# Has anyone been to any Museum Ships? Thoughts on best ones? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2022, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476 "2022-06-20T03:59:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2022, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/81 "2022-06-22T02:47:22Z")
Sadly, you’re probably spot on. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2022, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/82 "2022-06-22T07:14:50Z")
> [@its\_the\_daddy](#): > > You get HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, Mary Rose and loads more besides. The only disappointment is that you get chased around Victory in short order; We were there in February and in all the exhibits, Victory included, you could take as long as you like. ---
**Author:** ![its\_the\_daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@its\_the\_daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/its_the_daddy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2022, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/83 "2022-06-22T10:37:06Z")
Excellent! Thanks for the update It’s about 7 years since I went, and must have been a busy time. I remember them admitting visitors in bunches every 20 minutes, and then chasing them through. I asked at the time if it were possible to get a longer visit, and they said that if you apply by letter to the Commander, you **may** be able to join an (expensive) evening dinner party on board, with more exploration time. May be worth checking, though. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecc23a/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada_Jr)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/84 "2022-06-22T14:23:33Z")
> [@McCaff](#): > > Book is new only to me. “Sailing Ship Elissa” > 1998, College Station, Texas A&M Press. New to me as well! One is on it’s way now. ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/85 "2022-06-22T15:24:04Z")
The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park is the largest inland Naval Park in the country. Located on Buffalo’s Waterfront. We spent hours on two ships & submarine. There are others item exhibited in the park. In the evening we took in minor league baseball game Buffalo Bisons ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/86 "2022-06-22T16:29:08Z")
I have not been to any American ones. But I thoroughly enjoyed the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool. They have ships you can explore but also cover hundreds of years of the history of that port. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2022, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/87 "2022-06-22T17:26:00Z")
> [@Retzbu\_Tox](#): > > The Niña is a working reproduction of one of 1492 Columbus expedition caravels. It is a traveling museum ship. I have been aboard it twice on the Mississippi River. I was amazed at how small it was. I toured those ships in Gulf Shores a few years ago. They were very tiny. Hard to believe they sailed the Atlantic. > [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > I have not been to any American ones. But I thoroughly enjoyed the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool. They have ships you can explore but also cover hundreds of years of the history of that port. Agreed. Excellent museum. Doesn’t shy away from their history in the slave trade, either. I’ve toured many of the ships mentioned–USS Alabama, USS Drum, USS Constitution, USS Cassin Young, U-505, HMS Belfast–and I enjoyed them all, though U-505 and HMS Belfast are a cut above. For a civilian ship, rather than a warship, the [SS William A. Irvin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_William_A._Irvin) is a classic laker. Pairs nicely with the [Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Superior_Maritime_Visitor_Center) > [@What\_Exit](#): > > The Battleship New Jersey\*\* in Camden, New Jersey. The most decorated ship in US History. Maybe the most decorated battleship. I still say it was the Big E. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > (Please note, the USS Enterprise CV-6 was the most decorated ship in WWII and perhaps the most important ship in Navy History, but she was decommission and turned to scrap very sadly.) An absolute disgrace. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/88 "2023-04-05T19:51:47Z")
Bumping this thread as it’s the best discussion of this historical incident. > [@3AxisCtrl](#): > > The _Vasa_ lay submerged near Stockholm for hundreds of years until salvaged in 1961. It’s now the star of what is surely one of the best museums in the world. Because despite having sunk centuries ago, the _Vasa_ is still making news. > **[DNA: Woman was on famed 17th century Swedish warship](https://news.yahoo.com/dna-woman-famed-17th-century-120324640.html)** > > A U.S. military laboratory has helped Swedes confirm what was suspected for years: A woman was among those who died on a 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage, the museum that displays the ship said Tuesday. The wreck of the royal... Interesting stuff. No way to know who specifically she was, but I would expect the museum to find space for a little shout-out to the mystery woman now that her presence is confirmed. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/89 "2023-04-05T20:25:12Z")
When Amundsen completed his 3 year voyage locked in the ice of the northwest passage, he sailed down the coast to San Francisco and beached the Gjoa just below the Cliff House. It was then hauled ashore and mounted for display at the foot of Golden Gate Park where we used to visit and marvel at it in the 50s. But sometime around the summer of love the hippies moved into the hull and set it on fire. The USS Olympia in Philadelphia is well worth the visit. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/90 "2023-04-05T20:33:15Z")
I’ve always been quite the landlubber. Nonetheless, I did see [HMCS Haida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Haida) at Ontario Place (Toronto lakeshore) eons ago as a kid. I would love to see the [Vasa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasa_(ship)) in Stockholm. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/91 "2023-04-05T21:27:40Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > But if you ever visit Stockholm, see the **Vasa** ; you won’t be disappointed. One of the highlights of my trip to Stockholm. Just astonishing. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/92 "2023-04-06T01:54:39Z")
> [@themapleleaf](#): > > Nonetheless, I did see [HMCS Haida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Haida) at Ontario Place (Toronto lakeshore) eons ago as a kid. In all my visits to Ontario Place over the years I was only on the Haida once. I think it’s in Hamilton now. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/93 "2023-04-06T08:34:01Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > As for museum ships, thirding the **USS Midway** in San Diego. I have seen many of the museum ships in this topic, and this summer we will be in San Diego. Looks like we will have to schedule some hours to see everything there. Looking forward to it! ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/94 "2023-04-06T09:34:36Z")
USS Midway is definitely a ship you should dedicate at least 3-4 hours for, there’s a ton to see and also it has a pretty decent burger restaurant onboard the ship so you don’t need to get food outside the ship when you visit. ---
**Author:** ![Toffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@Toffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toffe)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/95 "2023-04-06T12:14:22Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > When Amundsen completed his 3 year voyage locked in the ice of the northwest passage, he sailed down the coast to San Francisco and beached the Gjoa just below the Cliff House. It was then hauled ashore and mounted for display at the foot of Golden Gate Park where we used to visit and marvel at it in the 50s. But sometime around the summer of love the hippies moved into the hull and set it on fire. It survived though, it’s on display at the Fram museum in Oslo: [The Polar Ship Gjøa | FRAM](https://frammuseum.no/polar-history/vessels/the-polar-ship-gjoa/) On and off for some years I’ve been building a model of it in wood based off its construction drawings and photos I took. The Fram museum, neighbouring Kon-Tiki museum, and the fairly-nearby Vikingeskipshuset/Viking Ship Museum are museum ships/ship museums I really enjoyed. Regarding the Wasa - probably my favourite museum - and the thread bump for the confirmed woman’s remains, the Wasa sank on its way to pick up soldiers elsewhere in the Stockholm Archipelago before heading out to war. There definitely would have been guests on board, probably just expecting to go from the harbour to the soldiers’ boarding point. Just to clarify that it’s extremely unlikely that this woman was expecting to be on board Wasa for a voyage beyond Stockholm. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/96 "2023-04-06T12:23:53Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > **USS Constellation** in Baltimore is a fairly good museum ship. The ship is of no actual historic importance, it is not one of the original Frigates. This is an 1854 warship named for the famous Frigate. The Inner Harbor also has the Lightship Chesapeake, a Coast Guard Cutter and a submarine. They use to have a destroyer, not sure what happened to it. As long as the thread has been bumped, the newest class of Frigates has been launched and it is the Constellation Class. [The Constellation FFG-62](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constellation_(FFG-62)). The next two to launch will be the Congress FFG-63 & The Chesapeake FFG-64. This suggests that the two after these will be the United States and The President to round out the original 6 Frigates of the US Navy. Both USS President & USS United States are currently unused. Obviously the name The Constitution is not available as the flagship of the fleet. Traditionally, Frigates were named after Navy & Marine Heroes. * * * * * * New thread of possible interest: [What was the most important Navy Ship of all time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-important-navy-ship-of-all-time/982250) ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/97 "2023-04-06T12:29:09Z")
> [@Toffe](#): > > It survived though, it’s on display at the Fram museum in Oslo Thanks for the link. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/98 "2023-04-06T14:09:09Z")
I’ve visited the _USS Constitution_ in Charlestown twice. Interesting both times, but the most recent visit was after I had read all of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin novels, which added immensely to my enjoyment. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/99 "2023-04-06T14:11:23Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > pretty decent burger restaurant onboard the ship Thanks for the hint! Decent burgers are few and far between here, so burgers are one of the things we search for when we’re in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476/100 "2023-04-06T14:52:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The Cod [in Cleveland, OH] is a WWII submarine, mostly a commerce raider. I’ve only been there a couple of times. Being a submarine, there really isn’t any room for what you might call “exhibits”, but there are pictures on the walls of how it looked when it was working. The guides will tell you about some of its storied history. My daughter and I toured The Cod a few months ago. It was the first time I had been in a sub. Was very impressive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-any-museum-ships-thoughts-on-best-ones/966476.md?page=6)