The Battleship Texas, a 111-year-old icon of American naval history, is getting a major restoration on the Texas coast. The warship currently sits high and dry at the Galveston Gulf Copper shipyard. It’s the last surviving battleship from both World Wars and is being rebuilt piece by piece in one of the largest preservation projects ever attempted on a U.S. battleship. The ship will turn 112 in March.
Thursday, Travis Davis, vice president of Ship Operations for the Battleship Texas Foundation, said the warship has been completely sealed from all leaks for the first time.
Commissioned in 1914, the Battleship Texas fought in both world wars, from the North Sea during World War I to the beaches of Normandy and the Pacific island campaigns in World War II. After its retirement, it will become America’s first permanent battleship museum and remains the only physical artifact that can be touched and that has been a part of D-Day.
Battleship Texas Foundation crews have been replacing corroded steel, reinforcing the hull, and sealing decades of leaks that threatened the ship’s future since August 2022. For years, the warship struggled with severe deterioration after spending most of its life at sea.
Officials with BTF said the project carried a price tag of about $75 million. Funding has gone into over 700 tons of steel, painting the hull, performing successful quality control checks, partial removal, replacement of wood decking, partial superstructure repair, blasting and painting up to the superstructure, partial restoration, and replacement of anti-aircraft guns. Officials said crews have worked over 406,000 hours, all between contractors, volunteers, and staff.
Fully restore the iconic Texas staple; funding from state support, grants, and private donations from supporters has helped BTF get close to bringing the battleship back to life. Once the warship is fully restored and opened as a museum, admission, tours, and programs will generate more revenue.