The USS Iowa will soon have a new home. The Port of Los Angeles has won the bidding to support the battleship, beating out Vallejo which had also been actively bidding for the ship.

Los Angeles Wins USS Iowa Bid

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the United States Navy has donated the World War II Battleship USS Iowa to the Pacific Battleship Center, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit on course to turn the ship into a permanent museum and memorial at the Port of Los Angeles.

“Were all thrilled, it’s been a year-and-a-half of hard work,” said Robert Kent, the Center’s President. “It will be unlike any museum ship in the world.” 

The ship will be docked at Berth 87 in the Port of Los Angeles and is expected to draw as many as 450,000 tourists each year. Local officials believe the Iowa will kick start a revitalization of the area and its attractions.