How much does the dockside tour cost?

The special dockside tours for FDR’s birthday are free to the public.

Do I need to make a reservation?

No formal check-in or reservation is required; tours are drop-in and begin after the Visitor Center film.

Is the ship wheelchair accessible?

Wheelchair access is limited to the main deck only; the vessel does not fully comply with ADA standards and onboard restrooms are not accessible.

Are children allowed?

Yes—minors must be accompanied by an adult for safety and supervision during the tour.

Are restrooms available onboard?

There are no accessible restrooms onboard; facilities are provided at the Visitor Center before boarding.

Photography is permitted for personal use; please be mindful of artifacts and docent guidance regarding restricted areas.

USS Potomac Dockside Tours for FDR’s Birthday in Oakland | Attraction | Boat Tour

On a crisp winter morning at the Port of Oakland, the presidential yacht USS Potomac sits tied against the dock like a movable archive of twentieth-century power. This free, hour‑long dockside tour—offered as a special event to mark Franklin D. Roosevelt’s birthday—lets you step directly into rooms where presidents negotiated policy and relaxed between crises. Located in Oakland, California, the experience begins inside the Visitor Center with a 14‑minute film that frames Potomac's role in FDR’s administration and traces the vessel’s improbable afterlife: a decline, fleeting ownership by Elvis Presley, a later role in a 1980s drug‑running case and DEA seizure in San Francisco, and eventual restoration to her 1940s presidential appearance with help during the Reagan Administration. After the film, docent‑led groups move aboard to explore the ship’s compact, carefully preserved interior. Key features include the president’s private cabin and the saloon dining room where FDR composed speeches and tended his stamp collection; the galley where his meals were prepared; and the fantail where he fished, read reports, or held informal meetings. More technical spaces like the wheelhouse, radio room and engine room are open for inspection, giving a sense of how a working vessel supported presidential communications—FDR famously made a “Fireside Chat” from Potomac. Docents point out artifacts and recount visits by heads of state, including the King and Queen of England, and the twice‑used secret rendezvous with Winston Churchill. This tour is an efficient, richly detailed stop for history buffs, naval enthusiasts and curious visitors to the Bay Area. Accessibility is limited: wheelchair access reaches the main deck only, and flat‑soled shoes are required for safety. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. The ship’s compact passageways and stairs emphasize the human scale of mid‑century presidential travel and reward slow, observant touring. Why book this event? It’s free, intimate and curated by knowledgeable volunteers who animate each space with archival anecdotes that link the ship to national policy and bizarre footnotes of celebrity and crime. It also offers a window into maritime preservation—how a nearly lost vessel was reclaimed and interpreted for the public. For travelers staying in Oakland or nearby San Francisco, the Potomac is an accessible piece of living history that complements visits to museums and waterfront walks without requiring a full-day commitment. Plan to arrive early for the Visitor Center screening, wear flat‑soled shoes, and bring curiosity—the USS Potomac turns a dock into a stage for presidential stories. Docents often share lesser-known anecdotes about the yacht’s construction details, crew life, and restoration techniques, and will point out period fittings, original hardware, and reproduced textiles that anchor the vessel in the 1940s; these close-up details reward visitors who slow their pace and listen and reflect.