Once a formidable force in both World Wars, the USS Texas, an American naval legend, is poised to reemerge from a $21 million restoration as a revitalized monument to maritime might. Docked in Galveston, Texas, since 2022, the USS Texas has undergone extensive repairs, with expectations of returning to public display as a floating museum in 2025.
The USS Texas (BB-35) stands as one of the New York-class battleships, designed to carry more firepower than its predecessors. Laid down in 1911 in Newport News, Virginia, the Texas was a super-dreadnought that introduced the 14-inch gun to the U.S. fleet. Its storied career is a tapestry of naval milestones, including launching the first American shots of World War I and being the first battleship to launch an aircraft.
As one of the few remaining battleships to have served in both World Wars, the USS Texas holds a special place in military history. During World War II, its guns thundered during the D-Day invasion, prompting Ernest Hemingway to describe its firepower vividly, “There would be a flash like a blast furnace from the 14-inch guns of the Texas. Then the yellow-brown smoke would cloud out and, with the smoke still rolling, the concussion and the report would hit us, jarring the men’s helmets. It struck your near ear like a punch with a heavy, dry glove.”
Following its decommissioning, the Texas was spared from scrap and instead memorialized as a museum ship. Recent restoration efforts by the Battleship Texas Foundation have seen around 700 tons of steel replaced, and ongoing work includes space restoration, deck replacement, and repainting.
Battleship Texas, under the stewardship of the Battleship Texas Foundation since 2020, will ultimately dock at Pier 20 in Galveston upon completion of repairs and negotiations. This site will provide a fitting backdrop for the Texas, allowing visitors to once again tread its decks and delve into its history, which resonates with naval strategy, technological advancements, and heroic warfare.
Relevant articles:
– Former U.S. Navy Battleship Texas Is Making the Ultimate Comeback, The National Interest
– Battleship Texas Foundation, battleshiptexas.org
– Battleship Texas refloat successful, $75 million restoration continues – NBC 5 Dallas, nbcdfw.com