If you have a passion for military maritime history, then you’ll be pleased to know that there are dozens of retired Navy ships that you can still board. Many have been turned into museums that provide an innovative and immersive experience as they take you back to see what our country has been through.
USS Constitution
This was one of six original frigates with an undefeated battle record. It’s currently the world’s oldest commissioned warship that still remains afloat. It’s in the Charlestown Navy Yard and has free guided tours by active-duty sailors. It’s incredible to see this ship up close and learn about its history.
Battleship North Carolina
In World War II, this ship was the first of almost a dozen fast battleships and was set to join the fleet. They were all highly decorated, and this one was decommissioned in 1947. It barely missed scrappers in 1960, but it managed to be saved and now sits near Wilmington, North Carolina. Step aboard and walk the decks as you learn about the crew who served.
Battleship Cove
Battleship Cove isn’t home to one ship; it’s home to five. In Fall River, Massachusetts, you can tour battleships, including the battleship USS Massachusetts, the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., or the USS Lionfish, a famous submarine. This is a great place to start if you want to learn more about naval history.
USS Iowa
This battleship was commissioned in 1943. It was in service until 1990 and then turned into a museum in Los Angeles. It’s considered to be one of the largest and last classes of battleships built by the Navy. During WWII, President Roosevelt traveled on this ship and inspired soldiers with a resounding speech at the end of his trip. In 2012, she became a museum ship and is the only one on the West Coast to feature a ship that saw action in WWII.
Missouri Memorial
1944 was the year this ship was commissioned and she had an amazing career over fifty years. This ship fought in three wars and the people who come visit are always fascinated by this ship’s history. You can take a self-guided tour or a special one depending on your preference.
USS Hornet Museum
The eighth in a long line of Navy warships, she spent 16 months straight at sea during the Second World War. This ship participated in almost all of the assault landings from 1944 to the end of the war. You can find this ship in San Francisco and go aboard for a self-guided tour or a docent-led tour of the decks.
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
In Alabama, you can tour the namesake battleship, but you can also tour the USS Drum. Both are open for self-guided tours, but the park also has military aircraft on display. It’s estimated that it will take about half an hour to see the ship, but you should plan for an afternoon if you want to see everything.
USS Lexington Museum
This ship was nicknamed ‘the Blue Ghost’ by Tokyo Rose, because the ship survived multiple attacks. The USS Lexington was thought and falsely reported to be sunk more than four times, but she was a fighter and never sank. At the museum in Texas, you’ll see 11 decks are open to visitors. You should choose between a special hard hat tour or one of five self-guided tours.
Intrepid Museum
Come to New York and you’ll find the Intrepid. It’s a legendary aircraft carrier and nearby, you can also explore the USS Growler. This area is dedicated to STEM education and the museum offers hands-on experiences and exhibits as well. The goal is to bring harmony between science and history together.
Battle Ship New Jersey
This museum and memorial is located in Camden, New Jersey. It’s the nation’s most decorated battleship. It’s been fully restored and all ages are welcome to go through the passages and see what life on board was like when it was still on the seas doing a job. Its sheer size is magnificent and will take your breath away.
USS Texas
Commissioned in 1914, this ship is old but was considered to be one of the most powerful weapons in the world when it was first enacted. It survived both world wars and was the first battleship to be armed with anti-aircraft guns. The museum ship now sits at San Jacinto, Texas.
USS Wisconsin
A battleship that was built by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, it served in two wars and was decommissioned in the late ’50s. It was modernized in the late ’80s and recommissioned a year later to serve in the Gulf War before being decommissioned again. Finally, in the late ’90s, she was restored to the Naval Vessel Register and remains next to the Nauticus in Norfolk.
USS Little Rock
This was one of 27 Cleveland Class light cruisers built during the Second World War. It was commissioned in the mid-’40s and then converted to a Galveston Class guided missile cruiser in the late ’50s. It was also a part of the Mediterranean 6th Fleet. As it stands now, it currently resides in Buffalo, New York.
USS Turner Joy
A Forrest Sherman Destroyer, it was commissioned in the late 1950s and decommissioned in 1982. It had a speed of 32 knots, and when it was running, it had almost 300 enlisted sailors and 17 officers. It served a double-duty role as a flagship destroyer and air-sea rescue, but it is most known for its participation in the Gulf of Tonkin.
USS The Sullivans
The Buffalo and Erie County Naval Military Park is a large waterfront area with four ships. The Sullivans are one of them. The vessel is named after five brothers from Iowa who died together on the Juneau CL-52 ship. It’s the only ship to be named after a group of people, and she shot down eight Japanese planes as well as rescuing pilots. It earned 11 battle stars, and now you can see the ship born from the brothers’ statement that they stick together.
Seeing The History
Our country’s naval history is full of brave ships, each with a unique history full of moments when our country tried to stay together and move toward a singular cause. Now, through hard work and determination, you can see the history yourself as you step on board one of these magnificent ships.
