Guided Tours

Guided Engineering Tour (Includes Self-Guided Experience)

Name: Guided Engineering Tour (Includes Self-Guided Experience)
Start: 2026-08-02T10:30:00
End: 2026-08-02T14:00:00
Location: South Harbor Boulevard 250

Duration

3 hrs 30 mins

Guided tour

Ticket includes a guided engineering tour, self-guided IOWA experience, entry fee, and onboard WIFI for a seamless visit.
Step into hidden engineering spaces of Battleship IOWA, unseen by the public since 1943.
Discover anchor windlass room, engine and boiler rooms, after-steering station, and testing labs on a crew-led tour.
Hear firsthand stories from the crew about sailor life and the ship’s powerful engines in action.
Continue exploring with self-guided exhibits, presidential stories, and a fun scavenger hunt for kids.

Guided engineering tour (approx. 2.5 hours)
Behind-the-scenes access below deck
Crew member with historical insights
Self-guided IOWA experience (approx. 2 hours)
Entry/admission fee
WIFI

Parking fees
Food and drinks

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Approx. 4.5-hour experience • Ages 10+ • Advance purchase required
Includes:
🧑‍🏭 Crew-Led Engineering Tour (2.5 hours)
🚢 Self-Guided IOWA Experience (2 hours — completed after the Engineering Tour)
Get ready to explore the hidden heart of Battleship IOWA on this in-depth tour below deck. Designed for adventurers and history buffs, this experience grants you rare access to behind-the-scenes engineering spaces once essential to powering the most innovative battleship of WWII.
Your journey begins with the crew-led Engineering Tour, plunging you into the ship’s mechanical soul. Traverse areas normally closed to the public, including:
⚓ Anchor Windlass Room
🔧 Engine and Boiler Rooms
🔄 After-Steering Station
🧪 Oil and Water Testing Labs
🗭 Exclusive sailor-only passageways not seen by visitors since 1943
This immersive tour highlights how the ship’s eight boilers and four steam turbines generated 212,000 shaft horsepower—enough to power 650 Ford F-150 trucks—launching IOWA to a blistering 35 knots (40 mph), the fastest for any battleship ever built.
Your guide, a member of today’s dedicated crew, will share riveting stories of sailors’ service and ingenuity in maintaining this engineering marvel during peace and war.
Following the crew-led Engineering Tour, you’ll continue with the self-guided IOWA Experience—featuring historical exhibits, presidential stories, sailor life, and a scavenger hunt for kids across five decks.
⚠️ Important Details
Closed-toe shoes required.
This experience is physically demanding and involves ladders, tight spaces, and grated decks.
Not recommended for guests under 10 or those with mobility limitations.
Offered on select days. Advance reservations are required due to limited space.

What to bring

Closed-toe shoes are required due to ladders and grated decking on the tour.

What's not allowed

Drones and commercial photography are not allowed without prior consent.

Accessibility

The tour is physically demanding and involves ladders, tight spaces, and standing for prolonged periods.

This experience is not recommended for children under 10 or guests with mobility limitations.

Additional information

Advance reservations are required, and the tour is offered only on select days.

Access to certain areas may be restricted due to events, maintenance, or capacity.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.