Posted on Saturday, June 9, 2012 by Martin Cox
Today the retired battleship USS IOWA is scheduled to be towed up the Main Channel in Los Angeles habor, starting at approximately 2:30PM (June 9th), from her temporary dock at berth 51-52.
USS IOWA from SS LANE VICTORY. Photo © Tom Nicolai-Vargas May 30, 2012
The best suggested viewing area (by Port of LA) is Ports O’ Call Village in San Pedro. Viewers arriving by car can enter from Harbor Boulevard and 6th Street or 22nd St. and Sampson Way in San Pedro. The park area at the south end, in addition to any of the restaurants or waterside promenade areas, should be suitable viewing areas.
USS IOWA from SS LANE VICTORY. Photo © Tom Nicolai-Vargas May 30, 2012
The ship will be towed past Post’ of Call, right past the newly renovated and repainted Los Angeles Maritime Museum, past berth 87 which will become the IOWA’s permanent dock, past the cruise terminal and under the Vincent Thomas Bridge, where the vessel will turn and be brought back down the channel to her berth, beginning tie up at about 3:45pm.
Los Angeles Maritime Museum, newly repainted thanks to the Port of Los Angeles. Photo © Martin Cox 2012
USS IOWA from SS LANE VICTORY. Photo © Tom Nicolai-Vargas May 30, 2012
About 800 people will be aboard the ship as she makes her way to berth 87. Early supporters and other donors will travel up the channel, as well as Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles
The Pacific Battleship Center is already selling tickets for the Saturday, July 7th opening of the USS IOWA as an interactive naval museum and living memorial. The ship will be open seven days a week starting July 7th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The USS IOWA will be located at Berth 87 along the Port of Los Angeles Main Channel, just south of the World Cruise Center.
Sally Braden
June 9, 2012 at 9:59 pm
I am a voluneer for the Los Angeles Maritime Instutite, and was on our dock watching the IWOA
Sally Braden
June 9, 2012 at 10:07 pm
I am a volunteer for the Los Angeles Maritime Instute, and was at our docks watching the IWOA coming up the channel. What a site to see and I was in awwww of what I was seeing. Watching the Fire Boat spray water, and the Exy Johnson & Irving Johnson on both sides of the bow under full sail was great to see. The best day I have ever seen in Ports of Call, San Pedro.
Rimrock
June 10, 2012 at 6:25 am
Waste of money. Seems to me there could be a better use of the resources it will take to maintain the boat
More important, after 66 years who really cares?
JochenG
June 10, 2012 at 3:18 pm
At least this is a nice ship that is not going to scrap to make other warships that can kill people, at least this money is NOT going to war.
Bob Graham
June 10, 2012 at 6:33 pm
This is not only an awesome ship; she is a truly beautiful one.
Patrick le Bihan
June 11, 2012 at 9:02 am
In US you are lucky to have such vessel.Next year going to US for the Ameria Cup i will made a tour to IOWA.
Dan
June 11, 2012 at 2:14 pm
It would have been nice to have seen the USS Iowa docked adjacent next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach.
Bob
June 11, 2012 at 8:10 pm
I live in the SF Bay Area and saw the Iowa leave Richmond CA. The ship looked amazing. A lot of us here were sad to see her go. She would have looked very nice in San Francisco. At least she does have a home and will hopefully be taken care of.
MarkD
June 12, 2012 at 4:11 pm
I think it’s great that the vessel is being preserved. We absolutely need to keep some remnants of the history, where we’ve been before. Just maybe, knowing more about our history might help generations beyond ours use that knowledge to make better decisions that ultimately will, themselves, become history.
Learn from this ship, what it represents and what it helped our country accomplish. Use that knowledge wisely. That is what it is there for.
I’m not sure how much taxpayer money goes into this project. But from the information above, it appears that there is considerable private funding going into it. Kudos to those people who can and will give of what they have to preserve such a magnificent part of our past.
Would that the same be done for some of the peacetime vessels, old liners of the early periods, for instance.
Mark D.
captgeo
June 24, 2012 at 5:47 am
There will be a reunion of all former USS IOWA crew members (40′s, 50′s & 80′s)in San Pedro, CA from 02 July, 2012 through 05 July, 2012; more than 500 are expected to attend. Featured will be a “recommissioning” of the battleship with all former crew members who are able, “manning the rail.” Details at http://www.ussiowa.org
Geo. W.
July 5, 2012 at 12:17 am
The IOWA is, like her 3 sisters, a thing of such magnificent beauty and power. It is great that she and her 3 sisters are being preserved. She will remain a warship but a warship of past wars. Never again will she fire her guns in anger. Do not miss the opportunity to visit her or any of her 3 sisters. Believe me, its well worth the price of admission.
Corey palm desert
July 11, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Went on board yesterday and had a great time. I talked ships with a lot of people on board. Fantastic time, she is a beautiful fighting lady. I l
Corey palm desert
July 11, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Went on board yesterday and it was great. People on board were great fun to talk to . Can’t wait to go back.
Dan
July 12, 2012 at 10:31 pm
Now if only the same enthusiasm could be applied towards the USS Olympia and the SS United States!!!
Corey palm desert
July 15, 2012 at 12:43 am
Dan you are right
Patrick Le Bihan
July 25, 2012 at 1:01 am
Next year during the America Cup i will spend necessary time on board IOWA !!
Noli Tabucol
August 7, 2012 at 12:58 am
I have seen a battle ship like the IOWA in 1978 docked at the pier of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, during that time that i was a First Year College at Silliman university, Dumaguete City. I did not sense whether that ship docked was the IOWA.
Noli Tabucol
August 7, 2012 at 1:09 am
I am very sure, it has the same feature, it is a great battle ship, it carried the flag of America. When i saw it, I felt greatness and boldness of that battle ship.
squid8286
August 11, 2012 at 2:08 pm
I think it’s fantastic that all four of the IOWAs have been preserved for future generations. If you have never visited one of them, you should; they are masterpieces of marine engineering.
Patrick Le BIhan
November 13, 2012 at 12:48 am
US Citizens , you are lucky to have such beautiful ships in a Museum and not going to ship breaker yard , here or here.