The time of battleships—those gigantic metal monsters that had a great influence on the sea—has probably passed, but their histories are still told. The surviving American battleships are now floating museums, telling tales of wars, of their amazing construction, and the men who rode them. These are the eight remaining U.S. battleships and their locations now.
8. USS Iowa (BB-61): The Navy’s Longest-Serving Giant
After she was commissioned in 1943, USS Iowa set a great example for herself as the battleship with the longest service life. The 887-foot ship was involved in World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War. She was briefly retired after World War II and then came back for Korea. Later, in the 1980s, she went through a major overhaul where she exchanged some of her guns for missiles.
In 1989, a turret explosion killed 47 crew members. Iowa was decommissioned in 1990 and is now a museum ship in San Pedro, Los Angeles. The Pacific Battleship Center takes care of her.
7. USS North Carolina (BB-55): A Pioneering Design
The USS North Carolina, built in 1940, was the first American battleship in almost twenty years, introducing design features that became the benchmark. At 728 feet, she was faster and more maneuverable than the older ones and had 29 large-caliber guns plus a strong anti-aircraft array. Once the Navy had decided to concentrate on the Iowa class, North Carolina was saved from being scrapped and is now docked at Cape Fear River, Wilmington, North Carolina, welcoming visitors.
6. USS Missouri (BB-63): The Mighty Mo
The USS Missouri, which was commissioned in 1944, is known as the place where Japan formally surrendered, bringing an end to World War II. She was the only active battleship from 1947 until 1950 by President Truman’s order and thus stayed in service after the war. She was reactivated in the 1980s and eventually retired in 1992. At present, she is at Pearl Harbor, just beside the sunken USS Arizona, a very strong symbol of war and peace.
5. USS Wisconsin (BB-64): Norfolk’s Maritime Treasure
Wisconsin is the second-to-last U.S. battleship of the Iowa class and the last to shoot in battle. She participated in World War II, Korea, and the Gulf War and was upgraded to modern standards in the 1980s, which included the installation of Tomahawk missiles and drone systems. Wisconsin was decommissioned in 1991 and is now the floating landmark of the Nauticus maritime museum in Norfolk, Virginia.
4. USS Alabama (BB-60): The People’s Battleship
The USS Alabama was a South Dakota-class battleship with a crew of 2,500, commissioned in 1942. She earned the uncommon honor of recognition from the Soviets, served briefly, and was moved to the reserve fleet after five years. Alabama is currently located at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama, thanks to a local preservation effort, where visitors can walk on her decks and learn her history.
3. USS Massachusetts (BB-59): The Most Original Survivor
“Big Mamie,” as she is lovingly referred to, began her service in 1941 and is known for firing both the first and last 16-inch shells of WWII. At 680 feet and equipped with four steam turbines, Massachusetts was heavily armed and formidable. She was turned off in 1947 and was preserved due to public support and given to the state in 1965. Presently, she is stationed at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts, one of the most complete battleships still afloat.
2. USS Texas (BB-35): America’s Last Dreadnought
The USS Texas, launched in 1912, is the oldest U.S. battleship that is still afloat, and the last dreadnought in the world. She was present during both World Wars and went through big changes in the time between the wars, including being equipped with 14-inch guns that could hit targets over 13 miles away. Texas was taken out of service in 1947, became the first battleship museum in America, and is currently being repaired in Galveston, Texas, with a plan to be reopened to the public.
1. USS New Jersey (BB-62): The Most Decorated
New Jersey, also called “Big J,” was put into service in 1942 and earned the highest number of battle stars of any U.S. battleship. She participated in WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, being the only battleship that was restarted for the Vietnam War. Now she is a museum in Camden, New Jersey, preserved by the non-profit Home Port Alliance, which is dedicated to the history of the U.S. Navy’s power.
Not one of these eight battleships was the same as the others, but all were changed from machines of war to museums that commemorate the skill, courage, and devotion of the men who operated them.
