“I wanted freedom, open air, and adventure. I found it on the
sea." --Alaine Gerbault, Sailor
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In addition to being a beautiful city on the Bay, San Diego is home to one of the finest collections of historic ships anywhere. The Maritime Museum of San Diego (1492 N. Harbor Drive) is ranked as the third largest maritime museum in the world. It's conveniently located along the scenic Embarcadero, adjacent to downtown. The floating museum offers a chance to stroll through nine historic vessels—experiencing first hand what life might have been like at sea many years ago.
The centerpiece of the collection is Star of India (1863)—the world's oldest active merchant sailing ship. The full-rigged iron windjammer ship was built in Ramsey, Isle of Man. It started as a cargo ship with voyages to India to supply England with jute. Then, in 1871, it began transporting immigrants from Great Britain to New Zealand. During these twenty-five years, it made 21 trips around the world. Originally named Euterpe, the name was changed to Star of India in 1901 when it was purchased by new owners and began a new life as a salmon hauler on the California to Alaska route.
In1926 it was sold to the Zoological Society of San Diego to be the centerpiece of a planned museum. However, restoration was delayed for almost 30 years due to the Great Depression and WW II. Restoration finally began in 1957 and was completed almost twenty years later in 1976. The ship still sails approximately once a year, with a voluntary crew—the last sailing was November 2018.
Another fascinating vessel to board is the B-39 Soviet Submarine (1974). To enter you must walk down narrow steps and crawl through small round portholes to view the torpedo room, engine room, ships helm, control room, and officer's stateroom, but well worth it. This Russian submarine tracked US and NATO warships throughout the worlds' seas from 1967 until it was decommissioned in 1994. It's hard to believe that this vessel could hold 12 officers, 10 warrants and 56 seamen all at one time. It could be submerged for 3-5 days.
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| SAN SALVADOR |
After extensive research by experts, it was built by a group of skilled professional boat builders with the assistance of volunteers. The first four years of construction took place at the Spanish Landing where the public could watch the progress. Much of the work was done with materials and tools that were true to the time period. Nicknamed, “The Mayflower of the West,” it now floats at the Maritime Museum giving people an opportunity to engage with a ship that appears to be straight out of the 1500s. Public sailings are available.
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| BERKELEY |
A pleasant ending to the tour is a final stroll through the largest and most elegant vessel in the museum—the Steam Ferry Berkeley (1898). This ferry, with its Victorian style and art glass windows, operated on the San Francisco Bay for nearly 60 years. It was acquired by the museum in 1973 and is considered one of the finest examples of a 19th-century ferryboat afloat.
It is not surprising that this remarkable maritime museum, with its reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining and operating historic vessels, is one of San Diego's favorite places. So take time to enter the museum and imagine a life at sea many years ago and don't forget to linger on decks to enjoy the lovely views of the city and bay from various vantage points.
