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Historic Battleship In Port Of LA Getting Ready For Overnight Guests

SAN PEDRO (CBSLA.com) — A historic battleship in the Port of Los Angeles is getting ready for some overnight guests.

The operators of the USS Iowa have received a $250,000 grant from the Crail-Johnson Foundation.

They will use the money to fix up more than 100 bunks, sinks, bathrooms and lockers so young people can experience life as a naval seaman.

The hope is to have the Overnight Stay Program up and running by August.

"We're receiving sometimes upwards of two to three calls a day from youth groups. It's a very popular program in the other naval ships across the country. Kids like to have that unique experience where it's on an actual naval ship and they sleep in these tiny little bunks, but it's a lot of fun for them, so they enjoy it," Jonathan Williams of the Pacific Battleship Center said.

The USS Iowa was commissioned in 1943. It's been berthed in San Pedro since 2012.

The Iowa is open to the public every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit pacificbattleship.com.

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