Los Angeles Maritime Museum
Built to engender a knowledge and
understanding of California’s
maritime history, the Los Angeles
Maritime Museum shows particular
emphasis on the people and
institutions of the Los Angeles port
city. Located in the 1941 Municipal
Ferry Terminal, the museum is now
listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
A ferry system brought thousands of
passengers to the canneries and
military bases located on
Terminal Island from 1941 to
1963. From here they could make
connecting voyages to neighboring
cities and districts. Located on
the main channel in Los Angeles
Harbor, San Pedro, California, the
L.A. Maritime Museum is housed in
the former Municipal Ferry Terminal
building. With the opening of the
Vincent Thomas Bridge in 1963, the
ferry ceased operations.
The history of commercial diving in
the L.A. Harbor is showcased in one
of the museum’s exhibits. A
Navy Hall that houses large model
ships such as the U.S. Navy cruiser
Los Angeles is found here.
There is also an exhibit that
traces the once thriving San Pedro
fishing industry.
Models of merchant ships such as the
Silverpalm, square riggers, sail
boats, and a still functioning ham
radio station are found upstairs.
The tugboat “Angels Gate” is
operated by the museum. Built in
1944
for the Army Transportation
Service, Angels Gate was first
called the ST-695. It was among the
fleet of tugboats built for the
World War II European theater. |
