TOUR THE VISITING NAVY SHIPS

Following the Parade of Ships, iconic Navy ships like USS Lassen, USS Billings, USS Arlington, and more will be docked on both sides of the Delaware free public tours. View tour dates, tour times, and locations below.

– IMPORTANT NOTE –

October 10: USS Arlington is open 10 am - 3 pm
October 15: All ships are open 10 am - 1 pm

Location: 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103

Time: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm

Cost: $20-$30

Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial in Camden, NJ right across the river from Philadelphia is the home of the battleship, USS New Jersey (BB-62), the longest, fastest, most decorated battleship in history. Completed in 1943 New Jersey served with the US Navy during 19 separate campaigns during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Lebanese Civil War, and the Tanker War before being decommissioned for the last time in 1991. Visitors to the museum will get to walk the decks where Adm. Halsey commanded during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, visit the bridge, captain’s cabin, an engine room, gun turrets, and learn about what life was like on a ship in the latter half of the twentieth century. The museum is normally open from 10am to 5:30pm with the last ticket sold at 4pm, however we will have extended hours during the Navy and Marine Corps 250th celebrations. Be sure to check our website, for exact hours, additional information, and to get advanced tickets.

Triple 6-pounder Gun Salute

Date: Thursday, October 9

Time: TBD

Location: Olympia

Cost: Access to Olympia is included with General Admission, free for ISM members

Join us aboard Olympia, a nineteenth-century cruiser, and the oldest steel warship afloat in the world, as we fire her Triple 6-pounder Gun to welcome the naval ships that will be docked along the Delaware River in both Philadelphia, PA, and Camden, NJ as part of the 250th celebration of the Navy and Marine Corps.

The Voyage Home: Olympia and the Unknown Soldier from World War I

Date: Friday, October 10

Times: 11 AM and 1 PM

Location: Olympia

Cost: Access to Olympia is included with General Admission, free for ISM members

Join Director of Education, Mike Madeja, aboard Olympia to learn about the cruiser’s final act of service before being decommissioned: the transportation of the American Unknown Soldier from World War I from Le Havre, France to Washington, D.C. Hear what it was like to be serving during that monumental trip (including remnants of two hurricanes that needed to be passed through) while standing near the exact spot where the transport case that contained the Unknown Soldier was located during the voyage.

Hard Hat Tours

Date: Saturday, October 11 and Saturday, October 18

Times: 9 AM – 12 PM (3 hour tour)

Location: Olympia

Cost: $125 per person for the 3 hour tour or $75 per person for the 1.5 tour, ISM members receive a 20% discount

Saturday, October 11:
3 hour: learn more

Saturday, October 18:
3 hour: learn more

Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Olympia, a nineteenth-century cruiser. She is the oldest floating steel warship in the world, one of the last surviving warships from World War I, and the only surviving ship from the Spanish-American War.

We encourage guests to dress appropriately, including wearing closed-toed shoes, long pants, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. We will provide hard hats and any other safety necessities.

A Little-Known Conflict That Shaped a Nation: Philippine-American War (1899 – 1902)

Date: Tuesday, October 14

Times: 11 AM and 1 PM

Location: Olympia

Cost: Access to Olympia is included with General Admission, free for ISM members

Join Director of Education, Mike Madeja, as we explore Philippine-American War (1899-1902): Complex Symbols & Conflicting Relationships, a temporary exhibition installed aboard the Olympia. Discover the rarely discussed story of the war and the symbols that arose through the complicated relationship between the United States of America, the Philippines, and the Filipino people. Learn about the impact on the Filipino people as they fought for independence, and the continued relationship between the two countries today. This exhibition is presented by the Independence Seaport Museum in partnership with the Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia, Inc.

Dedication of the USS Enterprise Name Plate

Date: Tuesday, October 9

Time: 3 PM

Location: 100 Clinton St., Camden

See the Holy Grail of U.S. Navy artifacts – the Stern Plate bearing the name of the USS Enterprise, one of the Navy’s original carriers, that fought in almost every carrier battle in the Pacific. This rare artifact of the most decorated Navy ship ever will be on display starting October 9 next to the most decorated Navy ship afloat, the Battleship New Jersey.

Table Saw Talks

Date: Sunday, October 12

Time: 10 AM

Location: Museum’s Building (in the Seaport Boat Shop)

Cost: $10 per person and free for ISM members

Purchase Tickets

Join ISM for coffee and an in-depth discussion about the traditions of wooden boat building along the Delaware River!

The main focus of this talk will be to highlight the work the Boat Shop is doing in partnership with the Friends of Washington Crossing Park on crafting a full-scale, 40-foot replica of a Durham boat; the very type of vessel that George Washington and his army used to cross the Delaware River on Christmas night in 1776 at Washington Crossing Historic Park.

The Founding of the United States Navy: A Curated Tour of Patriots & Pirates

Date: Monday, October 13

Times: 11 AM and 1 PM

Location: Museum’s Building (in the Patriots & Pirates exhibition)

Cost: Access is included with General Admission, free for ISM members

What better way to celebrate the Navy’s birthday (on its actual birthday, no less!) with a guided tour of Patriots & Pirates, an exhibition that details how the Navy was founded right here in Philadelphia. Led by a museum educator, learn about our history fighting the Barbary Pirates (which was the catalyst to create the Navy), why it took so long to decide that our young nation needed protection on the water, and more