San Diego - Maritime Museum

Friday, October 2, 2009

After we left the ferry, we strolled along to the Maritime Museum, mainly to look at two ships - the Star of India and the Surprise. A rainbow broke out at this point, and the rain stopped. The museum was open until 8:00 pm so we could have gone aboard the ships but we didn't feel the need to. There were also submarines.

Well, every ten years the Star of India goes into dry dock and this was its year, so I was glad it made it back to the museum in time for our visit.

Star of India

This ship sailed around the world 21 times and still sails with a volunteer crew every November.

The bowsprit, according to Glenn.

Part of this sign reads:

The Star of India, a three masted bark, is the oldest iron hulled merchant ship afloat. Built on the Isle of Man, Great Britain, she was launched in 1863 and christened "Euterpe".

HMS Surprise

This ship is a re-creation of a 24-gun British frigate.

From the net:

"The ship now known as HMS Surprise began life in 1970 as a replica of the 18th century Royal Navy frigate Rose. During the next 30 years Rose sailed thousands of miles as an attraction vessel and sail training ship prior to her conversion to HMS Surprise. For the academy award winning film, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, the film makers made a painstaking effort to recreate a 24 gun frigate specific to Great Britain's Nelson era Royal Navy. The result is a replica vessel unmatched in its authenticity and attention to detail."

I like the figurehead.