Pacific Battleship Center's first decade of service. Read the full update through the link in our Weekly Updates highlight.
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Veterans #Education #Community #LosAngeles #Museum
Happy 4th of July! We hope you all have a wonderful and safe Independence Day!
Friendly reminder: the IOWA is open today for in-person tours. Come down to the ship, walk her storied passageways, and experience the "Mighty I" which has played a crucial role in American history. Link in bio.
#4thOfJuly #IndependenceDay #BattlshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Museum #DiscoverCA #Veterans #Navy #Community #Education
Getting ready for #IndependenceDay at #BattleshipIOWA
Celebrate Independence Day at the Battleship IOWA! The ship will be open and “dressed up” for July 4th from bow to stern with over 120 flags.
This tradition is reserved for holidays, commissionings, and other special ship events. The first photo is from 1986 when the IOWA’s crew “dressed the ship” for a visit by President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy. Bring the family and experience the Battleship of Presidents in all her glory! Get your tickets today! Link in bio.
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #4thOfJuly #IndependenceDay #Museum #VisitCA
A sit down with Janice Bowman to discuss the Veterans Resource Center. Janice Bowman: Military and Veterans Affairs at the Battleship IOWA, sits down with us to discuss what the Veterans Resource Center will mean to the Los Angeles veterans community.
To learn more about, and support the VRC go to the link in our bio.
#BattleshipIOWA #SurfaceNavyMuseum #Military #Veterans #Museum #LosAngeles
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