They were kings of the ocean once—gigantic battleships that flaunted American might all over the planet. Their big guns, thick armor, and even their mere existence could change the course of wars. Right now, however, those very steel behemoths are not going to fight battles, but they are open to visitors as living museums. They are not only to be looked at—they have turned into classrooms, memorials, and reminders of the time when sacrifices were made. If you have ever been curious about the experience of being on the deck of a powerful warship, here is a list of the top ten most famous battleship museums in the United States.
10. USS Utah
The story of the USS Utah is a saga of sacrifice and service. She was launched before World War I and took part in the Great War. Later, she was a ship at Pearl Harbor on the 7th of December, 1941. After she was hit by torpedoes, she overturned and sank at the place where she still lies. Utah is a harbor memorial and an eyewitness to that tragic morning.
9. USS Iowa
The USS Iowa is currently stationed in Los Angeles and has an extensive and commendable past. She was very different from her sister ships as she spent the majority of the time of World War II in the Atlantic. As a museum, she is asking for more than just viewing. Visitors can enter her gun turrets, wander through her corridors, and learn about Vicky the Dog, her wartime mascot. Iowa’s caretakers tell of her as not only history but also as a link to fostering a more united and stronger country.
8. USS North Carolina
Due to her personality, the “Showboat,” USS North Carolina, was commissioned a few days before the declaration of war between the U.S. and Germany. She was sent to the Pacific and thus was present at most of the carrier battles during the war. Now, she is in Wilmington, North Carolina. If you walk on her decks, you will also be able to understand the naval officers’ dilemmas and decisions faced at sea during that time.
7. USS New Jersey
The USS New Jersey, which is in Camden, New Jersey, is one of the most heavily armed battleships of her time. Although she was expensive to operate, she always performed great when she was brought into action, giving the enemy huge bombs. She was so powerful that she was able to do great harm to the enemy, and at the same time, she was featured in a series of exhibitions that together with World War II, but also the Cold War era, when these great warships were still seen as a guarantor of the toughest American stance.
6. USS Arizona
The USS Arizona is not a battleship only—it is a memorial and a cemetery. On December 7, 1941, she was annihilated at Pearl Harbor, together with 1,177 men who went down with her. The ship lies under the water in Hawaii and is a place to grieve and remember. The memorial visit is a sobering call, to be sure, to the high cost that comes with war.
5. USS Massachusetts
“Big Mamie,” the USS Massachusetts, was in action from North Africa all the way to the Pacific. She was involved in the battle of most violent battle. Now kept at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts, she’s the museum ship that is the easiest to get to. From the bunker to her bridge, the whole ship looks as if it is still fit for battle.
4. USS Alabama
Besides playing an essential part in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, this South Dakota-class battleship was anchored in Mobile, Alabama. She did a lot of good work cleaning the air around the carriers with her anti-aircraft fire and pounding the enemy’s positions with her big guns. Now, she tells the story of the combination and hard work that was necessary to operate this huge war machine via a museum.
3. USS Missouri
The “Mighty Mo” is the historical site where the war that took place in the Pacific came to an end, and Japan signed the official surrender document in 1945. Honolulu, Hawaii, is where she is now, and there she has been the home of presidents, veterans, and millions of visitors. Her decks not only symbolize victory but also reconciliation and peace.
2. USS Wisconsin
The USSWisconswhichicht is docked in Norfolk, Virginia, is the biggest of the Iowa-class battleships because of its extended bow. She served in both World War II and Korea. Nowadays, people can go on her huge decks and even stand under her tall 16-inch guns that were among the most powerful weapons ever installed on a ship.
1. USS Texas
The USS Texas was the first dreadnought to survive and the only battleship that participated in both World Wars. She stands for a change in the history of the Navy. At the moment, she is going through a process of restoration and lets people in for special tours to see the work being done first-hand. Her prolonged existence reveals how deeply ingrained the importance of history being kept for future generations is.
The ships are not only made of cold steel—they are the chapters of American history. On each of them, the lessons on bravery, sacrifices, and innovations are carried. While on their decks, it is impossible not to wonder: How did it feel to command such power on the ocean? How did these giants of steel shape history? And what are they still teaching us today?