The historic ships of the Maritime Museum of San Diego seem to have enlisted a crew of spooky skeletons! Some of those skeletons appear to be the grisly remains of pirates!
How can it be?
Are the ships Star of India, HMS Surprise and the Berkeley in truth Spectre-ships, arrived in San Diego from that famous poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner?
Or could it be that Halloween is creeping ever closer?
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Star of India, HMS Surprise, and Cuauhtémoc, all together in one photographic shot…
All three historic ships, docked in a row on San Diego’s North Embarcadero by the Maritime Museum of San Diego. What a rare chance for my camera!
Star of India, world’s oldest active ship; HMS Surprise, star of classic film Master and Commander; and Cuauhtémoc, tall ship used to train sailors in the Mexican Navy…
I took these photos from the poop deck of Star of India.
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During the Age of Sail, many young men dreamt of going to sea. The idea could seem romantic–going to far off places out on the wide wild sea. But the reality was a sailor’s life was extraordinarily difficult. And altogether different than life on shore.
For one thing, ships’ crews were incredibly diverse. There were people of every race, hailing from nations around the globe. Sailors could be boys or older men, could be ignorant or educated, from poor families or families of means. Some sailors had a criminal bent, while others were religiously pious. Motley crews, to say the least!
All relied upon each other for the safe operation of a ship, where in dangerous moments lives could be quickly lost. This harsh reality forged among sailors a common brotherhood.
When not toiling and risking their lives under stern, sometimes abusive captains, sailors had precious time to themselves in the forecastle. There they would sleep to recover from their exertions, and warm themselves after exposure to wind, cold and stormy weather. There they could mend clothes, write journals or letters to home, make simple crafts (like carving scrimshaw), or entertain themselves with song, dance and the telling of stories.
An exhibit at the Maritime Museum of San Diego shows what life as a lowly sailor might have been like.
One sign explains: A sailor’s life was not easy. Seamen faced tight living quarters, risk of disease, unsafe food, hostile weather, and, at times, meager pay. But, despite these hardships, life at sea presented benefits for many early Black mariners. Taking to the water could offer mobility, cultural exposure, and increased social status.
Can you imagine what life as a sailor in the Age of Sail might have been like? Today we have self-driving cars and endless entertainment in our pocket. To think: this was the world less than two centuries ago–that’s only three average lifetimes. Really not that long ago.
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Pirates will take San Diego’s waterfront this Labor Day weekend . . . and on September 19–20, 2026, too!
The scurvy friends of Captain Jack might be spotted among other pirates on the Embarcadero, in the vicinity of the Maritime Museum of San Diego!
Pirates Take the Waterfront will be a fun activity for families. Anyone who dresses like a pirate will get a huge discount on museum admission!
Captain Jack will be roaming among the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s historic ships in case you’d like a photo with the legendary rascal. On the second event weekend, there will be a Rum Bar, too!
I wouldn’t be surprised to hear a bit of yo-ho-hoing!
Take Me to the Water: Histories of the Black Pacific is an extensive exhibition that recently opened at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Spread over two levels of the museum’s steam ferry Berkeley, the exhibit celebrates 500 years of Black Mariner legacies in whaling, fishing, surfing, swimming, sailing, exploration, and defense shaping the U.S. Pacific.
Historical photographs and nautical artifacts transport visitors from the earliest African maritime traditions right up to the present day. The exhibition has been created with the help of UC San Diego curator Dr. Caroline Collins, so every aspect of Black history in connection with the Pacific Ocean is thoroughly covered.
You will learn about history that is too often overlooked.
Did you know that Juan Garrido, an Afro-Spanish conquistador, was the first documented Black person in what is now the United States? Or that by the mid-19th century, men of color made up to 30 percent of whalers? Or that African American blacksmith and abolitionist Lewis Temple invented an improved harpooning instrument called the Temple toggle iron? Or that thousands of African American women worked in the Pacific shipyards during World War II? Or that in 1942, Captain Hugh Mulzac became the first African American merchant marine naval officer to command an integrated crew during the war?
You’ll learn all this and much more when you visit Take Me to the Water: Histories of the Black Pacific.
In addition, with your general admission ticket, you get to explore all of the historic ships of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, including world-famous Star of India!
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A pirate ship was observed this afternoon sailing through San Diego Bay. What were these pirates up to?
The pirate ship pursued tiny, helpless sailboats competing in a regatta. The rascals!
Fortunately, the shore battery on the barge behind the Maritime Museum of San Diego noticed the mayhem. A gunner quickly prepared several cannons.
(Yes, the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier was entering the bay at the time. Did they notice these sneaky pirates?)
Cleaning the cannons and inserting cartridges with a ramrod.
Two swords and an axe were kept within reach. Just in case dangerous pirates must be repelled hand to hand.
Uh, oh. The pirate ship has come about and is steering toward the Maritime Museum’s defensive shore battery!
A shot is fired across the pirate ship’s bow! Will the brazen invaders retreat?
They promptly fire back with a ship’s gun!
The shore battery fires once again. Is there any hope for San Diego?
A miss! The situation now appears hopeless!
We wave the white flag and surrender!
Fortunately, those swords weren’t put to use. The pirate ship, triumphant, would sail away in search of treasure at Skull Island.
OKAY! What happened here?
Maritime Museum of San Diego visitors on the barge got to watch a sailing adventure that takes place on their Spanish galleon replica San Salvador. The fun shipboard event is an interactive experience called Boarded!
Families and kids sail with a crew of pirates out on San Diego Bay. This hilarious interactive pirate show in San Diego puts visitors right in the middle of the action. Participants will be sworn in as part of the ship’s crew, trained how to navigate, sword fight, bail water from a sinking ship, escape from the King’s Jail, swab the deck, and learn other pirate skills.
Whew! I was worried there for a moment!
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San Diego is home of a world treasure. Star of India is one of the most important historic ships in the entire world.
The Maritime Museum of San Diego maintains 1863 tall ship Star of India, which is not only the oldest active ship in the world, but a United States National Historic Landmark. The beautiful sailing ship, an iconic sight on the Embarcadero, is one of our city’s brightest crown jewels.
Local museums are facing a future of difficult funding. Now imagine a maritime museum that must care for and preserve historic ships that are outdoors in the weather and on the water, including Star of India. Ships are expensive to maintain. To preserve a world treasure like Star of India takes a lot of funds, volunteer work, and love.
A few days ago I noticed one volunteer working on the wood deck, repairing the inevitable cracks that come from exposure to sun, rain and changing temperatures. He explained that he was sealing cracks with a special marine sealant and adhesive. I also learned the expansive main deck of the Star will have to be replaced in the future. No small or inexpensive task!
If you take pride in Star of India, why not help her by becoming a member of the Maritime Museum of San Diego like myself? Or you can become a volunteer, or make a donation!
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If you’ve wondered what it was like to sail into San Diego Bay on a Spanish galleon back in the 16th century, you have the opportunity to enjoy the amazing experience!
San Salvador, the seaworthy replica galleon built by the Maritime Museum of San Diego, sails out of downtown San Diego a couple time a month, taking visitors on a memorable adventure on the water!
San Salvador, a full size replica of the Spanish galleon flagship used by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to explore the California coast in 1542, was built by the museum back around 2015 on the shore of Spanish Landing. You can see photos of its construction here.
Today, passengers board the ship at the museum and typically enjoy a four hour sail off Point Loma. That’s what I did yesterday!
The trip was nearly a sell-out, so between passengers and about a dozen crew members, the galleon was quite lively. It really became lively out on the open ocean, when the round hulled galleon really rocked and rolled! (If you are susceptible to motion sickness, take a Dramamine in advance of your journey, and keep your eyes on the horizon.)
One cool aspect of the trip was everyone learned a lot about the history of Cabrillo’s exploration, Spanish conquistadors, and San Diego as it was many centuries ago.
During the sail, I recommend hanging out on either the raised foredeck or quarterdeck, where you have the best views and can watch the dynamic crew working the sails and yards.
After Captain David briefed the passengers on safety, we were on our way through San Diego Bay using San Salvador‘s two diesel engines. Because galleons are square rigged, you can’t sail into the wind. On the way back into the bay from the Pacific Ocean, we sailed with the wind and didn’t taken our sails down until back near the Embarcadero.
Okay, let’s see some photos!
We are ready to pull away from the Maritime Museum’s barge…
Here we go! I started out by standing near a foredeck ladder looking back at the shrinking San Diego skyline.
I climbed up onto the foredeck…
Crew members getting to work…
I shifted my position to the quarterdeck. You can see the whole ship from here and observe the captain, who was standing near me.
That guy in the open window is the helmsman. From a sheltered spot he can observe the sails and way forward, while manually steering San Salvador under orders from the captain. He uses a vertical lever whipstaff to move the tiller, which turns the rudder.
A sail is being readied from the foredeck.
There’s Spike Africa! The schooner participated in last weekend’s Schooner Cup race, which I enjoyed from aboard Bill of Rights. See those photos here!
Heading out to sea down the channel, with North Island on our port side. A sailboat was watching us! Captain David is still using the diesel engines.
Almost out into the Pacific Ocean. That’s the New Point Loma Lighthouse down by the water.
Shortly before, we saluted Cabrillo National Monument by firing one of the galleon’s swivel guns. Fingers in ears can’t hold the camera!
It turned out to be a perfect, partly cloudy day.
We’re starting to roll! Hanging on!
Many hands raising the galleon’s sails…
Now I’m looking rearward from the quarterdeck.
Some folks headed down to the lower main deck where the rolling is less severe.
Lots of exciting action closeby!
A sailboat ahead requires a steering maneuver.
A NOAA research ship was also heading down the channel away from San Diego.
If you want, you can train to become a volunteer crew member on the Maritime Museum of San Diego’s amazing tall ships!
We’re being slowly propelled forward by wind power! Galleons aren’t terribly fast. We managed 3 knots. (That’s about 3 1/2 miles per hour–the speed at which I walk!) Imagine being an explorer in the 16th century rolling about on the open ocean moving at this quite modest speed!
There are various places where passengers can safely sit during the voyage.
After we tacked and began sailing back toward Point Loma, I headed to the galleon’s beak.
I turned around…
We are under sail almost all the way back to the museum. Once we enter San Diego Bay, it’s much smoother sailing! This is the life.
Now I headed once more to the foredeck…
Looking down at the beak as yards are squared to capture the wind from our rear.
There’s Spike Africa again, off of Harbor Island!
We all raise a lusty cheer for Spike Africa. Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!
After a few moments, they return the cheer!
If you’d like to enjoy a similar adventure, check out San Salvador‘s webpage by clicking here!
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We in San Diego are so fortunate. Our city is home to one of the world’s most famous tall ships, Star of India, and one of our nation’s top maritime museums. Why not show your love for these San Diego jewels with a Valentine’s Day gift?
The historic ships of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, like all ships exposed to time and outdoor weather, need continuing maintenance and repair. With love in your heart, you can help out!
Here’s a wish list that supports the museum’s fleet, including Star of India, H.M.S. Surprise, Californian, Pilot boat and San Salvador.
To learn more, or perhaps make a loving donation, send an email to membership@sdmaritime.org.
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A beautiful Christmas tree sparkles in their gift shop, and the elegant passenger deck of historic steam ferry Berkeley appears even more amazing than usual. The handsome wooden benches bathed with the light from art glass windows now look upon green wreaths, red ribbons, and Christmas trees large and small!
And I’m told much more holiday decoration is coming!
I know the museum’s Pilot boat is being strung with lights for the 55th annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, and a small Christmas tree will soon be hoisted to the top of Star of India’s mainmast!
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