Whether searching for new lands or conquering them, “sailing the ocean blue” has always been part of the human spirit.
One place that offers a look at almost every angle of sailing is the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
The museum is a good place for service members looking to explore San Diego. It offers military discounts for admission and a look at naval military history. At any time there are at least six ships waiting to be explored, and each of the ships has detailed signs aboard explaining how they came to be.
Two former U.S. Navy and Russian vessels that can offer a good look into a sailor’s life are the USS Dolphin submarine and the Russian “Foxtrot” B-39 submarine.
The Dolphin, which was commissioned in 1968 and decommissioned in 2007, is the smaller of the two vessels. As you walk towards the entrance of the Dolphin, you can see the green algae clinging to the outside of the submarine. Once you reach the entrance, you might experience a slightly claustrophobic feeling. To get inside the vessel, you must pass through a 3-by-3 foot square hole and climb down a steep set of stairs, but the view inside the submarine is well worth the venture.
Once inside the submarine, the space is dark and all you can see is the low, yellowish glow the few lights give off. As you walk along the 4-foot- wide metal path, you will see thousands of wires strung along every wall. About half way through the submarine is where you’ll find the living quarters. These quarters really give you a feel for the conditions sailors had to endure.
The “Foxtrot” submarine is very similar to the Dolphin. The main difference is the round doorways you must pass through. Like most submarines, the entry to a passageway is a menace for taller sailors, as these round doors are less than 4 feet high.
If cramped quarters and small spaces are not for you, there are plenty of other historical vessels worth visiting. The “Medea” is a 134-foot steam yacht built in 1904. This ship served in both World Wars under the French, Royal and Norwegian Navies.
There are two rooms available for the public to explore on the Medea. Both of these have majestic finished wood, and the walls are lined with portraits of former owners. The carpets are luxurious, with intricate gold designs and red fabric. The Medea provides a sneak peek into the lives of the wealthy during the early 20th century.
Not all the ships at the museum have a place in military history. Some were merely used to transport people. These ships include the sailing vessel, “Star of India,” and the steamboat ferry, “Berkley.” Both have been restored to their former glory of the mid and late 1800s, and they provide an insight into two very different styles of sea travel.
The Star of India is a cargo and immigrant transport ship from 1863. It is filled with blue painted porcelain china, relics from the original ship crews and passenger room displays. One room shows how cramped travel was back then with a display of a family of five boarding together in a single room. The Berkley on the other hand, has a very wide open space, with three decks open to the public. This ship has a library, a workshop and a model ship shop. Now, if you would like to actually be transported on a vessel versus just touring one, there’s an opportunity for that too.
Aside from exploring the ships, you can cruise along the San Diego Bay. The museum offers short, 45-minute trips aboard the oldest working “pilot” boat on the West Coast.
The small vessel, which is also named the “Pilot,” was built in 1914 and served in World War II. Every day the 52-foot boat sails around Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., the coast of Coronado Island and the coast of San Diego for a brief look at old hotels, local attractions and the USS Midway.
Overall, the Maritime Museum is rich in military and naval history, and local volunteers do a great job maintaining the ships. These vessels offer detailed accounts of a time when adventurers, explorers and passengers endured great hardships to sail the ocean blue.
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