Battleship Texas: Visitor Guide to the Last Dreadnought

At a glance

• Where: San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, La Porte, TX (original berth) or Gulf Copper dry dock, Galveston (restoration) — verify current location at battleshiptexas.org before you go
• Hours: Tour availability varies by restoration phase — check battleshiptexas.org before visiting
• Cost: Check battleshiptexas.org for current admission prices
• Parking: Free at the San Jacinto Battleground site; dry-dock parking details on the Foundation's website
• Time needed: 1.5–2 hours for the ship; add 45 minutes to 1 hour for the San Jacinto Monument and museum

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 April 14, 2022, the ship was towed from her berth at the San Jacinto Battleground to 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.

The Foundation opened the ship for tours during the dry-dock restoration phase. Check battleshiptexas.org for the current status, whether the ship has returned to a new permanent berth, and what tours are available.

Pairing with the San Jacinto Monument

The Texas's original berth was a few hundred yards from the San Jacinto Monument. If the ship has returned to the San Jacinto site when you visit, you can see both in one morning.

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 — taller than the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. (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 has a separate admission 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

The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site is approximately 22 miles east of downtown Houston, off State Highway 225 East. Drive time is typically 30 to 40 minutes without traffic. Parking at the San Jacinto site is free.

If the ship is currently at the Gulf Copper dry dock in Galveston during restoration, the address and parking details are listed on battleshiptexas.org. The drive from downtown Houston to Galveston's industrial waterfront is approximately 50 miles, typically 55 to 70 minutes.

Food and dining nearby

The closest dining to the San Jacinto Battleground is in the Clear Lake area, approximately 15 to 20 minutes west. The best restaurants in Clear Lake range from seafood on the waterfront to casual Texas cooking. If you're visiting the ship at the Galveston dry dock, the Galveston day trip guide covers the island's dining options near the water.

For a full day trip from Houston, pair the battleship and the monument in the morning, have lunch in Clear Lake, and finish the afternoon at Space Center Houston — all within 20 miles of each other.

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 hours, admission, and whether the ship is at San Jacinto or Galveston.
• Wear closed-toe shoes; the ship has metal grating and steep ladders throughout.
• Bring water — the interior is not air-conditioned.
• Budget 1.5 to 2 hours for the battleship and 45 minutes for the San Jacinto Monument if combining both.
• Grab lunch in Clear Lake on the way to or from Space Center Houston.
• Buy tickets online in advance if available — popular weekends can sell out.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Battleship Texas now?

The USS Texas (BB-35) was towed from its longtime berth at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site to Gulf Copper and Manufacturing in Galveston in April 2022 for a full hull restoration. As of October 2026, check battleshiptexas.org for the current location — the ship may have returned to a new permanent berth since restoration began.

Is Battleship Texas open for tours?

Tour availability varies by phase of the restoration. The ship has been closed during intensive work periods and open during others. Always check battleshiptexas.org for the current status before making the drive — the Foundation updates the site when tours resume.

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 — they were a few hundred yards apart at the original San Jacinto site, and a half-day covers both easily. If the ship has returned to San Jacinto you can walk between them. 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?

The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, the ship's original and planned permanent berth, is approximately 22 miles east of downtown Houston via State Highway 225. The drive typically takes 30 to 40 minutes without traffic.