Battleship opens as floating museum in Los Angeles

From Examiner.com:  Battleship opens as floating museum in Los Angeles

Nicknamed “The Battleship of Presidents” and “The Big Stick”, the USS Iowa began its new career as a floating museum and held a grand opening this week at its new home berth in San Pedro. While the ship’s restoration is still in progress, visitors this weekend will be able to walk the main deck and see the 16 inch gun turrets, the captain’s quarters, the Roosevelt cabin, the bridge, the galley, the helicopter flight deck and the missile deck. Other areas of the ship will be opened as work continues.

Built in 1940, the Iowa served in World II, the Korean War and Vietnam. During the 1980’s she was reactivated and armed with cruise missiles and other modern weapon systems. In 2001, the Iowa was moored with the mothball fleet in Suisun Bay, California. On October 27, 2011 the battleship was towed to Richmond, California where restoration work began. Volunteers worked for months to prepare the vessel for the voyage to Los Angeles. On June 9, 2012, the Iowa was successfully towed to Berth 87 at the Port of Los Angeles.

 

 

In addition to the areas of the ship that are open for tours there will be a ship store and museum as well as several exhibits that highlight the Iowa’s rich history. There are future plans for interactive exhibits and a Battleship Research Library. Two interactive experiences are being created for the Iowa by video game developer Wargaming.net. In the Iowa’s below –deck digital theater there will be a virtual video experience from the bridge recreating the ship’s role in supporting the amphibious invasion of the island of Okinawa in 1945. Visitor will see the Iowa’s 16 inch guns fire. In addition, there will be a game room aboard the ship where visitors can fly Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter planes to defend the Iowa from Japanese Zeros.

For information about visiting the USS Iowa, go to the Pacific Battleship Center’s website at: http://www.pacificbattleship.com/