Battleship North Carolina — Attraction in Wilmington

We had a good time on the ship. We took about 2 to 2.5 hours looking at everything. It wasnt too crowded despite being a holiday weekend. Or maybe it's just because if how huge the ship is! It's pretty cool to see the size of everything. A battleship is much larger than you think!

Inside there are fans blowing in certain areas and we would stop and cool off periodically because a family member told us previously that they had a negative experience there due to the heat and the tight spaces throughout the ship.

I have to say we did not experience anything negative at all. I was prepared to turn around the farther down we got if any of us experienced any anxiety or signs of heat exhaustion but we were all fine. That being said-- I could definitely see someone with even mild claustrophobia having a bad time.

Each area was basically a museum exhibit. Sometimes with dummies/models, or paper cutouts in the shape of people. Lots of real historical photos taken inside the ship posted at each exhibit area and lots of placards with info. It was also cool seeing set ups with historically accurate packaging/bottles/cans etc. Even if you aren't into history/ the military/ww2/ships (lol) it's still cool to see all the old stuff from way back when.

I have a medical background so I was interested in the sick bay and operating room etc. I also enjoyed seeing day to day life things like the barber shop and mess halls/bakery/butcher shop. There was realistic looking food as part of the display and real recipes used. Which was a nice touch.

My husband is a machinist and was riveted (pun not intended) by the machine shop. He took lots of photos in that area and explained how the lathes worked.

My teen daughter followed along and seemed a bit bored, as I expected, but occasionally found random things interesting. I caught her snapping a few photos here and there. She also liked the idea of being underwater once we got further below deck and a disembodied voice (from a speaker somewhere) informed us we were now under water. My first thought was that knowing you are now surrounded by water would scare a lot of people. We thought it was pretty neat though.

My teenage son enjoyed everything despite previously having almost no interest in history. He enjoyed exploring the ship and navigating the maze that was the self guided tour. I asked him which things he liked and he answered, "everything."

The ladders/steps to go up and down the floors are a bit steep so be prepared for that. I saw a few woman with heels and I felt scared for them. Definitely a good idea to wear sneakers. I wouldn't even wear flip flops.

Bottom line. I think it was $14 a person and it was soo worth it! What else can you do for 2 hours for $14 a person. And it seems to have something for everyone. I wish I had taken more photos inside but I ended up having my husband put my phone in his pocket due to my lack of pockets (ugh, female attire) and the fact that I had to keep holding onto the rope handles to go...

Perfect Field Trip Destination - A Hit With 4th Graders!

I have driven past the USS North Carolina so many times and finally visited today for the first time as a chaperone on a 4th grade field trip. What a remarkable experience! There is so much more to explore and see than I initially expected.

The self-guided tour allows you to move at your own pace through nine levels of the ship, from the engine rooms deep below to the bridge high above. We spent about 2 hours on the battleship, which was just right for our group of energetic 4th graders. The attention to detail in preserving the battleship's original features and living quarters gives you a genuine feel for what life was like for the sailors who served aboard this "Showboat" during WWII.

Some highlights include: The massive 16-inch guns on the main deck that could fire shells weighing as much as a small car (the kids loved interacting with these!) The incredibly cramped sleeping quarters where sailors slept in stacked bunks The numerous ladders connecting the different decks, which the 4th graders were thrilled to climb up and down

Very cool for all ages - the 4th graders were absolutely fascinated by the massive guns and equipment, and they had a blast navigating the ship's many ladders and compartments. While the kids enjoyed the hands-on adventure, I appreciated the historical significance and engineering marvel this battleship represents. The experience offered a perfect balance of education and excitement for our school group.

After our tour, we enjoyed the nice picnic facilities along the river, which provided a perfect spot for lunch with beautiful views. We then took the water taxi across the river to downtown Wilmington, which was a fun bonus adventure for the kids.

Don't just drive by like I did for years - stop and explore this incredible piece of American naval history! The combination of the battleship tour, riverside picnic, and water taxi to downtown makes for an educational and enjoyable day trip that's perfect for school groups and...

After a few years of driving by it on the way to/from the beaches for vacation, this weekend we finally decided to stop for a tour. We were NOT disappointed! Both our sons are history fanatics, especially WWII history. They absolutely loved it. The ship is incredibly well maintained and you have access to quite a lot of it.....nearly the entire topside main deck around the big guns, inside some of the big guns, below decks, and above decks. All of the interior spaces are either air conditioned or have big fans circulating air. We toured on July 4 weekend, it was sunny, humid, and in the low 90s around the time we toured (between 11am and 4pm), and we were never uncomfortable inside the ship. The have drink vending machines around the ship on topside decks as well as a few below decks. There are also restrooms on the ship as well..

As mentioned the entire ship is incredibly well maintained and all the spaces toured were in great shape and very presentable. There are plenty of directional markers, arrows, barriers, and information placards around so you can self tour the entire ship and take in quite a lot of history. It took me and my son's about 3hrs or so to casually tour the entire ship and take everything in. The wife had an injured ankle so she stayed in the car. I highly recommend visiting this historic battleship. You will not be disappointed.

One thing to note The ladders on the ship, especially inside it, can be rather steep. Near vertical. Those with physical impairments and or injuries who have difficulty with the average set of steps in a house may not be able to tour inside the ship. There are PLENTY of handholds to help you up and down the steps. Please keep this in mind when considering visiting. Even so, when we toured we saw several people who appeared to be in their 60s, 70s, even 80s taking their time up and down the ladders and enjoying their tour. Ladies....don't wear skirts or dresses. Ladders are open to below.

I HIGHLY recommend visiting and taking a complete tour of this...