Los Angeles Maritime Museum Hosts Submarine Centennial Exhibit
. . . An Unforgettable Adventure
The California Center For Military History and the Los Angeles Maritime Museum took great delight in serving as the official hosts to the fourth naval ship to bear the city's name USS LOS ANGELES (SSN-688) during the Submarine Centennial year. The Los Angeles Maritime Museum was selected to serve as the city's official host site for a special year long Submarine Centennial Exhibit. The exhibit was publically unveiled in February 2000 following a Premiere Opening held in honor of the visit of Rear Admiral Albert H. Konetzni, Jr., USN, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Los Angeles-class submarine in Los Angeles Harbor
Los Angeles Maritime Museum . . . An Unforgetable Adventure
Housed within the museum are seven galleries containing a large collection of beautifully crafted models, paintings, sailor crafts, seafaring artifacts, and memorabilia reflecting the maritime heritage of the greater Los Angeles harbor and Pacific. Inside the Maritime Museum's Navy Hall, which includes a display of hundreds of naval vessels in model form, can be found the actual flying bridge of the third LOS ANGELES (CA-135), which allows visitors to look out onto the Port of Los Angeles, home of America's largest harbor and one of the most prosperous ports, as though they were actually standing on the bridge of the cruiser that once beared the name Los Angeles.
The great Port of Los Angeles, located within the city limits of San Pedro, was annexed as part of the city of Los Angeles in 1909. The site of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum is located very close to the original home of the first Submarine Base on the Pacific Coast. As there exists very little historical information concerning the first submarine base located on the West Coast, the Naval Detachment of the California Center For Military History has undertaken the task of recording and preserving this history for future generations.
As the Los Angeles Maritime Museum is also the home of the USS Los Angeles Naval Monument, dedicated "to the Personnel and Ships of the United States Navy," it only seemed fitting that the Los Angeles Maritime Museum should have been selected to serve as the host site for these Submarine Centennial events.
Los Angeles Maritime Museum is also the home of several artifacts from the third Navy ship to bear the city's name USS LOS ANGELES (CA-135), including that ship's bell, a portion of the heavy cruiser's bow, mast, anchors, mooring bits, capstan cover are proudly displayed in the front of the Museum's building or in the adjacent Maritime Memorial Park, the home of the USS Los Angeles Naval Monument.
Among the Submarine Centennial displays will be the actual shipbuilder's model of the heavy cruiser LOS ANGELES (CA-135) which will be displayed next to the shipbuilder's model of the fourth ship to bear the name, USS LOS ANGELES (SSN-688).
The California Center For Military History is proud to join with the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in inviting you to come and listen to the creak and roll of the sailing ships of old, smell the rigging tar, stand at the flying bridge of the USS LOS ANGELES (CA-135), speak with water master modelers at work, or simply feel the sea breeze in your face, as you take home a memory of this city's seafaring adventure even after the United States Navy's Submarine Centennial has ended.
The museum is located at Berth 84, at the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Sixth Streets, in San Pedro, California. From the freeways, take 110 South [Harbor Freeway] to the Harbor Boulevard off ramp, and turn right onto Harbor Boulevard. Go one mile to 6th Street, and turn left. Parking is Free. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Closed Mondays). Tours in English and Spanish are available by appointment. Telephone: 310-548-7618.
Throughout the Submarine Centennial year, the Los Angeles Maritime Museum proudly displaed many of the artifacts which once belonged to the second and third naval ships to bear the name Los Angeles. The distinguished history of this naval ship is being displayed and preserved for future generations so that their historical role and significance in the history of the U.S. Navy will continue to honor the city of Los Angeles as does the fourth naval ship to bear the name USS LOS ANGELES (SSN-688).
The USS LOS ANGELES (SSN-688) is the lead ship of the largest class of high speed nuclear powered attack submarines in the Navy's arsenal. Dubbed the Navy's "First and Finest," the LOS ANGELES recently passed her 20th birthday, following an extensive 31 month overhaul in March 1995, returning to the fleet as one of the most modern and capable submarines in the Navy today equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art components.
The Los Angeles Maritime Museum, located just blocks from the famous Ports-of-Call Seaport Village, takes up residence in the historic San Pedro municipal ferry building which overlooks the harbor of Los Angeles. Between 1941 and 1963 thousands of cars, trucks and workers passed through the building each day on their way to the shipyards of Terminal Island. The powerful rams which once lifted and lowered the ferry ramp can still be seen in the Navy Hall.
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