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SS Jeremiah O'Brien: Tips to Visit this World War II Liberty Ship
by Jill Loeffler • Published: Apr 25, 2023 • Updated: Nov 21, 2024
The SS Jeremiah O'Brien is a Liberty ship that sits along San Francisco's Embarcadero in Fisherman's Wharf. It's open to the public for tours at Pier 35.
I love visiting because this vessel is incredibly rare and unique. It's one of only two surviving operational Liberty ships built for World War II. It's also a National Historic Landmark.
This warship was built in just 56 days in South Portland, Maine. Its first mission began on June 19, 1943. It completed seven tours during the war.
It sits in the waters of the San Francisco Bay and also offers some cruises around the bay during special events, including the annual Fleet Week airshows in October.
It called Pier 45 home for years but moved to its new location in Fisherman's Wharf in the spring of 2023.
Read on to learn more about what you can see based on my experience.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Things to Know Before You Visit
This is part of what you will see when you explore the main deck and outdoor areas of the SS Jeremiah O'Brien.The tour of the SS Jeremiah O'Brien is self-guided. You will usually find some staff in and around the ship, but you will be visiting on your own.
During my last visit, they told me about 90% of the ship is open to the public. This gives you a lot of places around the ship to explore.
I consider the ship to have three main "sections." All three are fascinating in their own way, so don't miss any of them.
- Upper/Outdoor Decks: You are welcome to climb up and down any stairs or steps to reach all four levels outside.
- Indoor Corridors and Rooms: You can also walk through the indoor corridors and check out the rooms where the soldiers slept, ate, and worked.
- Downstairs Museum: On the lower deck, you will find an excellent museum that tells you more about the history of the SS Jeremiah O'Brien and it's missions. The museum also features information about other boats and missions during World War II.
The engine room is the final area that you can explore. If there is an engineer or staff in the engine room, you will get to see a little more.
If no one is around, part of this area is not open to the public. Just keep taking the steps until you run into a chair or rope, which indicates how far down into the engine room you can explore.
You will climb these steps to get aboard the SS Jeremiah O'Brien. This is the only way onto the ship for the tour.Here are a few other things to note before you arrive.
- The ship is not ADA-accessible. The climb onto the boat is steep but has handrails on both sides to help you get up to the main deck.
- With around 90% of the ship open to the public, there is a LOT to see. I recommend allowing yourself at least two to three hours for your visit.
- You can only access certain sections by steep steps or ladders.
- Ropes or chains block off restricted areas. Don't go past these points.
- Make sure to constantly watch your step, especially in the outdoor areas. There are uneven areas and ropes around the deck that can be a tripping hazard. Go slowly and always look down as you are walking around.
- The staff is very friendly and willing to help if you have questions about your visit.
Ticketing and Hours
Tickets are available in person at the SS Jeremiah O'Brien ticket booth.
Ticket Prices
- Adults (13 - 61): $20
- Seniors (62+): $15
- Juniors (5 - 12 years old): $10
- Students with (ID): $15
- Children (ages 4 and under): Free
- Family Pass (2 Adults and 2 Juniors): $45
- Active US Military with ID and veterans with proof of service: $10
- Active US Military in uniform: Free
Hours
- Daily from 10 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day
Most people visit in the afternoon, so come early if you want to beat the crowds.
What to Expect When You Visit
You can visit the three main sections in any order. Based on my experience, here is more of what you can expect to see in each area.
Upper/Outdoor Decks
This is the area you will be in once you climb aboard.
You will be able to explore all of the outdoor areas including looking at how the ship runs and some of its old (but well maintained guns). It's also an excellent place to get great views around Fisherman's Wharf and the SF Bay.
Here are just a few photos from this area of the ship.
This is what you will see when you first step onto the main deck. You can go either right or left to explore the outdoor area. You can also see the sign that points you indoors to the museum on its lower level.
This photo shows you both the gears that run this ship and a ladder you can climb to reach this small area on the ship.
This is one of their well-maintained guns on the ship deck. It was one of several used to protect this merchant ship during World War II. You can step up into position on this one and move it around to get a feel for what it was like to use.
This is one of the views you will get of the ships operational elements from one of the upper decks.
Indoor Corridors and Rooms
On each ship level, you can also step inside to check out the rooms and corridors.
They have preserved the ship as closely as possible to its original look.
You can see where the soldiers, officers and other on the ship slept in these areas. It's also where you will find the mess hall, the medical facility, and more of the ship's operating areas.
Some of the rooms in this section are open, and you can walk in to check them out. Others are roped off, but you have enough space to see most of the rooms from behind the rope.
Here are a few pictures from my last visit to this area.
This is an example of the thin indoor corridors on the ship. You will find small rooms on both sides as you walk down the halls.
This is where they spent a lot of time while off duty. It's where they ate and hung out with others on the ship.
This is an example of the officer's quarters on the ship. The officers always had more space, usually with their own bed (instead of bunk beds) and a private desk to use for work.
Downstairs Museum
The final area of the ship is where you will find the museum where you will learn more about SS Jeremiah O'Brien, the voyages it took, and quite a bit more about the history of World War II.
In the first area you enter, you will find a video running that describes the history of the ship, including its missions during the war. There are plenty of places to sit, so grab a seat as you watch the video.
Along the walls in this section of the ship, you will find several exhibits about the SS Jeremiah O'Brien. Here are a couple of examples of the exhibits in this area.
The city of San Francisco is full of military sites and museums. If you love visiting these types of attractions, here are a few additional places to visit while you are in San Francisco.
From this room, you will enter the area that offers more details about its role in World War II.
One of my favorite things to explore in this area is the large Diorama, which shows the Normandy Invasion Site.
You can walk around it and learn a little bit more about each ship and crew that participated.
The SS Jeremiah is the ship in the front right corner, showing how it participated in the Normandy invasion.Here is a closer look at the liberty ship in this display.
In the museum, you will learn more about how the Liberty Ships were used in WWII.
You can also look at some of the vehicles used during the D-Day invasion.
The final area in this section of the ship is the engine room. Parts of it are always open, but you might be able to go further into the engine room if an engineer or staff member is at work or nearby.
Here are a couple of pictures from my visit.
How to Get to the SS Jeremiah O'Brien
Its new location is just as easy to get to as its old location on Pier 45. It's now on the far eastern end of Fisherman's Wharf next to Pier 39.
You can easily walk from any place in Fisherman's Wharf.
From Union Square, you can take the F Streetcar to the stop at The Embarcadero and Bay Street.
This drops you off right in front of Pier 35. This ride takes about 25 minutes.
Additional History & Facts About the SS Jeremiah O'Brien
- The SS Jeremiah O'Brien is the only surviving ship from the 6,000-ship fleet that stormed Normandy on D-Day in 1944.
- It's 441 feet and 6 inches long.
- Its gross tonnage is around 7,100, and its displacement tonnage is 14,300.
- It crossed the English Channel eleven times with personnel and supplies to prepare for the D-Day invasion.
- After the war, it was "mothballed" and housed in the Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay, across from San Francisco.
- In 1979, it was restored and returned to the waters of the SF Bay in working order.
- It's one of only two Liberty ships that are still fully functional.
- It's the last unaltered liberty ship so you will have a historically accurate experience during your visit.
- It made its home on Pier 45 for several decades until it was moved to Pier 35 in the spring of 2023.
Sources
More Things to Do in Fisherman's Wharf
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
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It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!
