USS Iowa may become port museum

A historic battleship unwanted by San Francisco could end up as part of a major attraction to Stockton's waterfront.

Politicians in Washington, D.C., support a bid by the Port of Stockton to acquire the decommissioned U.S.S. Iowa and use it as an artifact, museum and tourist attraction.

"We're very interested in the idea," said port Director Richard Aschieris, "and that ship has a great history."

Aschieris said he took heart from word Friday that the U.S. Senate voted Thursday for opening a bid process for California cities to bring Iowa to their waters.

The Port of Stockton might be the most interested party of the potential bidders. Aschieris said the bid would make note of the port's willingness to donate 1,000 feet of dock space, a nearby 90,000-square-foot building and 15 acres worth of parking just to accommodate the ship.

He said the ship would be part of a complex where visitors could learn about the history of the Iowa, the U.S. Navy in the Pacific and even the navy's history in the Central Valley.

Between the dock space, acreage and building, Aschieris said, the port's bid encompasses at least an estimated $30 million worth of enticements.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said in a statement that she supports the museum concept. The Iowa is docked in Suisun Bay, and was decommissioned in 1990.

"While I am sure a number of communities in California will be interested, I understand that the Port of Stockton has already begun making preparations and raising money to bid on this project," she said in a statement Friday.

Aschieris said he's not aware of any other California cities that might want the Iowa, and pointed out that most other port cities, such as Alameda and Long Beach, already have naval attractions of their own. Earlier this month, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors rejected a motion to dock the ship there.

"We're right on Interstate 5, and we're in a freshwater environment," he said. "That really helps with the maintenance of the ship."

Launched in August 1942, the Iowa transported President Franklin D. Roosevelt on his way to the Tehran Conference in November 1943, and is the only battleship with a bathtub as a result.

The ship also saw service in the Pacific theater of World War II and the Korean War, and was President Ronald Reagan's ship for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. An unexplained turret explosion on the ship in 1989 killed 47 sailors.

The bid process for the Iowa requires cities to submit applications that include plans for finances, mooring, maintenance, towing, environmental concerns and using it as a museum. The Secretary of the Navy and then U.S. Congress must sign off on the selected city.

Aschieris said he expects at least two years to pass before the Iowa could be in the Port of Stockton.

Contact Ben van der Meer at benvan@tracypress.com.