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    • Artifacts

    Artifacts

    Battleship Texas Foundation (BTF) has been collecting artifacts since 2020, following Texas legislature granting BTF managment of ship operations. All of our artifact collections have been photographed or scanned and made available online through CatalogIt HUB. BTF is actively collecting historic items, photographs, and documents related to Battleship Texas (BB-35) or the other commissioned ships named USS Texas (SSN-775, CGN-39, and the first USS Texas commissioned in 1895). We are constantly collecting new artifacts and will continue digitizing them for public viewing. Items to the left are just some of the incredible pieces we have come to collect over the years. If you have an item that makes you say “It belongs in a museum!” please email us at [email protected] with photos and any relevant information or submit the webform at the end of this page.

    Research Our Collections

    Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Artifacts

    The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) retains the ship’s collections and archives donated prior to 2020. TPWD has been working to digitize much of their collections. This includes photos, blueprints, and shipboard newsletters, which have been made available online through University of North Texas’s Portal to Texas History.

    TPWD Photo Collection

    TPWD Blueprint Collection

    TPWD Newspaper Collection

    TPWD Collection Database

    Artifact Donations

    Artifact Donation Form
    Name
    Name
    First Name
    Last Name
    Communication Preference

    Maximum file size: 10MB

    FAQ

    What does the Battleship Texas Foundation collect?

    We collect items related to the experiences of crew members on Battleship Texas, whether something as simple as a photograph of the ship, a letter home, the newspapers collected, or souvenirs purchased on cruise. We also do the same for the sister ship USS New York (BB-35), and all other ships called USS Texas (the 1895 pre-dreadnought, CGN-39, and SSN-775.)

    Will my donation go on display?

    The ship itself is maintained as she appeared at the end of World War II. It may be possible for your donation to fit in the future shore-side museum building. However, curatorial staff cannot guarantee any specific item will go on display.

    I am not sure I want to donate something if I can’t be sure it will go on exhibit.

    Most items in a given museum’s collection remain safely in storage, since time on exhibit damages items.

    What will happen to the item I plan on giving after I donate it?

    Once you have donated an item to Battleship Texas Foundation it will be photographed and/or scanned and stored safely in our collection facility. The artifact will then be entered into our collection database, CatalogIt, where it can always be viewed by the public.

    I have an item that I would like to donate, but there would be costs in moving, packing, or shipping the item.

    Depending on the item, we may be able to cover associated costs. We will cover large donations costs at our expense.