Maritime Museum of San Diego

The Maritime Museum of San Diego sits along the Embarcadero waterfront and gives families access to 11 historic vessels they can actually board and explore — not just look at from a distance. The collection spans sailing ships, steamships, and submarines from multiple eras, and the 'you can touch everything' approach makes it one of the more engaging history museums in the city.

The centerpiece is the Star of India, an 1863 iron-hulled sailing ship that is the oldest active sailing ship in the world — meaning it still makes occasional voyages. Standing on its wooden decks and looking up at the rigging gives a visceral sense of what ocean travel looked like before engines. Below decks, you can see the cramped crew quarters and cargo holds that show the reality of 19th-century sea life.

The B-39 Soviet submarine from the Cold War era is the unexpected crowd-pleaser, especially with older kids and teens. Climbing through the actual hatches and standing in the torpedo room while imagining an entire crew living in these conditions for months is a history lesson that doesn't feel like a lesson.

The museum also operates harbor sailing tours on its historic vessels — these depart from the museum dock and cost extra beyond general admission, but give a perspective of San Diego Bay from the water that you can't get from shore.

Notes for families with very young children: the ships have narrow passages and steep ladders that are challenging with strollers and toddlers who aren't sure-footed. This experience is better for kids 5 and up who can navigate ship environments independently.