Step Aboard the Past
The Maritime Museum of San Diego offers a one-of-a-kind experience where visitors can explore a world-class collection of historic vessels. Walk the decks of legendary sailing ships, steam-powered vessels, and even a deep-dive Navy research submarine. From the world’s oldest active sailing ship, Star of India, to the replica of a Royal Navy frigate featured in Master and Commander, history comes to life with every step.
Your journey includes access to both open-air decks and below-deck exhibits, where you can uncover maritime history through displays, rare artifacts, and immersive storytelling. Some ships even set sail, offering a rare opportunity to experience history in motion.
National Historic Landmark Vessels
The museum is home to several vessels listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including:
- Star of India (1863) – The world’s oldest active sailing ship.
- Berkeley (1898) – A steam ferry that played a heroic role in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake rescue efforts.
- Pilot (1914) – San Diego’s longest-serving harbor pilot boat.
- PCF 816 Swift Boat – A Vietnam War-era patrol craft fast.
Explore Our Fleet
Sailing Ships
- Californian – California’s official state tall ship.
- HMS Surprise – A replica of an 18th-century Royal Navy frigate, featured in Master and Commander.
- San Salvador – A faithful recreation of the galleon that first explored the West Coast in 1542.
- Scrimshaw – A Custom Block Island Schooner, our newest member to the fleet.
- Star of India (1863) – The museum’s flagship and a true icon of maritime history.
Steam-Powered Vessels
- Berkeley – A turn-of-the-century steam ferry with grand Victorian-era décor.
- Medea – A 1904 steam yacht with a storied past spanning both World Wars.
Submarine
- USS Dolphin – The deepest-diving submarine in U.S. Navy history.
Powered Vessels
- PCF 816 Swift Boat – A high-speed patrol boat from the Vietnam War era.
- San Diego Harbor Pilot Boat – A working vessel that guided ships safely into port for decades.