The Organization

Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square

Its Vision, Accomplishments and Structure

Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square ("HSMPS") is a 501(c)(3), Caifornia non-profit, public benefit corporation established to acquire custodianship of one of the greatest ships ever launched by the American People, U.S.S. Iowa (BB-61), for use as a museum and memorial.  HSMPS is dedicated to protecting the naval legacy by placing and preserving the battleship U.S.S. Iowa ("IOWA") at Mare Island, Vallejo, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

HSMPS is recognized by the City of Vallejo, City of San Francisco, Congress, the Department of the Navy, the State of California, the State of Iowa, the Veterans Association of the U.S.S. IOWA,  numerous organizations, and the local and national community as the lead organization working to preserve IOWA as a national memorial.

This organization’s educational mantel and focus is woven from human experience, founded upon community commitment, born from a great naval tradition and dedicated to our nation’s efforts to preserve peace.  Conceived in remembrance of those who served and fuelled by a passion to convey the same selfless commitment to our fellow Americans, HSMPS strives to cultivate an unique partnership with the Department of the Navy in order to maintain IOWA in the San Francisco Bay Area in a way that benefits the service, the nation, and future generations. 

HSMPS is striving to provide a visitor program that incorporates IOWA in her present reserve status.  When IOWA is no longer needed as a mobilization asset, the ship stands to be the only memorial of its kind--the first battleship museum on the West Coast, dedicated to the remembrance of those who served and died, both in war and in peace. 

To this end, HSMPS has on file with the Department of the Navy over 700 pages of engineering studies, mooring plans, financial analysis, maintenance protocols, cost projections, environmental assessments, tour scripts, pier-side support and interpretive center descriptions, curatorial and security plans, and staffing scales for the ship in both donation and reserve status.  This documentation supports a formal application for IOWA when the battleship reverts from reserve to donation status and becomes available as a museum ship and memorial.  The organization has also presented "A Master Plan" for the ship in her present reserve status, that contains suggestions for the public's interaction with the ship.  Having developed such a depository of information and data as well as demonstrated public support, HSMPS views itself as a resource for the Navy.  This process mandates the participation of a diverse group of people, the support of local and national communities, and the Navy.

Comprised of volunteers from many walks of life, HSMPS mirrors the complex social fabric of this nation.  Engineers, historians, financial analysts, artists, educators, public relations professionals, businesspeople, men, women, youth, veterans, non-veterans, people of various ethnic backgrounds and ages and others form the backbone of this historic endeavor.  The quest to bring IOWA to Vallejo, care for the battleship and develop a premier memorial draws upon the skills, energy and vision of many.  This Committee's membership, national in complexion, stretches from the Golden Gate to the Empire State.  The scale of this undertaking, demands enduring and disciplined zeal. 

Meeting monthly, this Herculean effort is directed by the all-volunteer 'Iowa'-Class Committee.  While the general public is invited and welcome to attend meetings, virtually all attendees eventually submit their biography to join Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square as members of the organization.  Guided by principled leadership, community commitment, an all-hands approach, and the integrity of the organization, the Committee is comprised of five standing committees--1) Resource Management and Fundraising, which includes donations, public relations, media, community affairs; 2) Program Development and Evaluation, which includes tour script, museum management, curatorial plan, school programs; 3) Management and Fiscal Operations, which includes maintenance, technical evaluation, day-to-day operations; 4) Personnel, which oversees personnel policies and projected recruiting, hiring, training, performance standards; and 5) Bylaws, which reviews and makes recommendations concerning the organization's governing rules.  HSMPS welcomes new Committee Members.  We are always keen on discovering passionate interest.  Click here for members of our organization.  Please write us at P.O. Box 191242, San Francisco, CA 94119-1242 or e-mail us at info@battleshipiowa.org.                                                                                                      

Selected List of Endorsements

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