USS IOWA Open House December 3, 2011

You may have seen news articles that the battleship USS Iowa has been given to a Los Angeles group http://www.pacificbattleship.com/ to open as a museum ship in San Pedro. It was towed from the mothball fleet in Suisun Bay last month. But rather than going straight to tinsel town, it's in Richmond for fixup & painting until February.
Unless you served on one, you will never get a chance to visit except as a museum ship (and NEVER in the Bay Area). The technology of nine 16' guns with a 30 mile range is considered passe. As a fundraiser while she's up here, there will be weekend open houses of the deck areas (where the big guns are), and relevant historic exhibits in the pier sheds. This weekend (Sat & Sun 12/3&4, 10-4) is an unpublicized dry run before the thundering hordes are admitted. Interior areas are not open -- there is no power onboard. Admission is $10 adults; $5 kids. At 850 feet, this is one impressive machine! Take the Harbour Way South exit off I-580 in Richmond. Google USS Iowa for lots of historical info.