Los Angeles Maritime Museum

Located inside of the Municipal Ferry Terminal in San Pedro at the bottom of John S. Gibson Park, the Los Angeles Maritime Museum is a place where visitors can celebrate maritime history and learn about area legends of the sea. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and served operated from 1941-1963. The ferry took riders to shipyards, canneries, and military bases in the area. Today's busy harbor is an attraction for visitors and an important part of the Los Angeles economy. The museum is maintained and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and is funded by the Maritime Museum Foundation. The grounds surrounding the museum feature a variety of monuments including the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial and the U.S. Navy heavy cruiser Los Angeles. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am until 5 pm. Group tours can be scheduled and are popular for field trips, community education, and senior groups. The museum is home to an extensive research library and archives and researchers can access to materials by making an appointment. The collection includes books, periodicals, pamphlets and other archival materials donated by pilots, sailors, mariners, captains, authors, and ship modelers. The library houses nearly 6,000 items. The Maritime Museum has been open since 1980.