Los Angeles Maritime Museum facts for kids
The Los Angeles Maritime Museum is a special place in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California. It's a maritime museum, which means it's all about ships, the ocean, and the history of sailing and ports. It's a non-profit museum, so it's run for the public good, not to make money.
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About the Museum Building
The Los Angeles Maritime Museum is inside a really cool old building. It used to be the Municipal Ferry Terminal. This building is right on the main channel of the Los Angeles Harbor.
A Historic Design
The building was designed in a style called Streamline Moderne. This style was popular in the 1930s and 1940s. It looks very smooth and modern, like a fast ship or train. An architect named Derwood Lydell Irvin from the Los Angeles Harbor Department designed it. It was built in 1941 by the Works Project Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program that helped people find jobs during a tough time in history. They built many important buildings and projects across the country.
From Ferry Terminal to Museum
For many years, ferries used this building to take people between San Pedro and Terminal Island. But in 1963, the Vincent Thomas Bridge opened. This big bridge made it easy for cars to cross, so the ferry service stopped.
After the ferries left, the building was used for offices. But people in the community wanted to save this historic place. Thanks to their efforts, the Los Angeles Maritime Museum opened its doors in 1979. Today, the San Pedro Municipal Ferry Building is recognized as a special historic landmark. It's a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The museum is the biggest maritime museum on the West Coast. The inside of the museum was updated by a Modernist architect named James Pulliam. The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks helps run the museum. You can visit the museum Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 AM to 5 PM.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum has many interesting things to see. You can learn about the history of commercial diving in Los Angeles Harbor. This means learning about people who worked underwater for jobs.
Ship Models and Movie Props
There's a Navy Hall with large models of ships. One model is of the U.S. Navy cruiser Los Angeles. You can also see the SS Poseidon model from the 1972 disaster movie The Poseidon Adventure.
Fishing Industry History
Another exhibit tells the story of the San Pedro fishing industry. This industry used to be very busy! You can learn about how people used purse (net) seining to catch fish. There are also stories about the San Pedro Fishermen's Fiesta and the tuna canneries on Terminal Island. Canneries are places where fish are processed and put into cans.
Upstairs Exhibits and Working Radio
Upstairs, you'll find models of merchant ships, like the Silverpalm. There are also models of square riggers and sail boats. You can even see a fully working ham radio station! Ham radio is a hobby where people talk to others around the world using radio waves.
Historic Boats Outside
The museum also operates a tugboat called Angels Gate. This tugboat was built in 1944 for the Army Transportation Service. It was part of a fleet of tugboats designed for World War II. Another important boat, the fireboat Ralph J. Scott, is docked nearby. This fireboat is a U.S. National Historic Landmark, which means it's a very important part of American history.
See also
- Maritime history of California
- Maritime museums in California
- Museums in Los Angeles
