USS NORTH CAROLINA Battleship

06/05/2026

Bring the whole family and join the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina for Wall-E on the deck of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA! Tickets are $5 for Friends of the Battleship members and $10 for non-members.

🎟️ For information and tickets: https://bit.ly/4uyIDb6

06/04/2026

Before America entered World War II, USS North Carolina (BB-55) was already making headlines.

During sea trials in the fall of 1941, the Battleship fired a stunning 19-gun simultaneous salvo — all nine 16-inch guns and ten 5-inch guns erupting into the night sky at once. The concussion shook the ship, blew hats off sailors’ heads, and captured the attention of the nation.

Newspapers shouted:
⚓ “America’s Mightiest Seadog Bares Her Fangs”
⚓ “Thunder at Sea”
⚓ “Our New Navy Titan Roars”

Rear Admiral Julian Burke later recalled the moment a Pathe cameraman captured the nighttime blast — an image so dramatic it appeared as a Life magazine centerfold just two weeks later.

Crew member Ralph Swift remembered the flash was so intense “none of us could see for 30 seconds.”

Long before she entered combat, the USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55) had already announced herself to the world: https://bit.ly/4tEKdYn

Item title reads - U.S.S. North Carolina firing trials. Location of events unknown. L/S of the U.S.S. North Carolina, water crashes over the bow. Sailors go ...

06/03/2026

Our Showboat at sea in June, 1942.

06/02/2026

What is razzle dazzle camouflage? It's a real thing...and what our Showboat wears! Learn more about this camouflage strategy at sea: https://bit.ly/4tAyTMG

"A camouflage paint scheme designed to evade enemy attacks during W...

06/01/2026

Aubrey "Bill" Stancel Jackson served aboard USS NORTH CAROLINA from September to November 1941 before transferring to USS Juneau as a Radioman 3rd Class. On November 13, 1942, USS Juneau was lost during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Jackson was among those who never returned home. Today, he is remembered not only as a NORTH CAROLINA crew member, but also as one of the Battleship’s “Immortal 11,000” — the more than 11,000 North Carolinians who lost their lives during World War II.

06/01/2026

Throwback Thursday!
A couple of weeks ago, after heavy rains rolled through Wilmington, the skies opened up over the Battleship and gifted us this incredible rainbow view across the deck.

05/31/2026

500 pre-orders stand between a custom Battleship NORTH CAROLINA plate and your bumper. 🚢 🚘

The new Battleship NORTH CAROLINA specialty license plate is officially available for pre-order — and every single pre-order gets us closer to plate production!

This is the Battleship's 65th Berth-Day year. Make it even more special by becoming an inaugural plate owner in 2026! $20 from each $30 plate directly benefits restoration programs aboard the Battleship.

For information and to pre-order now → https://BattleshipNC.com/license-plate

05/31/2026

Faces of the engine room crew that helped keep USS NORTH CAROLINA moving across the Pacific. This May 1944 photograph shows members of Main Control #3 Engine Room, PA (Propulsion Aft) Division gathered aboard BB-55. These sailors worked deep within the ship, operating and maintaining the systems that powered the battleship through combat operations during World War II.

05/30/2026

A beginning worth remembering—and experiencing.

To mark the legacy of the original 13 colonies, North Carolina residents can visit the Battleship North Carolina for just $13 per adult for a limited time.

History isn’t just something you read. It’s something you can step into.

🎟️ Plan your visit: battleshipnc.com. Buying tickets online? Use code NC13