Battleship USS IOWA (BB-61)
“Our Liberties We Prize, Our Rights We Shall Maintain”
Battleship USS IOWA is the namesake of the 29th state of the United States and the lead vessel in the last class of battleships in the world. She was built to be heavily armored and fast to fight the tyranny of the Axis powers in WWII. During her service in WWII, Korea, and Cold War, she earned eleven battle stars and made history as one of the last great battleships to see service.
Thousands of sailors (and one mischievous dog) have called her home, five U.S. presidents have visited, and proud, passionate Americans rallied to save her from the scrapyards and preserve her for future generations. During active and museum service to our nation, the ship has hosted millions. She is a living symbol of Freedom of the Seas and a catalyst helping to reinvigorate the community of San Pedro, CA.
She remains connected to her humble roots – roots that sprang from Iowa children raising money to build “their” ship. Generations of Iowans have fond memories of visiting a model of the ship at the state capitol. We continue the ship’s connection with the state of Iowa through promotional activities, regular visits, and the annual USS Iowa Lamberti Service Award.
We invite you to learn more about the Battleship USS IOWA and support the museum of the future.
A Legacy of Service
UPDATES & HISTORY
Happy 83rd Birthday, IOWA!
February 22, 2026 marks the 83rd anniversary of BB-61’s original commissioning. To commemorate the occasion, Battleship IOWA’s historian/curator Dave Way dug into his archives […]
“Oh Those Float Planes…”
Excerpt from IOWA’s deck log: “Oh, those float planes”
Headlines from the End of World War II
Memories on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II
What USS Iowa Means to the 1989 Crew
What IOWA Means To Her 1989 CrewReflections from CIO David Canfield Remembering And Returning As a nineteen-year-old, Battleship IOWA Vice President and Chief […]
Diplomats & Admirals: Fascinating WWII Facts From Author Dale Jenkins
Author Dale Jenkins releases his new book “Diplomats and Admirals” aboard IOWA
Finding Treasures: How Missing Pieces Return To The Ship
Battleship IOWA has an uncanny knack for attracting historical treasures of all shapes, sizes, and several eras. From a guest book signed by FDR […]
No Higher Honor: RADM Sam Cox, USN (Ret.) on the Battle Off Samar
Every so often, an event of truly epic proportions becomes the stuff of legend. The engagement off Samar during the larger Battle of Leyte […]
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