USS Texas: The U.S. Navy's Homeless Battleship No More?
Summary and Key Points: The USS Texas (BB-35), the only surviving battleship to have served in both World Wars, has made progress in its restoration and might soon find a new permanent home. After being moved to Galveston for repairs, the historic vessel has been considered for relocation to Pier 20 at the Port of Galveston.
-However, this decision has met with opposition from local businesses concerned about the impact on their harbor views. Despite these concerns, the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees voted in favor of the move.
-The restoration of USS Texas is ongoing, with costs estimated at $75 million, and the final location of the ship may still be negotiated.
USS Texas Might Have Just Found a New Home
Days after it was reported that the restoration efforts for the New York-class battleship USS Texas (BB-35) had progressed, and the warship was moved to Pier A at the Gulf Copper Dry Dock & Rig Repair in Galveston, the historic vessel may be closer to finding a new home. The much-needed repair efforts on the only surviving battleship to see service in both World Wars will continue well into next year, but after that point, it has been anyone's guess where the ship would call home.
Since April 21, 1948, USS Texas has been preserved as a museum ship and located in the Houston Ship Channel near the San Jacinto Battleground Memorial – the location where Texian troops led by Gen. Sam Houston surprised and quickly defeated the Mexican Army in 1836. It was considered a fitting location for what became the honorary flagship of the Texas Navy. Yet, even as the warship was located just 25 miles east of Houston, it had only seen 80,000 to 90,000 visitors a year, far below what's needed for it to be self-sustaining.
Even as the restoration efforts have continued, the Battleship Texas Foundation that oversees the maintenance of the vessel has been working to find a new permanent home, after it hit a snag earlier this year. Plans to move the warship to the Galveston waterfront were met with opposition from local businesses, which expressed concerns it would impact the view of the harbor.
This week, the Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves voted 4-2 in favor of a plan to move the ship at or near Pier 20 at the Port of Galveston – despite the opposition from the businesses.
The currently approved plan will see the warship berthed in the Pier 20 area, but its potential would-be neighbors aren't pleased.
"My position still hasn't changed about the location of the Battleship," Katie's Seafood House operations manager Derrick Gutierrez, said at the meeting. "I find it as something that could be a hazard to our business."
The concern is that the retired warship will impact the view of the harbor from the restaurant and seafood market. At least one of the trustees agreed with that sentiment.
"I believe the battleship needs to be located at Pier 21-20, rather than 19-20," Galveston Wharves trustee Sheila Lidstone said. "I think it needs to move west. I have talked to all the parties at Landry's and also talked to the battleship people to express that that's going to be a hang up for me."
There may still be some deal-making in the works, and time for the parties to come together, as the warship – which has seen more than 700 tons of steel replaced – still has much work to be done. As previously reported, the cost of the restoration project is expected to run at least $75 million and will require donations from the public to help to keep it going.
Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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