Many of the Navy’s most famous warships ended their careers as floating museums, open to visitors who want to walk the decks. Some carry famous moments from World War II, while others earned their reputations in later conflicts. Here are twelve battleships and aircraft carriers that can now be toured.
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1. USS Hornet: Attacked 59 Times
The Alameda carrier was attacked 59 times in World War II and later recovered the Apollo 11 astronauts, according to Fox News.
The combination of combat history and space-age recovery work gives the ship an unusual range. Visitors to the Alameda museum can explore the decks of a vessel that links two very different chapters of American history. Anyone planning a visit can see how the ship’s wartime service and later recovery missions are presented, and the story offers plenty for families and military history fans alike.
2. USS Midway: Longest-Serving Carrier
San Diego’s museum carrier was America’s longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, Fox News reports.
That long service record is a big part of why the ship draws visitors to the waterfront today. Touring the flight deck gives a sense of how carrier life changed across many decades. Fans of aviation tend to find the aircraft on display a big part of the draw, since the museum pairs the ship with a collection of planes from different eras.
3. USS Lexington: The Blue Ghost
Corpus Christi’s ‘Blue Ghost’ was the first aircraft carrier to have women serve aboard as crew, according to Fox News.
The nickname adds some mystery to a ship whose historical firsts are well documented. Visitors can see the vessel moored in Texas, a long way from the waters where she served. Anyone interested in the history of women in the military will find the milestone a worthwhile reason to make the trip, along with the chance to see the ship up close.
4. USS Yorktown: Apollo 8 and Hollywood
The Patriots Point carrier recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts in 1968 and appeared in Tora! Tora! Tora!, Fox News notes.
Her roles in both spaceflight and film make the ship a double attraction. The carrier is docked in South Carolina, where visitors can combine military and entertainment history in a single tour. Visitors who enjoy both film and history can look for the places where the ship appeared on screen, and guides often point out the areas tied to the recovery mission.
5. USS Missouri: Where Japan Surrendered
The Pearl Harbor battleship hosted Japan’s formal surrender on Sept. 2, 1945, and is 887 feet long, according to Jalopnik.
Standing on the deck where the war ended is one of the most powerful experiences a museum ship can offer. The length of the vessel also makes it one of the largest ships on the list. Many people who visit make a point of finding the exact spot of the ceremony, and the ship’s sheer size gives a strong feel for the scale of mid-century naval power.
6. USS Iowa: FDR’s Secret Passenger
The San Pedro battleship secretly carried FDR toward the 1943 Tehran conference, and a 1989 turret blast killed 47, Jalopnik reports.
The ship’s story includes both a high-level wartime mission and a later tragedy. Visitors in Southern California can learn about both episodes while touring the vessel in the harbor. Guided tours often cover both episodes, and the ship’s size gives a clear sense of the scale of the guns that were once the pride of the fleet.
7. USS New Jersey: Most Decorated Battleship
Moored in Camden, she became the most decorated battleship in U.S. Navy history, according to Jalopnik.
The New Jersey sits across the river from Philadelphia, making her an easy stop for visitors in the Northeast. Her distinction as the most decorated battleship is the main reason she is so widely celebrated. For anyone planning a trip along the East Coast, the ship makes an easy addition to an itinerary, and the long list of honors gives a clear theme for the visit.
8. USS Wisconsin: Typhoon Survivor
Berthed at Nauticus in Norfolk, she survived a typhoon that sank three destroyers and served in Desert Storm, per Jalopnik.
The ship’s endurance in such harsh conditions is a testament to her construction. Visitors in Virginia can see the vessel up close at the Nauticus museum. Her service in later conflicts shows that battleships remained active long after World War II, which is a part of the story that many visitors do not expect to learn.
9. USS Intrepid: An Essex-Class Original
One of 24 Essex-class carriers, the Manhattan museum ship reopened in 1982 with 30-plus aircraft on deck, according to Never Stop Traveling.
The aircraft collection is a major part of the visit, giving a sense of the carrier’s working life. The ship is moored in New York, which makes her one of the most accessible museum ships. Planning a visit is straightforward, since the ship is one of the best-known attractions in her city, and the flight deck offers views that make the trip worthwhile.
10. USS North Carolina: Fifteen Battle Stars
Her 15 battle stars made the Wilmington battleship the most decorated battleship of World War II, Never Stop Traveling says.
The count of battle stars is a simple way to measure a ship’s service in the war. Visitors to North Carolina can walk the deck of a vessel with one of the strongest combat records of its era. Anyone who wants to learn more about the war in the Pacific and Atlantic will find the ship a useful starting point, with exhibits explaining how the crew lived and worked.
11. USS Alabama: Never Lost a Sailor
Mobile’s battleship earned nine battle stars and never lost a sailor to enemy action, according to Never Stop Traveling.
That record is the main thing that sets her apart from other ships on the list. She now rests in Alabama, where visitors can tour a vessel that came through the war without wartime losses. Since the ship was spared losses in combat, her story is one of survival, and visitors can walk the same decks that carried the crew through years of service.
12. USS Massachusetts: Big Mamie
‘Big Mamie’ at Fall River’s Battleship Cove earned 11 battle stars, Never Stop Traveling reports.
The nickname adds some personality to a ship that saw heavy action in her career. Battleship Cove in Massachusetts lets visitors explore the vessel and learn about the crews who lived aboard. Anyone touring can explore the decks and compartments at their own pace, and the ship’s long list of honors makes her an easy pick for a day trip in New England.
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