Walk aboard a 1945 Victory ship and National Historic Landmark that served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Free parking at Berth 52.
The SS Lane Victory is a World War II cargo ship and National Historic Landmark that you can walk aboard at Berth 52 in the Port of Los Angeles. Volunteers keep it in working order as a living memorial to the merchant mariners and Navy Armed Guard sailors who carried troops and supplies through World War II, Korea and Vietnam. It’s one of only a handful of Victory ships left.
Plan your visit
- Hours: Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday visits are by appointment. Closed on major holidays unless an event is scheduled. Hours can change, so check before you go.
- Admission: General $15; seniors (62+) $10; ages 5–12 $5; students with ID $5; active U.S. military with ID $10; children 4 and under free; U.S. Merchant Marine with ID free.
- Guided tours: One-hour docent tours cost extra ($30 for groups of 9 or fewer, $60 for 10 or more). Docents are volunteers, so book ahead by email.
- Where: Berth 52, 2400 Miner Street, San Pedro, CA 90731, in the port south of downtown.
- Parking: Free, right next to the ship.
- Phone: 310-519-9188.
- Good to know: Bags are checked. No outside food or drinks, glass, pets, bikes, skateboards or scooters. The ship has steep ladders and narrow passageways, so wear flat, closed shoes. Visitors who use wheelchairs should call ahead about access.
What you’ll see
Explore a working 455-foot steamship: the bridge, the radio room, the cargo holds and the deck guns, along with exhibits on the merchant marine and the Navy Armed Guard, the sailors who manned the guns on cargo ships. The ship is also a popular filming location. Its wakes appear in Titanic (1997), and it has been in Pearl Harbor, U-571 and Flags of Our Fathers.
Ship facts
- Type: VC2-S-AP2 Victory ship, Maritime Commission hull number V-794.
- Size: 455 feet long, with a 62-foot beam, a 28-foot draft and a displacement of 10,750 tons.
- Power: A 6,000-horsepower steam turbine, for about 17 knots.
- Guns: One 5-inch/38, one 3-inch/50 and eight 20mm guns.
History
California Shipbuilding Corporation (Calship) built the Lane Victory on Terminal Island, right across the harbor, and launched it on May 31, 1945. It was one of more than 500 Victory ships, faster successors to the Liberty ships. It was named for Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, founded in 1882 by Bishop Isaac Lane as a high school for Black youths.
On June 27, 1945, the ship set out on its first voyage, carrying munitions from Port Hueneme to the Admiralty Islands in the Pacific. After the war it carried Marshall Plan cargo to Europe.
Its most famous voyage came in the Korean War. In December 1950, during the evacuation of Wonsan, the Lane Victory unloaded 3,834 troops, 1,146 vehicles and more than 10,000 tons of cargo. Then, on December 7, it took aboard 7,009 Korean civilians, many of them women and children, and carried them to safety. A baby was born on the way. The ship returned to service in 1966 to carry supplies for the Vietnam War and went into the reserve fleet in 1970.
In 1982, the U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II set out to save the ship. Congress transferred it to them in 1988, and in June 1989 it was towed from San Francisco Bay to San Pedro. It became a National Historic Landmark on December 14, 1990. Today the nonprofit Lane Victory Maritime Center runs the ship.
Cruises and events
For years, the ship took guests on day cruises to Catalina Island. Cruises are on hold while the ship raises about $7 million to repair its boilers, after boiler tube failures were found during sea trials. The ship stays open for tours, and it hosts special events, including the Spirit of ’45 tribute each August. The ship can also be booked for private events and filming.
Nearby
The Lane Victory is in the working port, a short drive south of downtown San Pedro. Combine it with Cabrillo Beach, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium or Angels Gate Lighthouse views from the breakwater, or head north to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum and the Battleship USS Iowa for more naval history.
Frequently asked questions
When is the SS Lane Victory open?
Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Sunday visits by appointment. Check the ship’s website for holiday closures and events.
How much does it cost to tour the Lane Victory?
General admission is $15, $10 for seniors 62 and over and active military, and $5 for kids 5 to 12 and students. Kids 4 and under get in free.
Is parking free at the Lane Victory?
Yes. Free parking is right next to the ship at Berth 52, 2400 Miner Street.
Does the Lane Victory still go on cruises?
Not right now. Cruises are suspended while the ship raises money for boiler repairs, but it’s still open for tours.
Is the Lane Victory wheelchair accessible?
Touring the ship means steep ladders and narrow passageways. Call 310-519-9188 to ask about access before you visit.