Looks like this could happen. The USS Iowa as a museum berthed in San Pedro. I would love that!

L.A. group gains in fight for USS Iowa battleship - Press-Telegram

 

That would be cool. Wonder where they plan on putting it if it goes through? Maybe at the Maritime Museum where that Liberty Ship is.

 

Yeah, connection with the museum would be helpful. But I am not sure there is space there for a battleship. Maybe further up the channel toward the cruise ship slips?

 

Oh wait, you're referring to a different museum. The SS Lane museum. I've never been to that one, but it does look like there is open space there.

I was thinking of the Maritime Museum down near Ports 'O Call by the fire station. The tall sailing ships are berthed near there, and it is pretty crowded.

 

Yes, that's the one. Couldn't think of the name of the ship .

Wherever they put it, it'll probably take a donation of the area by someone/some company. Space is at a premium down there and it isn't cheap.

Could be some room up where Todd Shipyard used to be...I have no idea who owns that land now.

 

Welcome Aboard the S.S. Lane Victory

They take the SS Lane Victory out for cruises during the season. I've always thought that would be fun, but it is a little pricey for a short time period. But for a landlubber like myself, it is the only opportunity I would ever see to experience a Navy ship at sea.

Of course, that is a hell of a different ship than a battleship.

 

Franklin D. Roosevelt's grandson is heading this privately funded effort to have the USS Iowa (BB-61) moved here. All they need is permission from the Harbor Commission, and a berth large enough to moor the 887' beast.

The Commission met yesterday, so if permission was granted, look for the Iowa to come here soon (I've already signed up as a volunteer).

There's room next to the RMS Queen Mary, but that's in Long Beach as is the former Navy Yard & Todd Shipbuilding.

These two venues were supposed to be torn down, and used for a large container port.

At one time, the Matson Line moored the Lurline and other ships west of Ports of Call. This dockage hasn't been used for passenger ships in ages.

The SS Lane Victory makes several trips a year to Catalina and back, anyone can go...and this is where most of the money comes from to restore it.

btw: The Iowa has been "shopped around" to various cities (Alameda, Stockton, to name a couple), but were rejected by the local 'do-gooder' liberal politicians.

The Iowa received a bad rap because of the turret explosion that occured by accident (?) when it was last in commission. It's been rusting away in Suisun Bay ever since.

Besides the Iowa, there are dozens of USN 'fleet train' ships mothballed in Suisun Bay. The do-gooder liberals want all the ships gone, as they claim they are polluting the bay.

The other three Iowa Class battleships have been saved. The most famous of these, the USS Missouri (BB-63) is in Pearl Harbor, moored where the battleship USS California was on December 7, 1941.

The USS New Jersey (BB-62) is in Camden, the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is in Hampton Roads, VA, where the USS Monitor & Merrimac (CSS Virginia) fought during the Civil War.

And...the non Iowa Class battleships: USS North Carolina is in Wilmington, the USS Massachusetts is in Fall River, the USS Alabama is in Mobile Bay, and the only battleship to serve in two World Wars, the USS Texas...is in Houston.

 

I suppose it's neither here nor there for the purpose of this thread, but
Todd Pacific Shipyard was in San Pedro, just North of the Western end of the Vincent Thomas bridge. Used to drive past it every day on my way to work when I lived in San Pedro.

This page has a link to a Google map of the area, if the title of the page isn't enough to convince you:
Todd San Pedro Los Angeles Shipbuilding

Looks like there's containers on a lot of it now, but the old dry dock area and the slip next to it seem to be unoccupied.

 

Steve, I don't need convincing, if you say so.

I coulda sworn Todd was adjacent to the Naval Base. Now I'm wondering where the Naval Base was...Long Beach or San Pedro? I think it was in Long Beach.

The last time I was there (with my dad) was when the heavy cruiser USS Chicago was open to the general public about 30 years ago. My dad served on its sister ship (USS Quincy), so he knew his way around.

At one time, the US Fleet was located here (less destroyers and subs). Most of it moved to Pearl Harbor in May 1940 on orders from FDR.

 

Speaking of Long Beach and San Pedro (my thread, I guess I can go off topic if I want to):

Recently a day or two after a rain, coming over Colima I could see the rows of container cranes at the port. They are big sumbitches, and the way they were perfectly aligned in rows was beautiful in a way.

We can see Catalina faintly when it is clear, but this was the first time I ever remember seeing the cranes. They appeared alienish.

 

Speaking of cranes, Herman the German (a huge floating crane) was moved to Panama when the Naval Base closed.

The USN "acquired" it in Hamburg after WWII ended.

 

if i rember right on the iowa class where had home port in long beach