USS Iowa (BB-61)

• Flagship for WWII Leaders: During World War II, USS Iowa served as the flagship for Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., and even transported President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference in 1943. • Presidential Bathtub: To accommodate President Roosevelt's needs during his voyage, a special bathtub was installed aboard the Iowa—a rare luxury on a battleship. • First to Fire 16-inch Shells in Korean War: USS Iowa was the first battleship to fire her 16-inch guns during the Korean War, providing crucial shore bombardment support. • Only Battleship with a Peace Treaty: The Japanese surrender ending World War II was signed aboard her sister ship, USS Missouri, but Iowa was present in Tokyo Bay for the historic event. • Cold War Service: Reactivated for the Korean War and again in the 1980s, Iowa was modernized with Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles, making her one of the most powerful surface combatants of her era. • Tragic Turret Explosion: On April 19, 1989, a devastating explosion in Turret Two killed 47 crewmen—the deadliest peacetime accident in U.S. Navy battleship history. • Nickname "The Big Stick": USS Iowa earned the nickname "The Big Stick," referencing President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous quote and the battleship’s imposing firepower. • Longest Battleship in U.S. History: At 887 feet, Iowa and her class were the longest battleships ever built for the United States Navy. • Survived Kamikaze Attack: In 1944, while operating in the Pacific, Iowa survived a close call when a kamikaze plane narrowly missed her. • Museum Ship Today: Decommissioned in 1990, USS Iowa is now a museum ship located at the Port of Los Angeles, California, where visitors can tour her historic decks.