Unlike typical museums which house exhibits and galleries within their walls, the Maritime Museum of San Diego is a collection of several historic ships with below deck exhibits, docked along the region's beautiful waterfront. Your general admission ticket gives you complete access to tour all ships and exhibits for one low ticket price. The fleet ranges from tall ship sailing vessels to steam ferry boats to the USS Dolphin submarine. Come and discover 500 years of seafaring history as you step on board and back in time!

Hoist the anchor of boredom and set your sails for an ocean of fun and fascinating history at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Before air travel killed the seafaring star, the world was shaped by swashbuckling adventures on the high seas. The Maritime Museum of San Diego takes you on an immersive voyage back across the tide of time to discover the fascinating stories of maritime history. Climb aboard the oldest operational ship in the world, make believe you are a gunner aboard a real man-of-war ship in a naval battle royale, walk the upper and lower decks of the iconic HMS Surprise, learn to navigate at sea by the stars, and more boat loads of fun await!

PCF 816 is a tangible reminder of the service and dedication of so many Swift Boat sailors and allows visitors the opportunity to better understand what they sacrificed. The Swift Boat Sailors Association brought the PCF 816 Swift Boat to the Maritime Museum of San Diego to be restored and operated on San Diego Bay. Museum visitors now can experience the sound and throbbing vibration from two V12 diesels delivering 980 horsepower for high speed runs through the Bay while retired Swift Boat Sailors and docents talk about what it was like to be a crewman in Vietnam, serving as a Quartermaster, Gunner’s Mate, Engineman, Radarman, Bosun’s Mate or Skipper. The Navy first used them on coastal patrol as a part of Operation Market Time to interdict seaborne supplies on their way to the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army in South Vietnam. Later, the boats moved into the rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta and the Ca Mau peninsula to conduct special operations.

Restored by the Maritime Museum of San Diego and relaunched in 2002, San Diego’s chief pilot craft *Pilot* is an old lady with quite a story to tell! You'll learn all about this ship's amazing history on a scenic cruise around San Diego Bay, and see a lot of the city's most famous sites as you sail. Attractions you will see include: Lindbergh field, the Coast Guard station, North Island, Aircraft Carrier(s), City of Coronado, Coronado Bridge, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Tijuana/border, 24th Street Marine Terminal, Naval Station San Diego, shipyards, 10th Ave. Marine Terminal, Convention Center, Library, Petco Park, Seaport Village, Tuna Harbor, USO Park and more!

Book your admission tickets to visit the Maritime Museum of San Diego!

Sail aboard the Californian, the official tall ship of California. Witness the city of San Diego from the water and enjoy admission to the Maritime Museum. Learn about San Diego’s maritime history from the Californian’s crew. Hear stories of whaling, sea otter trade, local sea battles, ship’s gunnery, and life at sea. Your ticket includes entry to the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Explore exhibits featuring the Star of India, one of the world’s oldest active ships, and the H.M.S Surprise. Discover San Diego's naval history, the Age of Sail, and the Age of Steam through a range of engaging displays.