Pacific Battleship Center

What Pacific Battleship Center does

Pacific Battleship Center is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates the Battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) as a public museum and waterfront attraction at Berth 87 in the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro. Founded around 2010–2011 to acquire the vessel from the U.S. Navy's reserve fleet, the organization received custody of the ship in 2011, opened it to the public on July 4, 2012, and now runs self-guided and crew-led tour experiences across seven decks and 75+ exhibits. Its product surface spans admissions ($21.95–$29.95), multiple guided tour tiers (Gun, Engineering, President's, Escape the Fleet), youth education programs (Camp Battleship, STEAM at Sea, Field Trips), and veterans programs (Transition Pathways, Skillbridge), all framed under the Maritime Pathways initiative. The organization also operates LA Fleet Week as an annual Memorial Day event and is launching the National Museum of the Surface Navy and a "Life of a Sailor" immersive experience in 2026.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit funding stack: ticket admission, on-site gift shop and café (Vicky's Doghouse), private and corporate event rentals, tax-deductible donations, and corporate/agency sponsorships. Sponsors and partners include Boeing, Northrop Grumman, APM Terminals, the Port of Los Angeles, Timken Foundation (a $500,000 gift in March 2026), Wells Fargo, Marathon Petroleum, and Phillips 66, alongside a chartered community ecosystem of veterans and military-affiliated organizations operating from the ship. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer with in-person and online ticketing, supplemented by group bookings for schools and corporate clients, and event-driven demand spikes around LA Fleet Week and special programming.

Governance is led by President & CEO Jonathan Williams, COO Mike Getscher, CIO David Canfield, and Board Chairman Bruce DD MacRae, with 101–250 employees and no disclosed parent company, private equity, or venture capital backing. The organization holds no patents, files no public financials beyond 501(c)(3) compliance, and reports revenue as not publicly disclosed; operating geography is concentrated in Southern California with no international footprint.

Name

Pacific Battleship Center

Legal name

Pacific Battleship Center

Website

https://pacificbattleship.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pacific Battleship Center is a Los Angeles 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates Battleship USS IOWA as a waterfront museum and tour attraction, serving tourists, families, school groups, veterans, and corporate event clients with admissions, education programs, and veteran services, and is launching the National Museum of the Surface Navy in 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Ship Museum

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Naval Ship Modernization, Refits & Life Extension (Depot Maintenance) (IMAJABAI)

Keywords

• Historic ship museum
• Naval heritage education
• Waterfront tourist attraction
• Veterans support programs
• Maritime youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Self-guided and guided tour ticket sales ranging from $21.95-$29.95 per person. Multiple tour tiers including Gun Tour, Engineering Tour, President's Tour, and Escape the Fleet Adventure Tour with varying price points.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting preservation of Battleship IOWA and museum programs
3. Gift Shop and Café: Ship's Store merchandise and Vicky's Doghouse Café food and beverage sales on the aft deck
4. Private Events and Group Bookings: Corporate events, private tours, VIP experiences, and group bookings for organizations
5. Sponsorships: Program sponsorships from corporations including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Port of Los Angeles, and other organizations listed on sponsor page

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pacific Battleship Center operates the Battleship USS IOWA as a historic ship museum at Berth 87 in the Port of Los Angeles, offering self-guided and crew-led guided tour experiences across seven decks. The organization runs the National Museum of the Surface Navy (launching 2026), hosts LA Fleet Week annually, and delivers educational, veterans transition, and youth programs under its Maritime Pathways framework. Revenue is generated through admission tickets, gift shop and cafe sales, private events, corporate sponsorships, and tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Product overview

Pacific Battleship Center operates Battleship USS IOWA as a premier Los Angeles waterfront museum and historic attraction. The core product is the Battleship IOWA Museum Experience, offering self-guided tours and multiple crew-led guided tour variations including the President's Guided Tour, Guided Gun Tour, Guided Engineering Tour, and Escape the Fleet Adventure Tour. The organization is launching the National Museum of the Surface Navy in 2026 featuring the Life of a Sailor immersive experience. Additional offerings include youth education programs (Camp Battleship, STEAM at Sea, Field Trips), veterans programs (Transition Pathways, Skillbridge), and community initiatives including LA Fleet Week. The experience integrates family activities like the Vicky the Dog scavenger hunt and amenities like Vicky's Doghouse Cafe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Battleship IOWA Museum Experience Immersive museum experience aboard historic Battleship USS IOWA with self-guided and guided tours across 7 decks, featuring exhibits on naval history, presidential visits, and military artifacts.
• Self-Guided Tour General admission experience allowing visitors to explore the battleship at their own pace with the Vicky the Dog scavenger hunt for families.
• Guided Tour Experience
• President's Guided Tour
• Guided Gun Tour
• Guided Engineering Tour
• Escape the Fleet Adventure Tour
• National Museum of the Surface Navy Family-friendly museum launching aboard Battleship IOWA that immerses guests in life at sea through hands-on exhibits and stories celebrating courage, community, and service.
• Life of a Sailor Bold immersive experience at the National Museum of the Surface Navy where visitors live history through cinematic environments, interactive storytelling, and hands-on moments.
• Camp Battleship Youth Overnight Encampment
• STEAM at Sea, Day of Discovery, and Field Trips
• Veterans Programs
• LA Fleet Week
• Vicky's Doghouse Cafe
• Vicky the Dog Scavenger Hunt

Quantifiable outcome

• Millions of visitors hosted since 2012 museum opening
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• America250coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced March 2026 to celebrate America's 250th anniversary in Los Angeles. Pacific Battleship Center and America250 collaborating on events and programming aboard Battleship IOWA as part of the national celebration.
• Los Angeles Disaster Resilience and Recovery Collective (LADRRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity resilience partnership focused on regional disaster preparedness and recovery efforts in the Los Angeles area. PBC serves as a community anchor for this initiative.
• LA Fleet WeekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Memorial Day weekend event where Battleship IOWA serves as flagship. PBC organizes ship tours, festival activities, and community programming as part of Southern California's largest Memorial Day event.
• Port of Los AngelesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome port partner providing berth at Berth 87 and ongoing support for the museum. PBC and Port of LA have berth and lease arrangement approved by Los Angeles City Council.
• Veterans Peer Access Network (VPAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans-helping-veterans program connecting retired service members. VPAN Los Angeles branch operates from Battleship IOWA providing peer support and resources.
• Surface Navy Association - Battleship IOWA ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSNA chapter meets aboard the ship and is actively involved in IOWA and National Museum of the Surface Navy activities. Serves Greater LA area members.
• American Legion Battleship IOWA Post 61coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia American Legion post chartered aboard USS Iowa in November 2017. Provides scholarships, community programs, and patriotic day observances including Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
• Marine Corps League Big Stick Det 1496minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine Corps League detachment based aboard Battleship IOWA promoting interest and preserving traditions of the Marine Corps.
• Sea Cadets - Battleship IOWA DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNavy youth development program division operating from the ship building leaders of character through discipline, service, and sea services appreciation.
• Warrior SailingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans sailing program focused on healing and strengthening veterans through sailing activities, connected to PBC as a veteran resource.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park: Honolulu-based nonprofit operating a WWII submarine museum at Pearl Harbor. Comparable vessel-based nonprofit museum with admission, gift shop, and education programming in a waterfront tourism setting.
• Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum: Nonprofit naval museum in Charleston, SC operating multiple historic vessels (aircraft carrier, destroyer, submarine) plus a virtual reality center. Comparable waterfront museum operator with similar multi-vessel tour and education programming.
• USS Midway Museum: San Diego-based aircraft carrier museum operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with self-guided audio tours, educational programs, and corporate sponsorships. Directly comparable historic naval vessel museum model serving the Southern California tourism market.
• USS Constitution Museum: Boston-based nonprofit museum adjacent to the USS Constitution, focused on naval heritage and education. Comparable historic naval museum model with similar education-pillar programming and donor-supported funding base.
• USS Lexington Museum on the Bay: Nonprofit aircraft carrier museum in Corpus Christi, TX with self-guided tours, overnight encampments, and youth education programs. Closely comparable historic naval-vessel museum with similar Camp Battleship-style youth programming.
• USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park: Nonprofit memorial park in Mobile, Alabama operating a WWII battleship (USS Alabama) alongside aircraft and submarine exhibits. Comparable historic naval vessel museum with similar admission, education, and event-driven revenue mix.
• Battleship New Jersey Museum: Nonprofit museum operating the USS New Jersey (BB-62), an Iowa-class sister ship, in Camden, NJ. Closest direct comparable given shared Iowa-class platform, battleship-museum model, and tiered guided-tour and overnight-program offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Intrepid Museum: New York City-based nonprofit museum aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, with broader scope across sea, air, and space. Comparable historic naval-vessel museum model at significantly larger scale with more diversified programming.
• National WWII Museum: New Orleans-based nonprofit focused on WWII history with immersive exhibits and major educational programming. Comparable in donor-supported nonprofit museum model, immersive storytelling approach, and STEAM education focus, though not vessel-based.

Others

• Port of Los Angeles: Municipal landlord and home-port partner for PBC at Berth 87. Not a peer in operating terms, but a key strategic counterparty whose berth and lease arrangement is foundational to PBC's ability to operate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ussiowa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ussiowamuseum
• Facebookfacebook.com/pacificbattleship
• Instagraminstagram.com/battleshipiowa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Battleship Center