25 Iconic Ships That Let You Walk Through Maritime History

You don’t need to cross an ocean to touch the past. Sometimes, history is just a gangplank away. These ships once braved storms and carried kings. Now they rest, open to visitors like you. Across the globe, these 25 ships welcome curious travelers. One step onboard, and the past is right beneath your shoes.

USS Constitution (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)

They called her “Old Ironsides” for a reason. Cannonballs once bounced off her thick hull like pebbles on a pavement. Launched in 1797, she earned her place as America’s oldest commissioned warship. You can still tour her in Boston and touch real history with every step across her deck.

HMS Victory (Portsmouth, England)

Once, there was a roar of cannon fire at Trafalgar. Now, you can be aboard the very ship where Admiral Nelson fought and fell. HMS Victory stands in Portsmouth. The drama of 1805 is preserved in her gun decks and captain’s quarters, where naval warfare became glory and grief.

Cutty Sark (Greenwich, London, England)

Fast doesn’t even begin to describe Cutty Sark. She once ruled the seas as the Ferrari of the tea trade. With sleek lines and bold speed, she raced cargo from China to London in record time. Now, Cutty Sark is suspended mid-air in Greenwich, her sails down but her charm still intact.

Vasa (Stockholm, Sweden)

Vasa was built to be invincible, but she sank just minutes into her maiden voyage. That embarrassing moment became a miracle centuries later when divers pulled her near-pristine hull from the depths. You’ll find Vasa upright in Stockholm, every detail frozen in time, from carvings to wood.

USS Missouri (Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA)

Peace was inked on the USS Missouri’s deck, literally. The Japanese surrender in 1945 happened aboard this very ship. “The Mighty Mo” later served in Korea and the Gulf. Today, she rests near the sunken USS Arizona and reminds us of the end of conflicts. It’s a powerful place to stand.

HMS Belfast (London, England)

Beneath the London skyline floats a battle-scarred beast. HMS Belfast fought in WWII and the Korean War, but now, this ship’s docked quietly on the Thames. Step inside, and the metal corridors echo history. Climb the ladders and imagine life at sea. She’s part museum, part time machine, and fully unforgettable.

Mary Rose (Portsmouth, England)

Henry VIII’s pride sank before his eyes. Rediscovered centuries later, Mary Rose was raised from the seabed like a ghost from the Tudor age. Inside her conservation gallery, skeletal remains and personal items reveal how sailors once lived and passed when naval warfare was brutally raw and ruled by ships.

USS Midway (San Diego, California, USA)

The USS Midway is massive and surprisingly accessible. You can step onto the flight deck and look out over San Diego Bay. After that, you can sit in cockpits and walk the ready rooms. Then, wrap up by checking out the below deck of this floating world.

SS Great Britain (Bristol, England)

Innovation looked like iron in 1843. Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s revolutionary steamship combined a metal hull and screw propeller and, by doing so, set the blueprint for modern vessels. SS Great Britain now sits back in Bristol, preserved in a dry dock where visitors can descend beneath and inspect the hull.

SS Jeremiah O’Brien (San Francisco, California, USA)

Most Liberty ships didn’t survive the war. This one did—and then some. SS Jeremiah O’Brien stormed Normandy and dodged U-boats back in the day, and it still powers up today. Walk her decks in San Francisco and witness one of the last working WWII vessels anywhere. She’s still running strong.

MV Doulos Phos (Bintan Island, Indonesia)

Before cruise ships were cool, there was Doulos Phos. She began life in 1914 and eventually held the title of “world’s oldest active passenger ship.” Now retired and anchored in Indonesia, this ship is a floating hotel with maritime bragging rights. Visitors can expect a dose of nautical luxury and nostalgia.

HMCS Haida (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)

Canada’s got a fighter, and her name is Haida. This Tribal-class destroyer earned her stripes in WWII and Cold War patrols. She’s docked in Hamilton these days, has been restored, and is ready to show off. Walk through a ship that earned her place through age and action.

USS Yorktown (CV-10) (Charleston, South Carolina, USA)

USS Yorktown once recovered astronauts and launched planes into war zones. Before you spot her across the water, you’ll feel her scales. Inside, dim red lighting and steel walls still hum with tension. Is it haunted, or is it sacred? Either way, the USS Yorktown is docked in Charleston, waiting for you.

USS Pampanito (San Francisco, California, USA)

Claustrophobic corridors and diesel fumes—that’s the world inside USS Pampanito. She served in the Pacific during WWII by sinking enemy ships from beneath the waves. Docked at Pier 45 today, the USS Pampanito offers a rare chance to descend into a tight, steel belly built for stealth.

Gorch Fock I (Stralsund, Germany)

Tall masts cut the sky like a cathedral of ropes on Gorch Fock I. She trained generations of naval cadets and survived post-war chaos. As of now, she floats proudly in Stralsund, where you can climb aboard and experience the elegance of a true windjammer. She’s beauty wrapped in sails and salt.

SS Rotterdam (Rotterdam, Netherlands)

Think of first-class cabins and a ballroom fit for mid-century movie scenes when you think of SS Rotterdam, a ship that once sailed oceans of elegance as Holland-America Line’s flagship. She’s permanently moored in her namesake city, offering overnight stays, guided tours, and more.

Star Of India (San Diego, California, USA)

Star of India first sailed in 1863 and carried emigrants and cargo through brutal storms. This ship crossed oceans before electricity lit cities. She’s now a shimmering centerpiece of the San Diego Maritime Museum. You can touch her rigging and roam her quarters while tracing centuries across every creaking board.

USCGC Ingham (Key West, Florida, USA)

Combat medals don’t shine without a fight. Ingham escorted convoys and survived submarine attacks in WWII, then fought in Vietnam. She now basks in Key West sunshine as a museum ship. Her radio room still buzzes with stories, and decks honor decades of bravery. The past stands firm here.

Hikawa Maru (Yokohama, Japan)

Hikawa Maru once transported VIPs. She also dodged mines and returned as a postwar lifeline. Call her the Art Deco queen of the Pacific. Now berthed in Yokohama, she still oozes class with teak floors, polished brass, and more inside. You’ll walk into a serene and cinematic time capsule.

BAP Union (Callao, Peru)

If national pride had sails, it would look like this. BAP Union is among the world’s largest tall ships and can be called Peru’s floating ambassador. Though still active, she docks for public visits so visitors can climb aboard a working vessel that blends naval tradition with Latin American flair.

SS Soldek (Gdansk, Poland)

Shipyard grit and postwar hope forged SS Soldek into Poland’s first ocean-going steamer after WWII. She’s not sleek, but she’s solid. Standing beside the SS Soldek, you’ll sense the muscle it took to rebuild a nation. After seeing and feeling it, you’ll get a new respect for shipbuilding born out of survival.

TSS Duke of Lancaster (Llanerch-y-Mor, Wales)

It looks haunted—because it nearly is. TSS Duke of Lancaster rests in eerie silence, covered in graffiti and rumors. Once a luxury ferry, the ship has been stranded for decades. You can’t board but can walk close and peek through broken windows. Seafaring excitement lived through her.

Tall Ship Elissa (Galveston, Texas, USA)

Elissa, built in 1877, was rescued from ruin and restored with loving detail. Her sails still catch Gulf breezes during special events. You’ll hear the creak of wood and the snap of rigging. You’ll feel the quiet pride of Texans who refused to let maritime beauty rot away.

Zheng He Treasure Ship (Replica) (Nanjing, China)

A fleet so massive it could swallow Columbus’s ships whole. That’s what this vessel led across the oceans centuries ago. In Nanjing, a full-scale replica pays tribute to its global expeditions. Step in, and you’ll grasp the ambition behind and scale of China’s original master of maritime diplomacy and exploration.

SS Lane Victory (Los Angeles, California, USA)

Lane Victory carried troops and supplies through three wars without flinching. Built fast and tough, she now rests near Los Angeles harbor as a monument to Merchant Marine grit. Movie studios use her often, but nothing beats seeing the real deal, steel deck and all, right before your eyes.