Battleship USS Iowa Museum in Vernon

This is another great ship, the name-bearer for the Iowa class. Beautifully maintained with a lot of history. They refurnished the Room where Roosevelt stayed on his way to the Tehran Conference. Its very first mission though was to go to Newfoundland where it was assumed German battleship Tirpitz was located.The ship survived the terrible typhoon Cobra in December 1944 where 790 men from the Task Force drowned and its only crew losses occurred in 1989 when a turret explosion killed all 47 crew members from that gun turret. Initially, as usual, the Navy tried to blame one of the dead sailors for the explosion. It was later discovered that the powder from some of the powder bags had been milled.....in the 1930s about 60 years earlier and that the ether emanating from the improperly stored powder could easily ignite.

A must see whether or not you are into military museums. The self guided tour is cheap, and you can stay as little or long as you like...

This is a must see if youre in Terminal Island. For a minimal fee of $8 you get to tour the WW2 era battleship. An era when America built amazing things that changed the world.The staff is warm and friendly and are inviting to share their knowledge of the history of this famed battleship.I highly recommend this for a sight seeing tour.

My kids and I had to kill an hour and we went to see the awesome IOWA! They let us on the aft (rearportion of the ship for FREE because the main tour obviously isn’t accessible for strollers. It’s a warship! We got to see the huge 16 inch guns and a helicopter. There are beautiful views of the harbor and the Vincent Thomas Bridge from the deck. 100% recommended you give yourself more time and do the tour that takes you through the historic ship.

This is just an awesome place to visit, especially if youre a WW2 nerd like I am. Even if youre not, you can get a glimpse of a time in history. Highly recommend anyone to visit. Great time to spend with your family or by yourself. We will be back for sure!

I loved it. Maybe its just because military is very interesting to me, but the battleship has a very engaging story I think many will enjoy. The self-guided tour is perfectly good, but the helpers on board are more than willing to answer questions or tell stories. More than recommend, Im glad that they decided to restore this beautiful piece of history.

Amazing part of the war history and to experience it first hand in person was truly an enriching encounter!!USS Iowa (BB-61is a retired battleship, the lead ship of her class, and the fourth in the United States Navy to be named after the state of Iowa. Owing to the cancellation of the Montana-class battleships, Iowa is the last lead ship of any class of United States battleships and was the only ship of her class to serve in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II.

Awesome place for Amy history buff. This is a place where you can speak to veterans who either served on this battleship or have knowledge of it. Amazing way to get an awe inspiring glimpse of the past.

Awesome place to reflect on the sacrifice our country has made for us to have the freedoms we do today. The "crew" was very helpful and were more than willing to explain certain aspects of the ship that would have been missed. Thank you to the Iowa team in making my trip very inspiring and educational.

We had a really nice time at the USS Iowa. It’s well laid-out, the decor is authentic, and there are many exhibits to learn from even if you’re not part of an official tour. A big standout from today was Brooke, the volunteer who gave us such great history and little tidbits about the ship. I love hearing history from history buffs, especially from passionate ones like her. Thanks Brooke! Thanks USS Iowa!

Had a great time here. The route is very clear and simple. Just follow the yellow arrow, you’ll see the whole ship including the souvenir shop! There’s a small treasure hunt to find Vicky, the mascot! My three yr old son was very excited every time he found Vicky’s pictures. At the gift shop, you can get a small gift from doing the Vicky treasure hunt.Here’s different from other USS museums we’ve been to. Military and veterans are not free, and kids 3+ need to purchase youth ticket.

I had a great experience. Mike was my tour guide and he was very informative. It was just me and my son so he gave us an in depth look to some areas that otherwise may not have been offered. Im a big history buff and really enjoyed seeing everything. Especially the Presidential Room. Amazing! I dont recommend the hotdogs though. When I got my son and I one they were not hot and they were on rolls cut in half. Wish I would have saved the $23 and bought a souvenir instead. (My recommendation for you.If they didnt offer any food this would be a 5 star rating for sure. But since they offered it and it was not that great, thats the reason I couldnt give the 5th star. But a must see and do for sure.

The U.S.S Iowa is a phenomenal sight to see. Her role in WW2 was key and her subsequent history a roller coaster throughout three cycles of service. The condition of this incredible battleship is superb thanks to the 200+ volunteers that maintain and operate her as a floating museum. A must see if you are anywhere near Long Beach CA.

Honored to have visited this Battleship / Museum…. Grateful and Thankful for the Sacrifices these Brave Men and Women have made for Our Country and for the World. I think it is necessary for the Younger Generation to Experience the History of Our Past and Be Aware of the Freedoms We Have that Came with Great Bravery, Determination, Focus, and Teamwork as Military Personnel. History should never be forgotten and always learned from. Big Thanks to Everyone Involved and Those Preserving this Legacy and Great Museum Memorial.🕊🦅🙏🏼☮️🇺🇸☮️🙏🏼🦅🕊

Very large ship and lots to see, my knees did not like all the steep stairs though. No elevator. Beautiful ship though!

Adults, kids, & teens in our group all agreed that this battleship tour was more enjoyable than they expected. As a military veteran, I was pleased to see that our young folks found the ship and its hands-on history appealing and interesting. Nice, at-your-own-pace activity on a summer day… and good for the budget-aware. Oh, and Monday is a great day — few visitors.

Awesome display of the historic capabilities of the US Navy. The people there to help you are kind and knowledgeable. While we were there it was neat to hear an overhead announcement of veterans getting aboard. Thank you to the volunteers that made this site possible and preserving the USS Iowa.

What can you say? The Grey Ghost is impressive. My first view of her was back in 1989 at the Norfolk naval base as she was docked next to my boat, CVN72 Abraham Lincoln...I still remember looking down on her😉 cant get bigger than a Nimitz class, at least back then. Worth the visit.

The Battleship USS Iowa is definetelly a must have seen when someone is interested in ships or the second world war. The museum is very big with a lot of exhibits inside aswell. The staff on board of the steel colossus is very helpful and friendly! Next time when Iam back in Long Beach, K will definetelly go see it again!Thank you guys for preserving her so well!

The USS Iowa is a great place to bring families and fans of history. A lot of work has gone into fixing up the ship over the last decade. If you are interested in the engineering tour (e.g. boiler roomit takes place on weekends only and books up well in advance. 4.5/5 stars because the USS Missouri was more impressive (Im sure the Iowa will get there!)

A great place to learn about the American history and the ship looks like it can go in battle again today you can take as long you want to see all of the ship. note you have to pay for parking no cash credit card only we paid 2 dollars

This was a great experiance. We needed a day off from Disneyland and saw this. Honestly the whole family enjoyed. My sons 19 year old girlfriend even made the comment that she didnt know she was so into battleships. Lots of low ceilings Im 61" and was ducking a lot. They have wheel chair access but really most of it wont be very accessible if your mobility impared it is a battleship. The hotdog stand on the ship is actually quite fantastic and had quite the view of the harborto watch the container shipped loaded. Really I cant say enough starting with the friendly staff. From start to finish I would recommend.

Awesome piece of history with incredible volunteers. We did The Presidents Tour and it was amazing. Highly recommend if you are in the Long Beach area.

A great way to spend some time with your family and friends! Makes you glad to be an American seeing what the United States continually produces to protect its freedoms and those of countries around the world. God please continue to bless the United States of America.

Very interesting to see this old retired battle ship, i was there during the celebration of LA battleweek (memorial dayentrance queue was rather long but only waited 15-20 min to get in.

Good fun at the battleship Iowa. If you like history about WW2 battleships you’ll love visiting this ship the cost for accessing is decent. But you got to spend little more if you want a guided tour

What An Amazing Battleship Tour! The U.S.S. IOWA is an iconic blast from the past of a tried and true warship with 3 tours of duty under her bow. The battleship was amazingly restored by hard working volunteers who understood what this battleship meant to the U.S. Navel Fleet and how many stories she still had to tell.Theres tons of educational videos, informational posters, and wonderfully designed scenes set up throughout the ship that are true to the actual operations of this Classic Battleship.The crew was also very helpful and informative! Cant wait to visit her again and share the U.S.S. IOWA with my family and friends.

Its really amazing museum in town.If you have a chance to visit that will be fruitful. Again If you are seaman its similar to other ships but you can see lots of things here .Its my first trip in this town and I spend 2hours in this museum.

It is an interesting and informative museum, but you have to add on all the different tour packages to see the whole ship.By contrast, the USS Midway in San Diego doesn’t charge extra and you can see the whole ship. Both are great ships, but if you can only see one, the Midway is better.

Amazing opportunity to work WITH USS IOWA Staff! Looking forward to host Dept of Labor Off Base Transition Training Employment Workshops for all Veterans, Reservists and Guard and their spouses....FREE!!

I was lucky to have an amazing volunteer to tour me around this great ship. He has lots of knowledge of this great ship, includes guns, war history, and the ship. I feel bad to not remembered his name. He has a long green coat and green pants. He and this great ship both gave me and my family very pleasant and valuable history review!

Parking is free for the first hour, then $2 per hr for a maximum of $20.Enjoy the experience. This place take a you back in time, the thought of what shes been thru is mind-blowing, lots of history to be learned here.

It was interesting experience to visit this place. All the stuff is super nice and helpful. Ship is restored and perfectly prepared for visitors.

Really great experience. Highly recommend booking one of the tours (we did engineeringso you can really appreciate the inner beauties of the ship.**Pro tip: wear clothes that you wouldn’t mind smelling like hydraulic fluid/USS Iowa**

A quick stop 2 hour tour of this magnificent battleship that plied the waters in service of the United States from World War 2 to its final decommissioning in 2011 to become the floating museum it is today.The self guided tour takes you to nearly every quarter of the ship. There are other exhibits not associated with the Iowa aboard.Aside from various small bits aboard screwed down to avoid breakage by guests...the Iowa looks as though she could set sail with a hardy crew ready to helm the ship.Docents roam the deck ready with history and facts.The cost for 4 adults is a healthy $95 + change. There is of course discounts for students, seniors and veterans.Is it worth it?I say yes. The amount of history aboard alone is worth the cost of a few hours, the friendliness of the docents is more than worth the money and time.There is a gift shop at the end of the tour... The amount of goodies and curios will keep battle ship fans for another 30 minutes....

If you have any interest in war history or naval things or ships, youll love this. It is self-guided. You can take your time. You get to go inside and outside the ship. There are restrooms on board, but theyre at the end of the tour. When youre on the outside portions its very hot. The inside parts are cool.

I really enjoyed my tour of the Iowa. We had the chance to view the Captains berth and see the tub that had been installed for FDR. The tour guides were friendly and informative. We had lunch on the fantail of the ship. The hot dogs they sell there are delicious. Theres a good amount of container ship traffic so you can sit, eat your lunch and watch the ships go by. Schedule half a day for your tour.

Self-guided tour, which I took in the morning to avoid large crowds. A very humbling and powerful testament to American seapower. All of the gentlemen manning the Iowa whom I spoke with were very knowledgeable and passionate about her. I greatly look forward to other sections of the ship being renovated and opened up as part of the already expansive tour. Will definitely be back next time Im in LA!

Awesome museum. Its well preserved and very interesting to walk through. We did the self tour and enjoyed it. Next time we will do the guided tour.Its worth your time and money to see this amazing piece of our nations history.

This is an absolute hidden gem in LA. Please put our the extra cash to do the private tour. Our guide knew everything, everything about this ship. I am not the military type and I am telling you take this tour. Plus you can pop in right from Long Beach. Worth the side trip, cannot stress that enough!

Excellent self guided tour. If you have trouble with steep stairs, it might be better to skip this adventure. My husband served on this class of ship and it was like having a private guide. We are looking forward to coming back when they open more areas of the ship to the public.

How do I explain this landmark!?Its history isnt pretty, its sunk ships, bombed countries, and fought in wars.Its a battleship.Seeing where people lived and operated is pretty intense. Definitely worth checking out.They also have events there!

The Iowa is history well preserved. Hosts are very friendly and knowledgeable. Self guided tour routes are well marked. Would liked to have seen more placards describing what it was I was looking at as far as some inner rooms. Saw no mention of a medical facility. Having now seen both the Iowa and the Missouri, the Iowa has more detailed restoration. Very well done. A heart felt salute to all that served on her.

Great entertaining way to learn about US Navy history. Very well run museum with excellent maintenance. Please plan to spend about two hours there to fully enjoy. Friendly customer service. Parking is about $2 for two hours.

Good experience to visit a battle ship from close. There is a lots of parking space there. For sure the ship is not ADA, but wheelchairs could access to the main deck. They charge you for tickets and they have discount for seniors and kids but not for students. You can go all the way to top of the forth deck( not sureand enjoy being in part of the US history. For sure kids enjoy being there.

This has to be one of my favorite military museums that I’ve ever been to and I am from San Diego. The history of the ship is extremely well documented so I won’t go into that but meeting some former engineers and sailors who actually served on the ship when it was in duty was a true pleasure and honor. That opportunity is quickly slipping away as time goes on. Parking is easier than easy and right in front of the ship and what I like most about it is you follow a set route through the ship that leads you through the entire thing up three levels and into the bowels of the ship. I was told that you can pay for extra tours of certain areas of the ship but those require reservations and are a different fee.Overall an amazing museum and some thing every American should visit. If you’re a fan of anything to do with engineering, sailing, military, engines, combat, or history you have to come here immediately. I would not suggest it for anyone who has mobility issues though because you will have to climb many sets of narrow stairs and also I am 6’3” and had to duck my head every time I was inside because the ceilings are pretty low so it is not designed for tall people either. 5/5!

Now I’ve been to a number of Museum ships (USS NJ, Battleship Cove, USS Olympia, USS Salem, USS Cassin Young and a few othersin my time and she’s in the best condition I’ve seen a museum ship. Absolutely beautiful, the personnel on board were very friendly and willing to go above and beyond to get the best experience for the guests on board. Honestly everything is great. My only issue is that out of all the ships I’ve been on it’s honestly the one that doesn’t go down that much. I only ended up going only one deck below the main deck and that was it, cutting out the engines and a lot of the machinery. Beyond that which I need to point out are pretty minor, the experience was awesome and hope to come back again sometime later.

The Iowa had very little visitors due to the pandemic, though that meant that the ship was entirely my partner and I’s to explore. There was a self-guided tour, yet at the mid-way point we were accompanied by one of the extremely knowledgeable volunteers aboard the Iowa. He was kind enough to show us his favorite areas, aspects, and stories of the ship before allowing us free reign once again. We spent the afternoon wandering through the massive structure and envisioning what life would be like on the battle ship that seemed to have everything a person would need while on the seas. What was even more impressive was Roosevelt’s quarters and how stately the space still looks to this day. A great experience and walk through history for the entire family!

Great Ship with a lot of history. Plenty of parking and inexpensive. The guys on the ship know a lot of the history and have great short stories about it and its history. We spent about 5 hours there which is more than probably most, but there was so much to see and read. Small ladders to climb and plenty of viewpoints from the boat, thankbyou USS IOWA

We got the Los Angeles Explorer Pass for one attraction we wanted to do, and we were open for the second one - due to time clash, we ended up visiting the Battleship USS Iowa Museum. Im glad we did because it is truly a wonderful experience. It is very nicely organized where everyone walks in one direction and no one is bumping into each other. A part of it is outdoors and then you get to the indoors bit - where you get to see the crew and the captains room, the dining area, the cafeteria, etc. It is amazing!! My husband works in the Oil and Gas field, so he really enjoyed.