USS Recruit

About this museum

Landlocked ships are a peculiarity of American naval history, and the USS Recruit at Liberty Station in San Diego is one of the most unusual of them all. Built in 1949 as a training vessel that never touched water, the Recruit was constructed to two - thirds scale of a Dealey - class destroyer escort - 225 feet from bow to stern, with a beam of 24 feet and a mast height of 41 feet - and mounted on a concrete slab foundation at what was then the Naval Training Center San Diego. For decades, tens of thousands of Navy recruits learned seamanship, damage control, and the physical language of shipboard life aboard this landlocked steel hulk.The vessel is built of sheet metal over wood framing, a construction method that allowed the Navy to create a convincing functional training environment without the expense of an actual seagoing ship. Commissioned on July 27, 1949, the Recruit served the Naval Training Center until the base closed in 1997 and was converted into Liberty Station, the mixed - use cultural and commercial district it is today. In 1982, the ship underwent significant reconditioning that preserved much of its structural integrity.With a 4.7 rating from 204 reviewers, the USS Recruit has found a new life as one of Liberty Station's most distinctive attractions - a military history artifact that also functions as a piece of architectural curiosity. Weekend open hours, Saturday and Sunday from 12PM to 4PM, make it an accessible stop for families and naval history enthusiasts.Admission to the USS Recruit is free. Liberty Station itself offers restaurants, galleries, and shops, making a visit to the Recruit easy to combine with a full afternoon in the former naval base's beautifully repurposed grounds. More information is available at libertystation.com. This is San Diego's most singular piece of maritime history - and one of its most unexpected free attractions.