We are targeting 2027 for our grand reopening.

Battleship Texas is currently moored at Gulf Copper Shipyard in Galveston, Texas.

All the guns that were onboard when Battleship Texas closed in 2019 will be reinstalled after restoration.

The best place to see Battleship Texas in the shipyard is from Galveston’s Pier 21. We also post pictures and videos from the shipyard on our news page and social media.

The Texas Legislature specifically stated in the legislation authorizing funds to restore the ship that it could not return to its former location. When berthed at the San Jacinto Battleground, the ship attracted less than 100,000 visitors a year, necessitating state support. Studies have shown that, in Galveston, the Battleship Texas could attract more than 250,000 visitors a year, creating a sustainable self-funding ecosystem, lessening or eliminating the need for state support.

The State of Texas owns the battleship. Battleship Texas had been managed by and budgeted for by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department since 1983. The Battleship Texas Foundation now manages the ship with oversight from Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Between 1946 and 1948, legislation was passed at the state and federal levels to allow the U.S. Navy to donate Battleship Texas to the State of Texas to be operated as a museum and memorial. This federal program still operates today and is the source of most former Navy vessels that have been donated to serve as museum ships in the U.S.

When the State of Texas received Battleship Texas in 1948, a state commission called the Battleship Texas Commission was responsible for the ship. This commission was established by an act of the legislature in 1947 and abolished by another act of the legislature in 1983.

After the Battleship Texas Commission was abolished, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department was given responsibility for Battleship Texas. Texas Parks & Wildlife operated the ship until August 1, 2020, when operational control was given to the Battleship Texas Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in the 1990s in support of Battleship Texas, at the direction of legislation passed in 2019.

Battleship Texas was safely moored at the San Jacinto Battleground from 1948-2022 and safely withstood Hurricanes Carla, Alicia, Rita, Ike and Harvey as well as Tropical Storm Allison  The ship’s Galveston berth will be outfitted with the tried and true system that was in place at the Battleground with re-engineering for the increased environmental exposures of being on the coast and for much stronger storms.

Yes, we are planning for ample parking to accommodate our guests including access to currently under-used, nearby parking garages. In addition, the Port of Galveston’s master plan calls for additional parking garages to be built in the very near future.

The Battleship Texas will become the centerpiece of a world class museum.  The museum and ship will feature a robust roster of educational and community programing that will include patriotic and historic celebrations such as July 4^th, Veterans Day, etc. Overnight experiences and school visits will resume and we will add event rental options for weddings, parties and business gatherings

The Texas Legislature has funded $60 million of a projected $75 million restoration project for Battleship Texas. On August 31^st, 2022, Battleship Texas arrived at Gulf Copper and was raised out of the water for repairs. Gulf Copper has repaired and replaced hull plating below the waterline, totally about 700 tons of steel. The ship’s torpedo blisters (sacrificial exterior tanks added in 1925-1926 to protect the ship from torpedoes) have been entirely cut away below the waterline and reconstructed. The new torpedo blisters are of a slightly different design to reduce future maintenance needs and will be coated inside and out to protect from corrosion.

After the hull repairs and torpedo blister rebuild were completed, Gulf Copper applied marine grade paint coatings to the hull. The ship is being painted to the historical Measure 21 camouflage scheme, which she wore in the Pacific Theater in 1945. This will mean Navy Blue 5-N on all vertical surfaces and Deck Blue 20-B on all horizontal surfaces.

On March 5th, 2024, Battleship Texas left dry dock and moved to another pier at Gulf Copper for pierside work. This phase of the project includes various repairs to the ship’s superstructure funded in part by the Save America’s Treasures grant (the superstructure is the structures above main deck, such as the masts, smoke stack, and aft fire control tower), replacing some or all of the ship’s wood decking, and cleaning up, restoration, repainting, and installing exhibits in interior spaces. This work will prepare the ship to receive visitors again and we estimate this will take at least a year to eighteen months after Battleship Texas leaves dry dock.

Usable scrap steel and deck wood is made into various items which are available on our store.