Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington

Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington -- Come see where the sailors lived and fought for our freedom. The Battleship North Carolina is a proud reminder of American efforts to protect the free world. Come aboard and you will experience firsthand the patriotic pride that carried her brave crew to victory. The self-guided tour is well marked so you can tour at your own pace and takes approximately 2 hours. For the enthusiasts, it will take three to four hours to tour the battleship.

Begin your tour in the Visitor's Center where there are exhibits and an orientation film that takes you through the history of the "showboat."

The self-guided tour includes portions of nine decks where you can enter gun turrets, inspect the bridge, view the crew's quarters, sick bay, an engine room and much more. Discover how the ship was a floating city with places to sleep, eat, see movies, mail letters and get a haircut. On the ship's main deck, see one of the seven remaining Vought Kingfisher float planes and the Roll of Honor which memorializes the names of the 10,000 North Carolinians of all the armed services who gave their lives during World War II.

Conclude your tour in the Ship's Store and the Coca-Cola Canteen or enjoy a picnic in Battleship Park under the picnic shelter overlooking historic downtown Wilmington.

Welcome Aboard!

Standing with quiet dignity and majesty across the river from downtown Wilmington, the Battleship North Carolina beckons visitors to walk her decks and envision daily life as well as fierce combat that her crew faced in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.

From all across the nation they came, young men who had grown up in the crucible of the Depression and now determined to serve their country in its time of need. These are the young men whose stories you will encounter through their oral histories, uniforms, and mementos as you explore the ship and its exhibits.

Ship-of-the-Line Following the War of 1812, the United States committed to building a strong navy. The U.S. Navy required ships which could hold the line of battle in conflict, hence the name ship-of-the-line or line-of-battle ship, later shortened to battleship.

The first of seven new ships approved by Congress, the three-masted square-rigger North Carolina was considered the terror of the seas. Her keel was laid in 1818 in Philadelphia Navy Yard where she was built. She was launched in 1820 after being "fitted out" in Norfolk Navy Yard. Considered the most powerful vessel afloat in her day when commissioned in June 1824, North Carolina was invited to many foreign ports.

From April 1825 until May 1827, NORTH CAROLINA served in the Mediterranean fleet as Commodore John Rogers flagship. Her powerful presence enhanced our nation's prestige and displayed our might, an important factor in the young country's national affairs.

She served as flagship once again in South America in May 1837. War raged between Chile and Peru and our relations with Mexico were strained. NORTH CAROLINA protected American commerce until March 1839.

Her great size limited the number of ports where she could be of service and so she returned to New York Navy Yard and served as a receiving ship for new sailors until 1866. She was sold for scrap at New York 1 October 1867 for $30,000.

Statistics

196 feet 3 inches long
53 feet 6 inches wide at her beam
weighed 2,633 tons
74 guns - 32 pounders and 42 pounders
complement of 820 men

Museum

In addition to its roles as a memorial and authentically restored World War II battleship, the Battleship is a Museum with a large and diverse collection of artifacts. These artifacts greatly enhance the staff's ability to tell the story of the Battleship to her visitors. The thousands of artifacts in the Battleship Collection mostly come from two sources - the ship and individual donors. The ship is made up of hundreds of compartments filled with artifacts left intact from the time of her decommissioning in 1947. Individuals - many of them former crew members - have been donating items since the Ship's arrival in 1961.

Donations are catalogued and preserved for use in exhibits, educational programs, and for research. The Museum Department staff and volunteers are working diligently to gather the thousands of artifacts scattered throughout the ship so that they too may be inventoried, documented, and preserved.

Founded in 1988, the Museum Department actively seeks artifacts directly associated with ships named NORTH CAROLINA - the Battleship, the Armored Cruiser, the Ship-of-the-Line, and the Civil War Ironclad. Items include those related to the histories of the ships, their construction, their crews, daily life aboard ship, their armament, and the events in which they participated. The Department also accepts artifacts that would be typical of those used on the ships or by the crew.

Another area of interest are items associated with the Memorial - the Ship's rescue from scrapping in 1960, the founding and development of the Memorial, and memorabilia such as souvenirs sold in the gift shop.

No item is too insignificant or ordinary to be considered for the Battleship Collection. Each object helps us to present a more complete and accurate history of the Battleship and the Memorial.

Sample Area of Collections

Personal Artifacts:
The donation of a group of items belonging to one individual can be helpful in many ways. They can tell one person's history, reflect the daily life of the crew, or bring to life a particular event. Artifacts might include toiletries, medals, shoes, etc.

Textiles:
The Battleship Collection encompasses many types of textiles. The most prevalent are flags, uniforms, souvenir pillowcases, and linens.

Armaments:
The Battleship Collection of armament includes the guns attached to the Ship, ammunition and powder bags, and personal arms which belonged to the officers and crew, some of which are purely ceremonial or decorative.

The Battleship North Carolina is a proud reminder of American efforts to protect the free world. Come aboard and experience first-hand the patriotic pride that carried her brave crew to victory.

Hotel pick ups are not included. Child rates applies to ages 6 - 11. Children under the age of 6 are free. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-805-7647.