Commissioned in 1914, Battleship Texas (BB-35) has fared numerous battles, excursions, and repairs. Originally serving in the 1914 Tampico Incident in Mexico, she became more prominent during World War I, making numerous sorties into the North Sea. While she likely never engaged the enemy during The Great War, she would become the United States’ flagship, one of only four between the world wars.
In World War II, she made her indelible mark on history. Battleship Texas escorted war convoys across the Atlantic, shelled Vichy French forces during the North African Landings and the German-held beaches at Normandy, then moved to the Pacific Theater to provide gunfire during the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Throughout the onslaught, she persevered, earning five battle stars for service. Beyond that, she was a technological guinea pig, becoming an early user of mounted anti-aircraft guns, production radar, and the very first to launch an aircraft.
After the war, she became the United States’ first battleship museum and as one of only seven remaining ships to serve in both World Wars, earned the prestigious National Historic Landmark status. In the prevailing years, she has faced a different enemy…the brackish waters from the Gulf; eating away at not just her hull, but the soul of the century-old ship.
Docked in La Porte, across from the San Jacinto Monument, since 1948, she served as a sentinel for the Navy’s history and America’s prowess. However, funding for the ship fell short. Years of neglect resulted in deterioration and the intrusion of water over the next half century; rust setting in and its wooden main deck rotting. The funds that did come in were never enough to do more than staving off the inevitable – a slow death of rot.
Stewardship of the Battleship Texas changed hands several times before the Battleship Texas Foundation took over in 1998. Working with a bevy of outside firms, a plan evolved to save her from the grasps of time through a massive multi-year restoration project and increase dwindling attendance three-fold by relocating her to Galveston. The restoration of the ship was no easy undertaking; had her critical preservation needs not been met, the repair bill would have continued to grow, resulting in unfortunate fiscal decisions for the ship.
The dry-dock restoration work, the most since leaving active service, has included the replacement of more than 700 tons of steel, the removal of her guns, and the replacement of wood along her deck, the rebuilding of her blister tank, restored her watertight integrity, and extensive repairs to her superstructure, has extend her life. The restoration project is nearing its end, with the Foundation planning to re-open in late 2025 or early 2026. With a new wood deck and a fresh coat of paint, she won’t just welcome visitors, but astound them.
Her new port will “transform the internal visitor experience, creating a new, modern and compelling museum”, said Matt Pham, Vice President of Development for the Battleship Texas Foundation. “We are inviting the entire community to join us in ushering in a new era for Battleship Texas. Her future is bright.”
