U.S.S. TEXAS - BB35

Current

Click on the thumbnails to view the photos.

 

Four years after going into drydock, Texas carried several hundred tons of new hull plating and reinforced structure.  Wooden decks replaced concrete and the ship was repainted in Measure 21, her final wartime appearance.  The effect was that an old battleship was given a new lease on life and made a proper tribute those who served on board her and to sailors everywhere.  Three of the four photos to the left were taken at sunset, giving the ship a golden hue and allowing her lines and angles to stand out in sharp relief.

Even though Battleship Texas is an irreplaceable treasure, a primary mission of the ship is to serve as a museum and education resource for citizens of the United States and people everywhere.  For that reason, Battleship Texas is open to the public; however, careful attention is paid to her unique status and she is maintained and protected accordingly.  Maintenance and restoration is now considered a never-ceasing endeavor that takes thousands of man hours provided each year by paid staff and volunteers.  This work is supervised by professional curators and archivists to be sure that it is correct and does not compromise historical integrity.  The result is that Battleship Texas will continue to live and improve as the sole remaining example of a class of ships that once dominated the oceans.