The great battleship—former undisputed ruler of the oceans—has become history, but its shadow is still large. Although its time is gone, a few remain, kept intact as floating museums that allow people to walk into another age of war at sea. Only eight US battleships exist today, with each one having something to tell, and it is still possible to visit them.
8. USS Iowa (BB-61): The Navy’s Longest-Serving Giant
Launched in 1943, the USS Iowa became the fastest of her class and went on to serve in World War II, Korea, and the Cold War. At 887 feet long, she was a powerhouse that traded her big guns for modern missiles during her 1980s refit. Tragedy struck in 1989 when a turret explosion claimed 47 sailors, and she was decommissioned the following year. Today, Iowa lies in San Pedro, California, as a museum ship preserved by the Pacific Battleship Center.
7. USS North Carolina (BB-55): An Early Design
The North Carolina, commissioned in 1940, broke nearly two decades of battleship silence in the US Navy. With greater speed and agility than her predecessors, plus an impressive mix of heavy guns and anti-aircraft defenses, she set a new standard for modern warships. Saved from the scrapyard, she’s now proudly displayed on the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, North Carolina.
6. USS Missouri (BB-63): The Mighty Mo
Arguably the most well-known of all of them, the Missouri was where Japan formally surrendered in 1945, concluding World War II. She was commissioned in 1944 and was the last battleship ever constructed by the US. She served in Korea and was also reactivated in the 1980s.
She was finally retired in 1992 and now resides in Pearl Harbor, near the wreck of the USS Arizona—a potent symbol of both the start and the end of America’s participation in the war.
5. USS Wisconsin (BB-64): Norfolk’s Maritime Treasure
One of an Iowa class of sister ships, Wisconsin entered World War II service and subsequently returned to duty in Korea and the Gulf War. Following modernization in her 1980s, she supported Tomahawk cruise missiles in addition to her tremendous guns. She fired for anger during the Gulf War before she was decommissioned in 1991. Now, she’s berthed in Norfolk, Virginia, alongside the Nauticus museum, a proud testament to the city’s rich naval heritage.
4. USS Alabama (BB-60): The People’s Battleship
Commissioned in 1942, the Alabama served valiantly during World War II with a crew of more than 2,500 sailors. She was specially awarded by the Soviet Union for her service in World War II, setting her apart from her contemporaries. Retired shortly after the war, she was spared by a populist campaign and today greets visitors at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama.
3. USS Massachusetts (BB-59): The Most Unconventional Survivor
Dubbed “Big Mamie,” the Massachusetts cruiser was commissioned in 1941 and gained notoriety for having fired the first and last World War II 16-inch shells for the United States. Heavily armed and capable of being driven by four steam turbines, she was decommissioned in 1947 and later saved through public campaign financing. Now she’s a focal point of Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts, and is one of the most complete and genuine battleships in the world.
2. USS Texas (BB-35): America’s Last Dreadnought
Texas is unique in that it is the oldest remaining US battleship and the sole remaining dreadnought globally. Commissioned in 1912, she took part in both World Wars and underwent significant modernization in between them, such as 14-inch guns with a range of 13 miles. Retired in 1947, she became the country’s first battleship museum. Presently being restored in Galveston, Texas, she remains an inspiration as a one-of-a-kind connection to navy history.
1. USS New Jersey (BB-62): Most Decorated
Dubbed “Big J,” New Jersey went into service in 1942 and amassed more battle stars than any other US battleship. She served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and was the sole battleship to be reactivated for Vietnam. Decommissioned in 1991, she was permanently home in Camden, New Jersey, where she was left as a museum ship.
A Living Legacy
These eight surviving battleships are grand reminders of the era when naval power was quantified in steel and large guns. From Pacific confrontations to Cold War patrols, each ship contains decades of history within its decks. Now, they stand not as weapons, but as museums that preserve the memory of those who constructed, sailed, and fought on them.
