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The USS Iowa had its mast re-installed as part of ongoing renovations to the WWII battleship docked at Pier 3 in Richmond, Calif., Tuesday April 24, 2012. The 37,000 lb. mast was taken off 10 years ago to give the mothballed ship a lower profile. It will now stand at 174 feet tall as it is prepared for tow next month to its permanent berth as a museum ship in Los Angeles. (Photo by Karl Mondon)

Visitors got a final close-up look at the World War II battleship USS Iowa on April 29, the final day for public tours before it leaves the Port of Richmond and is towed to its permanent home in Southern California.

The finale included a big band-themed musical tribute with the 31-member Big Band of Rossmoor and the Blue Stars vocal trio.

The historic ship has been docked at 1411 Harbour Way South in the Port of Richmond for refurbishing and can still be viewed from afar there. The ship has been signed over by the U.S. Navy to the nonprofit Pacific Battleship Center (www.pacificbattleship.com), which plans to make it a museum at the Port of Los Angeles.



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