USS Iowa Battleship
This battleship BB-61 is wet docked in harbor in LA. It is still under restoration. As you can see in the picture above I am standing on wood decking. They are currently raising funds to replace/restore all decking to teak wood. Only some areas have been restored. The sea is not kind. We saw two workers on the ship working on cleaning/fighting rust? on previously restored areas. I imagine with a full 134 Officers and 2400 enlisted (WWII crew) there would be many hands to keep it clean/rust free.
It was really hard to get a picture to show the vast size of this ship. It is enormous. It would be quite the sight to have these pointed at you.
A couple of the decks are open and restored for touring. They have retired military volunteers and some museum workers to guide you. Inside there are some displays and videos going describing the use of the Iowa battleship and other Iowa class battleships.
Iowa BB-61 carried President Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference in 1943. It was outfited with a bathtub just for this voyage.
President Reagan and First Lady Nancy boarded the USS Iowa in 1986 during the centenary of the Statue of Liberty. George HW Bush as Vice President recommissioned the USS Iowa in 1984, and as President Bush he attended a memorial service aboard the ship for 47 servicemen.
Look at how long it is!
I would encourage you to puruse this link if you want to learn more
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa-class_battleship
Also, Iowa residents get to tour for free, just show your license.
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