“Life of a Sailor,” an interactive exhibit taking visitors from boot camp to life at sea as a member of the U.S. Navy, opened Friday within the Battleship USS Iowa maritime museum at the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach.
Visitors will be able to see a 60-foot video sculpture of the development of ships across the Navy’s 250 years, wince as a drill instructor berates a recruit and enjoy a large-scale cutaway of an actual working vessel.
“There’s a story bigger than a museum here,” Jonathan Williams, chief executive of the Pacific Battleship Center, said in a statement. “This experience represents the first major immersive experience in our transformation into a national destination focused on the people of the Surface Navy.”
Part of the National Museum of the Surface Navy, “Life of a Sailor” is constructed entirely within the historic Battleship USS Iowa, which served in World War II, Korea and the Cold War. The ship earned 11 battle stars and made history as one of the last great United States battleships to see service.
“The national museum and this experience also provide us with a platform to address career development, especially in the maritime sector,” Williams said. “Young people can discover, explore, and connect with opportunities they might not otherwise have encountered and ultimately, make a difference in helping them find their places in life.”