Ever wondered what it feels like to be surrounded by steel in the belly of a submarine? You can experience that at the floating Maritime Museum of San Diego, located at the Port of San Diego. The museum’s collection of historically significant seagoing vessels includes the magnificent Star of India, widely regarded as the oldest active ship in the world. The harbor-side collection also features the replica yacht America, the galleon replica San Salvador, the 1904 steam yacht Medea, the 1898 steam ferry Berkeley, the recreated 24-gun frigate HMS Surprise, and the impressive official tall ship of California, the California.
San Salvador © SanDiego.org and Jerry Soto
The museum’s fleet also includes a San Diego Harbor Pilot Boat, a PCF 816 Swift Boat, and two submarines. One submarine on display is the 555 USS Dolphin, noted for holding the world’s deepest dive record, a feat set in 1968 that still stands. The Soviet diesel-electric B-39 submarine is another highlight: a Cold War-era vessel connected to the events of its time and a rare opportunity to tour a submarine once classified by NATO as part of the Foxtrot class.
Exhibits at the museum cover a broad sweep of maritime history and technology. Among the permanent and rotating displays are “Charting the Sea, Rum: Sailors, Pirates and Prohibition,” “Age of Sail,” “To the Brink of War,” “Harvesting the Ocean,” “San Diego’s Navy,” “Age of Steam,” and “Swift Boats at War in Vietnam.” These galleries, combined with access to the vessels themselves, provide a layered, immersive look at seafaring life, naval operations, and maritime trade across centuries.
Beyond walking through exhibits and touring ships, the museum offers several on-water experiences that bring the collection to life. Daily history cruises depart aboard the 1914 pilot boat multiple times each day, giving visitors a narrated tour of the bay and a chance to view the city and its waterfront from the water. On weekends, the Swift Boat operates two 75-minute tours focused on military history. The tall ship California runs three-hour Adventure Sailings on most weekends, allowing guests to participate in traditional sail handling and learn about tall-ship life.
Seasonally, the San Salvador replica also offers daytime sailing adventures that recreate the experience of a 16th-century galleon. These sails provide a sense of how early explorers traveled and traded, combining hands-on learning with period interpretation. Boarding and departure times are scheduled for each sailing, and trips return the same day, making them convenient half- or full-day experiences for visitors.
Whether you prefer historic vessels, naval artifacts, submarine tours, or hands-on sailing, the Maritime Museum of San Diego provides rich, family-friendly programming that appeals to history buffs, maritime enthusiasts, and casual visitors alike. The mix of museum exhibits and active vessel experiences makes it possible to learn about maritime history both on land and at sea, offering a memorable way to explore San Diego’s maritime heritage.