Things To Do

Battleship Texas: Visitor Guide to the Last Dreadnought

Date Published

Battleship Texas dreadnought cage masts and gun turrets silhouetted against Houston night sky

At a glance

  • Where: Gulf Copper & Manufacturing, Galveston, TX (restoration underway as of October 2026); permanent berth will be Pier 15, Galveston — verify current status at battleshiptexas.org before you go
  • Hours: Closed for regular tours during restoration; occasional specialty tours announced at battleshiptexas.org; grand reopening targeted for 2027
  • Cost: Check battleshiptexas.org for current specialty-tour pricing; general admission not yet on sale
  • Parking: Parking details for the current Gulf Copper site and future Pier 15 berth listed on battleshiptexas.org
  • Time needed: 1.5–2 hours for the ship; the San Jacinto Monument (about 30 miles from Galveston) is a worthwhile separate stop in the same day

Battleship Texas (BB-35) is a New York-class dreadnought battleship, the only surviving warship to have served in both World War I and World War II. After more than seven decades as a floating museum near the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site east of Houston, the ship was moved to a Galveston dry dock in 2022 for a full hull restoration managed by the Battleship Texas Foundation. Check battleshiptexas.org for the current location, tour hours, and ticket prices before you visit — the situation may have changed since this page was last verified.

Why Battleship Texas is worth the drive

Here is the fact that stops most people cold: on the morning of June 6, 1944 — D-Day — the captain of the USS Texas ordered the 27,000-ton ship into water so shallow that her keel cleared the seabed by approximately two feet. He did it deliberately. To bring the ship's 14-inch guns to bear at a low enough angle to suppress the German battery at Pointe du Hoc before the Rangers climbed the cliffs, the Texas had to cross its own minimum draft limit. The guns fired. The battery went silent. The Rangers made it to the top.

That is the history you walk through when you board the Texas: not a replica or a recreation, but the actual ship — with the actual guns, the actual bridge, and the actual engine room — that crossed the Atlantic and steamed into the English Channel in 1944.

The ship's story

The USS Texas was commissioned on March 12, 1914, five months before the start of World War I. She carried five twin 14-inch gun turrets, each shell weighing roughly 1,500 pounds with a range of nearly 13 miles. In 1916, she became the first U.S. warship to mount anti-aircraft guns — at a time when combat aircraft were still a novel threat.

In World War I, the Texas joined the British Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow in Scotland and helped escort Atlantic convoys. In World War II, she provided naval gunfire support at the Allied landings in North Africa (1942), Normandy (June 1944), southern France (August 1944), Iwo Jima (February 1945), and Okinawa (April 1945) — more amphibious assaults than almost any other American warship of the era.

The Navy decommissioned the Texas on April 21, 1948 — the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto — and transferred her to the state of Texas. She became the first U.S. naval vessel to be permanently dedicated as a memorial ship and the first to be designated a National Historic Landmark.

What to see on board

The main battery turrets. Five twin 14-inch gun turrets are the ship's defining feature. You can walk up to the turret faces and look into the gun bores — each barrel nearly 50 feet long. Each turret was operated by a crew of about 70 men and rotated to train on any target within range. The guns that fired on Normandy are the same guns you see here.

The bridge and conning tower. The ship's navigating bridge and the armored conning tower — the hardened battle station where the captain directed action — are accessible on tour. Standing on the bridge makes clear how the crew coordinated gunfire across miles of open water with the tools of 1940.

The Mark 1 Ford Range Keeper. One of the few surviving examples of this early electromechanical fire control computer sits aboard the Texas. Installed in the 1930s, it calculated gun elevation and train angles using spinning gears and cams — an analog machine doing ballistic math in real time. It is one-of-a-kind in the best way.

Crew quarters. The ship's original peacetime complement was about 1,000 men; her wartime crew during World War II swelled to roughly 1,800. The berthing spaces, mess decks, officers' wardroom, and admiral's quarters show how sharply life differed between ranks, separated by a few ladders and a few hundred square feet.

The engine room. Triple-expansion steam reciprocating engines — not turbines, but the older piston-driven type — powered the Texas at up to 16 knots. They span several decks and are still in place, massive and intricate.

The restoration: why and what is happening

By the 2010s, the Texas's hull had reached a critical state. Decades of saltwater exposure and deferred maintenance had created rust-through failures in the hull plating; the ship was actively taking on water. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which had operated her since 1948, determined that only a full dry-dock restoration could save her.

In 2020, TPWD transferred management to the newly formed Battleship Texas Foundation, a nonprofit that launched a fundraising campaign backed by private donors and the state legislature. On August 31, 2022, the ship departed San Jacinto under tow and arrived at Gulf Copper and Manufacturing in Galveston — one of the few Gulf Coast facilities large enough to dry-dock a vessel of the Texas's size — where hull plating, mechanical systems, and structural preservation work began. It was the first time in 32 years the ship had been out of the water.

The Texas Legislature, which authorized restoration funding, prohibited the ship from returning to the San Jacinto Battleground site. The Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees approved Pier 15 in Galveston — near the cruise terminals and within walking distance of the Strand Historic District — as the permanent berth. As of October 2026, the ship remains at Gulf Copper while mooring engineering, Army Corps of Engineers permits, and dredging work are completed before the move to Pier 15. Regular public tours are currently suspended; occasional specialty tours (gunnery, engineering, Normandy-focused) are announced at battleshiptexas.org. A grand reopening is targeted for 2027.

Combining with the San Jacinto Monument

The Texas will not return to its original berth at the San Jacinto Battleground. Its permanent home is Pier 15 in Galveston, roughly 30 miles from the San Jacinto site. That distance makes a same-day combination very doable: visit the battleship in the morning, then drive north to La Porte in the afternoon.

The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site marks the ground where Sam Houston's Texas Army defeated Santa Anna's Mexican forces on April 21, 1836, in an 18-minute battle that secured Texas independence. The museum at the base covers the Texas Revolution in depth.

The San Jacinto Monument stands 567 feet tall — about 12 feet taller than the Washington Monument (555 feet). An elevator runs to an observation deck near the top, where on a clear day you can see the Houston skyline, the Ship Channel, and Galveston Bay. The observation deck ticket is sold separately from any battleship ticket; check the San Jacinto Museum and Monument website for current hours and prices.

Best time to visit and practical tips

Fall and spring are the most comfortable seasons. Houston summers push a steel ship's exposed decks well past 100°F, and below-deck passageways are not air-conditioned. October through April is the comfortable window, though the ship is typically open year-round.

Wear closed-toe shoes. Metal deck grating, steep ladders, and low hatch coamings are standard throughout the ship. Sandals are unsafe; comfortable walking shoes with grip are the right choice.

Bring water. Interior spaces are not climate-controlled. In warm weather, carry a water bottle for the tour.

Weekday mornings are less crowded. School groups and tour buses tend to clear mid-morning on weekdays, leaving the ship quieter by mid-day.

Photography. The ship's profile from the dock — cage masts, funnels, gun turrets, and long hull together — makes a striking photograph. Early morning light on the gray hull against a clear sky is the best condition.

Getting there and parking

Battleship Texas is in Galveston. The current restoration site at Gulf Copper and the planned permanent berth at Pier 15 are both on the Galveston waterfront. The drive from downtown Houston is approximately 50 miles, typically 55 to 70 minutes depending on traffic on I-45 South. Parking details for both the current and future sites are listed at battleshiptexas.org.

If you plan to combine the battleship with the San Jacinto Monument, the monument site in La Porte is about 30 miles from Galveston — roughly 35 to 45 minutes north via TX-87 and TX-225. The most practical approach is to visit one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

Food and dining nearby

Battleship Texas's permanent home at Pier 15 sits a short walk from Galveston's Strand Historic District, which has dozens of restaurants. The Galveston day trip guide covers the island's dining options near the water.

If you're combining the battleship with the San Jacinto Monument or Space Center Houston, plan lunch in the Clear Lake area, which sits roughly halfway between Galveston and the monument site. The best restaurants in Clear Lake range from seafood on the waterfront to casual Texas cooking. For a full day trip from Houston, the Galveston waterfront, the battleship, and Space Center Houston form a logical triangle.

Nearby attractions

  • Space Center Houston — approximately 15 miles west of the San Jacinto site on NASA Road 1. The visitor complex for NASA Johnson Space Center includes Mission Control and active tram tours of the NASA campus. See the Space Center Houston visitor guide.
  • Kemah Boardwalk — approximately 10 miles south of the San Jacinto site. Rides, restaurants, and waterfront views on the shore of Galveston Bay. See the Kemah Boardwalk guide.
  • Galveston Island — if visiting the ship during the dry-dock restoration, Galveston's Strand Historic District, beaches, and Moody Gardens are minutes away.

Save this: Battleship Texas day-trip checklist

  • Check battleshiptexas.org for current tour status and specialty-tour dates before you go — regular tours remain suspended during restoration.
  • Wear closed-toe shoes; the ship has metal grating and steep ladders throughout.
  • Bring water — the interior is not air-conditioned.
  • The permanent berth is Pier 15, Galveston, near the Strand District; plan lunch on the island before or after your visit.
  • Add the San Jacinto Monument (about 30 miles north, in La Porte) for a full day — budget 45 minutes to an hour there.
  • Buy specialty-tour tickets online in advance; limited spots sell out quickly.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Battleship Texas now?

The USS Texas (BB-35) departed its longtime berth at the San Jacinto Battleground on August 31, 2022, and arrived at Gulf Copper and Manufacturing in Galveston for a full hull restoration. As of October 2026, the ship is still at Gulf Copper. Its permanent home will be Pier 15 in Galveston — the Texas Legislature prohibited a return to San Jacinto when it authorized restoration funding. Check battleshiptexas.org for the latest move timeline.

Is Battleship Texas open for tours?

As of October 2026, regular public tours are suspended while restoration continues. The Battleship Texas Foundation offers occasional specialty tours (gunnery, engineering, Normandy-focused) announced at battleshiptexas.org. A grand reopening is targeted for 2027. Check battleshiptexas.org before making the drive.

How long does a Battleship Texas tour take?

Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours on a self-guided tour, covering the main deck, gun turrets, bridge, crew quarters, and engine room. Allow extra time if you plan to pair it with the San Jacinto Monument.

Can you visit both Battleship Texas and the San Jacinto Monument in one trip?

Yes, but they are no longer side-by-side. Battleship Texas will be permanently berthed at Pier 15 in Galveston, about 30 miles south of the San Jacinto Monument in La Porte. Visiting both in one day is very doable — plan the battleship in the morning and the monument in the afternoon, or vice versa. The monument charges a separate admission for its observation deck elevator; check sanjacinto-museum.org for current prices.

What makes Battleship Texas historically unique?

The USS Texas (BB-35) is the only surviving American warship to have served in both World War I and World War II. She participated in D-Day at Normandy on June 6, 1944, the landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and was the first U.S. warship to mount anti-aircraft guns, in 1916.

How far is Battleship Texas from downtown Houston?

Battleship Texas is in Galveston — approximately 50 miles south of downtown Houston via I-45 South, typically 55 to 70 minutes depending on traffic. The ship is currently at Gulf Copper and Manufacturing in Galveston and will be permanently berthed at Pier 15 in Galveston when restoration is complete. The ship's original berth at the San Jacinto Battleground in La Porte is about 22 miles east of downtown, but the Texas Legislature prohibited a return there when it authorized restoration funding.