The Battleship North Carolina: A Museum for All Ages

The school-aged children in our group, who ranged in age from 7 to 16, were excited to see things that they'd been exposed to only in the classroom. Science and history came alive, as they saw analog gauges and the logistics of running a virtual city on water. They were able to see and touch what they'd previously learned about in books and lectures. They had endless questions that they delighted in finding their own answers to. The ship has information boards placed strategically in every area, and the 7-year-old especially took pride in reading about each section we visited.

As a 50-year-old mother, I found the sheer vastness of the decks amazing. The Battleship North Carolina was totally self-contained. It not only had officer and crew quarters for over 2000 men, but it also boasted diners, a theater, church, post office, laundry, barber, and many other shops.

While my husband and eldest son did their ex-military thing with the guns (the guns are disabled, of course, but the guys like to aim them), our biggest delight was watching my 79-year-old mother-in-law. She's the ex-wife of a retired Marine and was endlessly fascinated by touching and walking upon history and reliving the war era. She later spent hours recounting the tales of WW-II to the appreciative children, who came away with a much clearer understanding of their country and the men who fought for it. Upon returning home to her senior-living complex, she was the belle of the bingo game as the men crowded around her, clamoring to see her photos. No doubt she incurred the jealousy of every female in the hall.

There are a few things to keep in mind while you plan your tour of the ship. First of all, it will take at least two hours to see it all, and you can easily plan for four hours if you take the time to read the information boards.

Second, the ship's tours are self-guided. There are nine decks in all, and the stairs and ladders are not handicap accessible. At 79, my mother-in-law could only manage a few levels, although she still had a blast and wasn't bored during the entire three hours we spent aboard.

Lastly, if you suffer from claustrophobia, you might want to limit your time below decks. None of the brochures and tourism sites mention this, but the ship is incredibly confining. You might want to return to the main deck now and then, just to get some fresh air while you think of the men who spent months of their lives living aboard this incredible museum.



More Battleship NC photos in our Wilmington Tours.

For more information about hours of operation, admission, and special exhibits visit the Battleship North Carolina website.