Reviving Naval Giants: Multiple U.S. Navy Battleships Are Getting ‘Rebuilt’
Published: 11 October 2025
By Christian Orr
via the National Security Journal website
USS-Iowa-Firing-U.S.-Navy-Creative-Commons-Image
The oldest, the World War I veteran USS Texas, is currently undergoing a major restoration before moving to a new home in 2026.
Key Points and Summary – We offer a ‘tour’ of the eight U.S. battleships preserved as floating museums, many of which are being rebuilt and repaired.
-The list is dominated by the four iconic Iowa-class ships: Iowa, the most decorated New Jersey, the historic Missouri at Pearl Harbor, and the Wisconsin.
USS Iowa Harpoon Canister. Image Credit: Harry J. Kazianis/National Security Journal.
Missile Box on USS Iowa. Image Credit: National Security Journal.
-Other preserved battlewagons include two South Dakota-class ships (Alabama and Massachusetts) and the fast battleship North Carolina.
-The oldest, the World War I veteran USS Texas, is currently undergoing a major restoration before moving to a new home in 2026.
-Each of these historic warships provides visitors with a unique glimpse into American naval history.
-BONUS – We visited two Iowa-class battleships this year. You can find some of the pictures we took here in this post.
There Are 8 U.S. Battleships You Can Still Visit. Here’s Where to Find Them
The heyday of the battleship as the capital ship of naval forces ended when aircraft carriers superseded battleships as the primary instrument of naval power projection. History’s last battleship vs. battleship engagement took place during the Battle of Surigao Strait way back on Oct. 25, 1944, and the last time the battlewagons fired their guns in anger was during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
Thankfully, eight of the U.S.Navy’s battleships have either been converted and preserved for posterity as floating museums or are currently in the process of being restored for that purpose.
→ Read the entire article on the National Security Journal website.
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