Battleship Texas State Historic Site
Battleship Texas State Historic Site
Battleship Texas State Historic Site
4.5
Speciality Museums • Ships • Educational sites
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This location was reported permanently closed
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Spend The Night Aboard The Battleship TEXAS!That's right. You and a group of friends can actually spend the night aboard this huge Battleship. Sleep where the actual sailors who lived on her bunked down for the night.Battleship TEXAS was commissioned in 1914 and is the only surviving US Navy ship to have served in both WW I and WW II. The Battleship TEXAS become the Nations first Battleship museum on 21 April 1948. Located at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in La Porte, Texas (just out side of Houston, TX). We are open daily to the public 7 days a week from 10am - 5:30pm. The ship is under the care of Texas Parks and Wildlife. The Battleship Texas Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which works closely with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for the preservation, restoration and presentation of the world's last dreadnought-type battleship, the historic Battleship TEXAS. The BTF sponsors the Overnight Education program where we host any group size from 15 up to 78 people, from the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Schools, Church Youth Groups, US Naval Sea Cadets, NJROTC, ROTC units, and any other interested parties. That's right. You and a group of friends can actually spend the night aboard this huge Battleship. Sleep where the actual sailors who lived on her bunked down for the night.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
733 reviews
Excellent
456
Very good
209
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58
Poor
6
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4
Review-er-er_er
Houston, TX249 contributions
Dec 2020
I've been here several times over my lifetime and it had been a field trip staple for countless school children for decades.
However, while the grounds are still open for exploration, the ship itself will soon be leaving LaPorte for good. Though you used to be able to go aboard and explore at your leisure, take a guided tour with a vet or spend the night during one of their events, the ship itself has been closed to the public since August 2019. All you can do is look at the outside now.
Repairs are currently underway to make it sea worthy enough for tow to a ship repair facility. It was originally slated to be transported sometime in November/December 2020 but, for obvious reasons, that schedule is behind. Once it is towed, there will be a repair process expected to last about a year then it will be permanently relocated somewhere in North Texas (as it did not have enough paying visitors to support its restoration in LaPorte).
As long as it survives, I'm happy (though I wish it could stay in LaPorte).
Goodbye Battleship Texas! We have many fond memories of you and will miss you.
However, while the grounds are still open for exploration, the ship itself will soon be leaving LaPorte for good. Though you used to be able to go aboard and explore at your leisure, take a guided tour with a vet or spend the night during one of their events, the ship itself has been closed to the public since August 2019. All you can do is look at the outside now.
Repairs are currently underway to make it sea worthy enough for tow to a ship repair facility. It was originally slated to be transported sometime in November/December 2020 but, for obvious reasons, that schedule is behind. Once it is towed, there will be a repair process expected to last about a year then it will be permanently relocated somewhere in North Texas (as it did not have enough paying visitors to support its restoration in LaPorte).
As long as it survives, I'm happy (though I wish it could stay in LaPorte).
Goodbye Battleship Texas! We have many fond memories of you and will miss you.
Written January 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tom W
Katy, TX2,944 contributions
Aug 2020
The Battleship Texas is a very nice World War I battleship. It's located in La Porte off Independence Parkway. It's across the street from the San Jacinto Monument.
You can see the Battleship and the park grounds in about 30 minutes. The park grounds are a war memorial. The grounds has some great Oak Trees and beautiful Crete Myrtles. Do try to stay in the shade, and it is very hot during the summer.
It is worth a visit if you are in the area
You can see the Battleship and the park grounds in about 30 minutes. The park grounds are a war memorial. The grounds has some great Oak Trees and beautiful Crete Myrtles. Do try to stay in the shade, and it is very hot during the summer.
It is worth a visit if you are in the area
Written August 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Q9001YLwilliamm
Milan, Italy43 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
We did the behind-the-scenes Hard Hat Tour of Battleship Texas, and it was great. The ship is an important part of American naval history for a number of reasons, including that she is the only surviving dreadnought battleship, the only surviving capital ship that fought in both WWI and WWII, and she took part in the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach.
You can tour the ship on your own or you can do one of the behind-the-scenes expanded access tours that are offered during the cooler months and are well worth the reasonable cost. The Hard Hat Tour cost $50 pp, lasted over 3 hours and gave you a guided tour of parts of the ship otherwise not accessible to visitors. The tours are given by knowledgeable volunteers who obviously have a great passion for the ship and who are dedicated to helping preserve her by educating visitors.
It's quite an experience to see pictures of her from WWI and WWII and then reflect that you are standing right on that very ship that sailed the world for decades and participated in some of the most important and far-reaching historical events of the 20th century.
And yes, she is undergoing restoration and is a little rough in spots, but her hull has been in the water continuously since being launched in 1912. Not even the mighty Iowa-class battleships can claim such a long and storied history, so come out and support this proud survivor!
You can tour the ship on your own or you can do one of the behind-the-scenes expanded access tours that are offered during the cooler months and are well worth the reasonable cost. The Hard Hat Tour cost $50 pp, lasted over 3 hours and gave you a guided tour of parts of the ship otherwise not accessible to visitors. The tours are given by knowledgeable volunteers who obviously have a great passion for the ship and who are dedicated to helping preserve her by educating visitors.
It's quite an experience to see pictures of her from WWI and WWII and then reflect that you are standing right on that very ship that sailed the world for decades and participated in some of the most important and far-reaching historical events of the 20th century.
And yes, she is undergoing restoration and is a little rough in spots, but her hull has been in the water continuously since being launched in 1912. Not even the mighty Iowa-class battleships can claim such a long and storied history, so come out and support this proud survivor!
Written May 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
maitaimike2015
Laguna Hills, CA261 contributions
Nov 2020
Absolutely appalling that the last WWI battleship on display is rusting away here. The USS TEXAS should be a source of pride for all Americans. The area surrounding the site is somewhat closed down as well. Drove over from the monument for some photo opps. Other interesting bits of history to find, graves, markers, kiosks, a sundial, and you can still take pictures of the outside on the ship. Please restore this for future generations before it is too late.
Written December 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
St_Matty
Houston, TX4,980 contributions
Oct 2022
I went to pay a visit here the other day as I had just flown over from the UK and had been to see it before a few years back. So when I got there I was shocked to see it had been moved.
Moral of the story, always check before you go visit somewhere, even if you have been there before.
Lesson learnt.
Moral of the story, always check before you go visit somewhere, even if you have been there before.
Lesson learnt.
Written October 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tenzin D
Somerville, MA7 contributions
Dec 2015 • Friends
My friends and I decided to drive from Houston (~30 min drive) to the Battleship because it seemed like an interesting thing to check out on our last day in the area. We arrived right in time for one of the free guided tours, included in the ticket price ($12), provided by Mr. Thomas Gillette. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor (10 years old when the attacks occurred) and he told us a few stories about his time in Hawaii.
Our tour was about 2 hours and I would highly recommend touring the Battleship with a guide. If you do the self tour, there are many plaques and such explaining where things are but guides have keys to certain locked areas that they open for their tour groups. I felt like I got more information from the guided tour and the tour was very interesting. We didn't even notice the time passing as we were avidly listening to Mr. Gillette.
There is a special tour that must be reserved in advance and costs a bit more that allows you to visit certain parts of the engineering section that are closed off to visitors. Which might be interesting if you have a bit more time.
No matter which tour you decide on I highly recommend you visit the Battleship. Young children as well as adults will enjoy the visit.
Our tour was about 2 hours and I would highly recommend touring the Battleship with a guide. If you do the self tour, there are many plaques and such explaining where things are but guides have keys to certain locked areas that they open for their tour groups. I felt like I got more information from the guided tour and the tour was very interesting. We didn't even notice the time passing as we were avidly listening to Mr. Gillette.
There is a special tour that must be reserved in advance and costs a bit more that allows you to visit certain parts of the engineering section that are closed off to visitors. Which might be interesting if you have a bit more time.
No matter which tour you decide on I highly recommend you visit the Battleship. Young children as well as adults will enjoy the visit.
Written December 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
EM L
Houston, TX31 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
Sadly, like so many places in Texas, this old battleship is in need of a major overhaul. I had taken a bunch of neighborhood kids there but it looked so bad we left quickly. The Park that the battleship is part of was in such bad condition it wasn't possible to even have a picnic. Fireants were everywhere.
Written May 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mary V
Whitehorse, Canada308 contributions
Feb 2013 • Couples
The ship is well restored with a self guided tour and very open access to all areas. There are staff on board who answer questions but the signs are more than adequate. Restoration is very well done - and the remainder of the park has lots of history - adjacent to the San Juacinto monument and museum. The park is open at 9 but the ship doesn't open til 10 am. Great gift shop with very helpful staff - we spent a couple hours - very impressed with this glimpse into history and life of those who served in WWI and WWII on this ship.
Written March 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Joel K
Rochester, MN17 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
USS Texas is undergoing repairs to stabalize her decay, but it is still cool to go see. Later in the year there are tours below decks, but they are not running now. (May to Oct?). A couple of the 40 mm gun mounts still rotate and elevate. Access to the front gun turret is possible, although only about 3 people fit at a time. Still, an impressive sleeping old warship. San Jacinto Monument is just a short distance away so it is a 2 for 1 trip.
Written March 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
AnnMarie C
Cypress, TX17 contributions
It was a great experience and everyone had fun. No strollers can be used here. Wear comfortable clothes because it is definitely hot in the lower decks of the ship, but they do have a/c units through out the ship. It was a great experience for everyone in the family including my 6 year old daughter.
Written May 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Are reservations required for 2 people
MNice
Bloomington, MN2,510 contributions
Nope, reservations are never required. Dress cool; it’s hot in the ship. Wear good shoes; narrow stairs and corridors, climbing.
Can you walk around the area after closing hours or is it fenced in?
LeonaT
Kelowna, Canada1,088 contributions
Yes.you can walk around but no access to the ship
Kristinesonja
Lantana, FL154 contributions
How far is this from HOuston?
linbarg
60 contributions
Google says 25.5 miles, 30 minutes.
scouter86
Amarillo, TX1 contribution
How would you suggest approaching this with 25-30 Boy Scouts?
restasured8
La Porte13 contributions
I would contact the park at (281) 479-2431. They would be better able to answer the question. They did and may still have an overnight, sleep on the ship tour. I know there were scout troops that could book that. Not sure of cost or any of the particulars but the above number could let you know. That being said, I have been on the ship and have seen scout troops there. If you have a few chaperones with the kids you can break them up in a groups of 6 l or 7 and go in different directions. There is a lot to see and do and smaller groups would be very manageable. If you contact the park they will be able to give you some good advice. Groups like yours have been there many times before.
Chelsey R
Myrtle Beach, SC62 contributions
Approximately how much time should we allow for the self guided tour?
Barb B
Jefferson, OR202 contributions
I am a docent on the ship. You should allow at least 1.5 hrs but more is better. There are 3 main decks plus engine rooms. Then going up you can traverse as high as the Admiral's Bridge. If you are there for a Docent guided tour allow 2 hrs. Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours. You can leave for lunch and return.
Is it hot and is there air condition and how fun is it?
102Prissy
Baytown36 contributions
There are small parts of the ship that have A/C. This would the perfect place for a boy scout group to explore. Very interesting.
The times that I have taken the tour in summer and cooler weather it helped to remind me that the soldiers who lived on this ship had a hard life, Their bunks were very small and they r where stacked 3 or 4 high. Only a few higher officers had privet quarters.
Does it have any air condition and is it too hot of not?
jsatx
39 contributions
Hi..Yes and no. Inside the ship, it is air conditioned with the exception on the deck or outside the ship. With Texas weather, I would recommend u visit this place in the morning when it is not to hot.