July 4th Fireworks Viewing

Maritime Museum of San Diego, serving as the community memory of our seafaring experience by collecting, preserving, and presenting our rich maritime heritage and historic connections with the Pacific world, invites San Diegans and regional visitors to celebrate Fourth of July 2023 at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. The Museum’s premiere waterfront location is the ideal spot to share the annual holiday day and night.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego will be open Tuesday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for self-guided general admission walking tours of the historic fleet. Visitors are asked to plan ahead as the last guest entry and ticket sold is at 4 p.m. Entrance to the fascinating below deck galleries and exhibits are free with admission purchase. This includes the new Steam and Splendor: Treasures from the Ocean Liner and Cruise Liner Ephemera Collection on display in the Berkeley’s Gould Eddy and Compass Galleries.

For those seeking an educational on-the-water daytime sightseeing experience, the Maritime Museum offers two types of narrated Bay boat tours for a small additional charge with purchase of admission. Unique to this experience are the age of the vessels, now restored, well preserved, and recognized on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historic Resources by the Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Historic Preservation. July 4 Holiday Bay tour options include:

Five daytime 45-minute narrated Historic Bay Cruises aboard the restored 1914 Pilot boat at an additional $15 per person with purchase of general admission.

Boarding times are 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.

Two daytime 75-minute Veteran volunteer narrated Vietnam-era PCF 816 Swift boat Naval History Bay Tours at an additional $20 per person with purchase of general admission. Boarding times are 12:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.

Tickets for the dockside evening July 4 fireworks viewing are $25 per person for entry starting at 7 p.m. to board the 1898 Victorian-era steam ferry Berkeley upperMcKinney Deck complete with no host bar, refreshment area and spectacular viewing angles of the fireworks over San Diego Bay. Evening summertime picnic faire boxes will be available starting at 7 p.m. for $15 and include one ¼ lb. hot dog or homemade sausage link, chips, and apple pie, while supplies last. Capacity limited. Seating is first come first serve.

The Maritime Museum waterfront barge to the rear of Berkeley will also be available as a firework viewing option. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. The remaining vessels in the Maritime Museum fleet and exhibits are closed for July 4 fireworks viewing. 

Museum general admission, boat tours and event tickets can be purchased in advance online. The Museum Ticket Booth is located along the north embarcadero in front of the Museum and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for walk-up admission ticket purchase and if seats are available, also to join one of the Museum’s narrated boat tours.

Maritime Museum of San Diego is located at 1492 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101-3309 (between Grape and Ash St.) and encompasses a collection of historic vessels including the world’s oldest active sailing ship, Star of India. Waterfront parking is limited and metered for a maximum of 3 hours. Alternative parking options or rideshare services are strongly recommended.

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