12 Authentic Warships From WWII to the Vietnam War You Can Visit in 2025

The Best Battleship Museums in the USA

If you’ve never walked the wooden decks of a battleship, you’re missing out on one of America’s most impressive historical experiences. These massive warships, once packed with sailors and bristling with powerful guns, give you a real-life look at naval history that you can’t get from books or movies.

Each of these 11 ships fought in different wars and campaigns, from World War II to Vietnam and beyond. From Hawaii to the East Coast, here’s where you can get up close with these steel giants in 2025.

1. USS Missouri – Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

History happened right on this deck when Japan surrendered in 1945, ending World War II. The “Mighty Mo” served in three wars and was the last American battleship ever built.

This Iowa-class battleship stretches 887 feet long and fired her huge guns in combat during World War II, Korea, and even the 1991 Gulf War. A Japanese kamikaze plane hit her hull in 1945, leaving a dent you can still see today.

You’ll find the ship at Pearl Harbor, just a short distance from the USS Arizona Memorial. Visit any day between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. In August 2025, they’ll host special events marking 80 years since the war’s end.

2. USS New Jersey – Camden, New Jersey

America’s most decorated battleship earned 19 battle stars across four conflicts. Launched on the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor, “Big J” was the only battleship to serve extensively in Vietnam.

Commissioned in 1943, she steamed more miles and fired more shells in combat than any other American battleship. Her nine 16-inch guns could hit targets 23 miles away with devastating accuracy.

From the Camden waterfront, you can see Philadelphia’s skyline across the Delaware River. The museum welcomes visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Try their newest feature for 2025, the “WETSU” podcast that shares sailors’ stories from her long service.

3. USS North Carolina – Wilmington, North Carolina

Nicknamed “Showboat” for her impressive appearance, this battleship earned 15 battle stars in World War II. She survived both a Japanese torpedo hit and a major typhoon during her Pacific service.

You’ll get to explore nine levels of the ship, from the towering bridge to the engine rooms deep below. The self-guided tour takes you through nearly 2,000 compartments. Look for the plaque marking where a torpedo struck in 1942.

The ship sits majestically on the Cape Fear River with Wilmington’s skyline as a backdrop. After a recent $23 million restoration project, she looks better than ever. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

4. USS Alabama – Mobile, Alabama

Known as the “Mighty A,” this South Dakota-class battleship proudly claims to have never lost a single sailor to enemy action during World War II. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, she earned nine battle stars.

Battleship Memorial Park offers more than just the ship. You’ll also find the submarine USS Drum, over 30 aircraft, and military vehicles spread across the grounds. The aircraft pavilion houses everything from WWII fighters to an A-12 Blackbird spy plane.

5. USS Iowa – Los Angeles, California

The lead ship of the powerful Iowa class, this battleship carried President Roosevelt across the Atlantic during World War II. Look for his special bathtub installed just for him, the only one ever on an American battleship.

After serving in World War II and Korea, Iowa was reactivated in the 1980s with modern cruise missiles. Today she sits at the Port of Los Angeles as a museum, but big changes are coming in 2025 as she transforms into the National Museum of the Surface Navy.

Visit any day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The new museum experience promises cutting-edge exhibits about naval operations and maritime peace. Try the interactive tour app with augmented reality features.

6. USS Wisconsin – Norfolk, Virginia

“Wisky” is one of the largest battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy. She fired the last 16-inch shells in naval combat history during the 1991 Gulf War, bringing a fitting end to the battleship era.

The ship sits alongside Nauticus maritime center in downtown Norfolk. For the best experience, take the “Life in the Engine Room” tour that shows you the massive machinery seven decks below the waterline.

7. USS Massachusetts – Fall River, Massachusetts

“Big Mamie” fought in both the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II. She fired the first and last American 16-inch shells of the war and somehow never lost a crew member to enemy action.

Battleship Cove houses the most impressive collection of naval vessels in the country. Besides Massachusetts, you can tour the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., submarine USS Lionfish, and several PT boats.

8. USS Texas – Galveston, Texas

The only surviving battleship that fought in both World Wars, Texas now has a new home in Galveston after an extensive restoration. She participated in D-Day at Normandy and later supported landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Commissioned in 1914, she’s the oldest battleship still afloat anywhere in the world. After a $50 million restoration project, the ship looks better than ever with newly opened areas and fresh exhibits.

Find her at Pier 21 in Galveston, where she’s protected from the hurricanes that threatened her previous location. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

9. USS Arizona Memorial – Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

While not a battleship you can board, this solemn memorial spans the sunken USS Arizona where 1,102 sailors remain entombed. The Pennsylvania-class battleship was catastrophically destroyed during the Pearl Harbor attack.

Oil still seeps from the wreckage over 80 years later, creating what many call the “tears of the Arizona.” The memorial program includes a short boat ride to the white structure that hovers above the sunken ship.

The program is free but requires a timed ticket from Recreation.gov. Visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

10. USS Lexington – Corpus Christi, Texas

Though technically an aircraft carrier, the “Blue Ghost” deserves a spot on this list for its impressive displays of naval aviation. Japanese forces reported sinking her four different times, but she kept returning to battle.

The flight deck showcases vintage aircraft while below you’ll find the engine rooms, crew quarters, and combat information center. For something unique, try the escape rooms and flight simulator added in recent years.

With its blue hull set against Corpus Christi Bay, Lexington makes for stunning photos. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the ship offers special evening ghost tours on weekends.

11. Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum – Charleston, South Carolina

The centerpiece here is the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, but this harbor complex offers a full naval experience. The destroyer USS Laffey (which survived six kamikaze hits) and submarine USS Clamagore complete the collection.

The Vietnam Experience exhibit recreates a combat base with authentic equipment and sounds. For 2025, they’ve expanded this area with new artifacts and oral histories from veterans.

Charleston Harbor provides a picturesque setting with Fort Sumter visible in the distance. The museum stays open late during summer (until 6:30 p.m.) and closes at 5 p.m. the rest of the year.

12. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum – New York City, New York

The aircraft carrier USS Intrepid survived kamikaze attacks in World War II and later recovered astronauts during the space program. Today she hosts an incredible collection of aircraft, spacecraft, and maritime exhibits.

Besides touring the carrier, you can step inside the submarine USS Growler and see the space shuttle Enterprise. The Concorde supersonic airliner on display is one of only four in the United States.

This amazing museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with special events throughout the year.

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