Battleship North Carolina

The Battleship North Carolina is a great family friendly adventure in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ashley and I, on our 2014 trip to North Carolina, had the opportunity to explore the Battleship North Carolina. The Battleship North Carolina is a place you can literally spend hours soaking in the history of WWII and the stories of the sailors who served on the Battleship North Carolina. The Battleship North Carolina is is a fun family friendly adventure that we would highly recommend visiting and we look forward to visiting again in the future.

Directions to Trailhead: The Battleship North Carolina is located at 1 Battleship Road, Wilmington, NC 28401. If you are coming from the Raleigh/Durham area, follow I-40 East towards Wilmington. Take exit 416A (I-140/US 17 South) towards Myrtle Beach. Take the Battleship Memorial/ Wilmington exit, at the end of the off ramp, bear right onto US 421 South to follow the Battleship Memorial signs. For more information on directions, click Here. The Battleship North Carolina is open every day of the year, including all holidays, as she serves as a memorial. Summer Hours: Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, except Independence Day (4th of July) when the ship closes at 5:00 pm for enforcement of firework safety zone. Winter Hours: Tuesday following Labor Day through the Thursday before Memorial Day: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, except Christmas Day when the ship opens at noon. Ticket sales end one hour before closing time and the rates when we visited were as follows: Adults: 12 and over: $12.00; Seniors: 65 and over: $10.00; Military: Active or retired with military ID: $10.00 (Does not include dependents); Children: 6 through 11: $6.00; Children: 5 and under: Free; and Friends of the Battleship Members: Free. For more information on group or school rates, click Here. There was no cost for parking when we visited.

Description of Hike: The tour of the Battleship North Carolina traverses much of the entire ship.  It travels up and down through the use of multiple sets of stairs and provides a great overview of the entire battleship. Obviously, this hike is a little different than the others on our hiking blog because this is a historical hike. The tour of the Battleship North Carolina is self-guided. It is well-marked and easy to follow which allows you to complete the tour at your own pace. Ashley and I would recommend allowing at least two hours for the tour, but for the true enthusiast, you can spend much more than that enjoying the battleship. The tour starts immediately at the visitor center right after you purchase your ticket. The visitor center houses a general historical overview of the Battleship North Carolina as well as a history of the navy. You get a chance to view an introductory movie in the auditorium in the visitor center, before heading up the gangway to board the Battleship North Carolina. Once on on the Battleship North Carolina, you begin your tour on the fantail section of the battleship, where the kingfisher sea plane is located. In all you follow the arrows around the battleship through 9 levels of the ship on your tour. Some of the highlights of the battleship are the 16 inch gun turret, the mess deck, the engine room, the 16 inch powder magazines and projectile storage area, the bridge and the sick bay. There are numerous exhibits on the battleship with many information placards. You can really learn a lot of history on your visit to the Battleship North Carolina.

Further Thoughts: Ashley and I really enjoyed our visit to the Battleship North Carolina. My sister (Danielle), mom (Debbie) and dad (Harry) also joined us on this adventure. We visited during the summer time, just remember the ship has no air conditioning, so dress appropriately. Given the large amount of stair climbing on the ship we would recommend wearing closed toed shoes, not sandals. Stroller and wheelchair accessibility is limited to only the main deck of the Battleship North Carolina.

Here are some statistics on the Battleship North Carolina: Standard displacement, 1942: 36,600; Full displacement, 1942: 44,800; Length: 729 feet; Beam: 108 feet; Speed: 28 knots; Horsepower, ahead: 121,000; Complement: 144 officers; 2,115 enlisted; 85 marines; Main battery: nine 16-inch/45 cal, Secondary: twenty 5-inch/38 cal; Antiaircraft: fifteen quad 40mm guns; 20mm single and twin mounts varied from 36 to 53 guns; Built: New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York; Keel laid: October 27, 1937; Commissioned: April 9, 1941; Decommissioned: June 27, 1947; and Dedicated as a Memorial: April 29, 1962. The ship's main armor belt has 12 inches of armor included at 15 degrees tapering to 6.6 inches. It is mounted onto .75 inches of special treatment steel.

The Battleship North Carolina saw significant action in Pacific Theatre. The Battleship North Carolina joined the long island-hopping campaign against the Japanese by assisting in the landing of U.S. Marines on the islands of Guadalcanal and Tulagi on 7 August 1942, thus beginning the long battle for Guadalcanal. The only battleship in the naval force in the South Pacific, she escorted the aircraft carriers Saratoga, Enterprise and Wasp, surrounded by their cruisers and destroyers. After helping to screen the Enterprise in the air support force for the amphibious landing, the North Carolina guarded the carrier during her mission of protecting the supply and communication lines to the Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal. The Battleship North Carolina was hit by a torpedo on September 15, 1942. The enormous blast shook the Ship and crew and sent geysers of oil and water skyward. Tons of water quickly flooded through the enormous 32 x 18 foot torpedo hole. The water caused the Ship to list. The crew quickly righted the Ship by intentionally flooding compartments on the opposite side. Five men were unfortunately killed and 23 men were wounded. For more information in the torpedoing of the Battleship North Carolina, click Here.

After inactivation, the Battleship North Carolina was decommissioned in New York on June 27, 1947. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1960, she was transferred to the state of North Carolina on September 6, 1961. She was purchased from the U.S. Navy for $330,000 raised by the efforts of North Carolina school children, who saved their spare change and lunch money for the "Save Our Ship" campaign. In 1961, a fleet of tugboats maneuvered the 728 ft (222 m) ship through a stretch of the Cape Fear River 500 ft (150 m) wide. During this the ship struck the restaurant "Fergus' Ark", a former U.S. Army troopship docked near Princess Street. It was damaged severely and ceased operation. On April 29, 1962, she was dedicated at Wilmington as a memorial to North Carolinians of all services killed in World War II. Th Battleship North Carolina was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986. The memorial is administered by the North Carolina Battleship Commission, established by state statute in 1960. The memorial operates tax free, relying upon its own revenues and donations.

Ashley and I really enjoyed our visit to the Battleship North Carolina and we look forward to visiting again. The battleship is really located in a beautiful area of Wilmington, North Carolina. While on the ship you have great views of the Cape Fear River and the restaurants and shops along the river way in Wilmington. Next time we visit this area we hope to explore the riverfront area of Wilmington.

Rating: When visiting the Battleship North Carolina, it is important to keep in mind that the ship was made for war, not comfort. You will have to climb stairways and travel through tight quarters in locations throughout the ship. Anticipate walking a lot while visiting the Battleship North Carolina.

Time to Complete Hike: To fully explore all the Battleship North Carolina has to offer it will take you about a half a day, but we recommend at a minimum 2 hours to explore the battleship.

Fort Macon State Park

Ashley and I also had the opportunity to visit and explore was Fort Macon State Park, near Emerald Isle North Carolina. Ashley and I both loved visiting Fort Macon and learning about the history of the fort during the Civil War and its use in World War II. The area surrounding the fort was newly renovated when we visited and it was very nice and we both highly recommend a visit to Fort Macon especially for history buffs.

Directions to Trailhead: Fort Macon State Park is located in Carteret County on the eastern end of Bogue Banks. From I-95, take US 70 east to Morehead City, and turn south on Atlantic Beach Causeway. Cross the bridge to Atlantic Beach, and turn left on NC 58. The fort is located at the tip of the island. For a map of the area click Here. For a specific map of the Fort Macon State Park click Here.

Description of Hike: This is not so much of a true hike, but is more of an outdoor adventure in Coastal North Carolina. There is currently no cost to enter and explore Fort Macon State Park. Visiting Fort Macon is well worth the visit and will take you back to a different period in American History. There is minimal elevation gain to exploring the fort. However, there are stairs at the fort and some of them are rather steep (Fort Macon was designed for war, not tours, so be careful when using the stairs). Your walk will be under a mile to explore the fort, however a majority of that time will be outside so make sure to use sunscreen, inspect repellent, and maybe bring water on a hot day. A couple of the rooms at the fort are air conditioned/heated, which will provide relief from summer heat and winter cold. For the state park brochure on Fort Macon click Here. For a map of Fort Macon State Park click Here.

Further Thoughts: Ashley and I really enjoyed our trip to Fort Macon State Park. We loved exploring the fort and learning about the rich history of this area in Coastal North Carolina. Fort Macon State Park offers public access to the surf, sun, and sand of the Crystal Coast. It is located at the eastern end of Bogue Banks, one of a series of barrier islands along the North Carolina coast, the park is surrounded on three sides by water—the Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort Inlet and Bogue Sound. This area of undisturbed natural beauty is the perfect place to explore salt marshes and estuaries vital to the coastal ecosystem. But the best thing to explore is Fort Macon itself. Here, is a little history on the fort to continue reading more about the history of the fort click the link below:

The five-sided Fort Macon is constructed of brick and stone. Twenty-six vaulted rooms (also called casemates) are enclosed by outer walls that average 4 1/2 feet thick. In modern times, the danger of naval attack along the North Carolina coast seems remote, but during the 18th and 19th centuries, the region around Beaufort was highly vulnerable to attack.

Blackbeard and other infamous pirates were known to have passed through Beaufort Inlet at will while successive wars with Spain, France and Great Britain during the Colonial Period provided a constant threat of coastal raids by enemy warships. Beaufort was captured and plundered by the Spanish in 1747 and again by the British in 1782. To continue reading about the history of Fort Macon click Here. Additionally, if you are looking for a list of activities click Here.

Ashley and I both highly recommend a visit to Fort Macon State Park. It is very educational and is something that the whole family will enjoy doing together and best of all it is Free!

Rating: Elevation Gain: Minimal (Very Easy), Distance: 1 Mile Roundtrip (Easy).

Time to Complete Hike: 1 - 2 hours.


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Wright Brothers National Memorial

Recently, Ashley and I had a chance to visit and explore the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. This was my second time here and it was her first. The Wright Brothers National Memorial is a must see for those who love history and like exploring where history was made.

Directions to Trailhead: The Wright Brothers National Memorial is located at mile post 7.5 on U.S. Highway 158, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Here are driving directions to the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

From the North - Follow I-95 South to Richmond, Va. Take I-64 East toward Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Va. Take I-64 or I-664 to Chesapeake, Va. From I-64, take Exit 291B to Route 168, the Chesapeake Expressway.* Once in North Carolina, Route 168 turns into U.S. 158 East. Follow U.S. 158 through Kitty Hawk to Kill Devil Hills, N.C. *Chesapeake Expressway is a toll road which costs $2.00 each way.

From the West - Via I-95 into North Carolina. Take U.S. 64 East toward Rocky Mount. Follow U.S. 64 east through Williamston and Plymouth. From Plymouth, continue east to Nags Head and the junction of U.S. 158 through Nags Head to Kill Devil Hills, N.C.

From the South - Coming from South Carolina, take I-95 to Wilson, N.C. Take US-264 East through Greenville and Washington. From Washington, take State Route 30 to Plymouth, and follow U.S. 64 east to Nags Head. Continue on U.S. 158 through Nags Head to Kill Devil Hills, N.C.

Description of Hike: This is not so much a true hike, but is more of an outdoor adventure. The Wright Brothers National Memorial has a number of walking trails on the memorial grounds. The trails are well maintained. Your walk can be made as long or as short as you would like. You can even drive to most of the places on the memorial grounds. The only elevation gain is on Kill Devil Hill, which is where the Wright Brothers Monument is located. The hill on which the Wright Brother Monument stands is 90 feet tall. The cost to enter the Wright Brothers National Memorial is $4 per person. An annual pass is $20 per person. For more information on fees click Here. Additionally, for a schedule of events at the Wright Brothers National Memorial click Here.

Further Thoughts: Ashley and I really enjoyed our visit to the Wright Brothers National Memorial. It is always amazing to visit a place with such amazing history. It is even more amazing that from the first flight here at Kitty Hawk, it took only 66 years for us to put a man on the moon. When you go to visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial, there is a chance that it will be crowded, especially during the summer time. There is additional parking located close to the entrance, as well as close to Kill Devil Hill, where the Wright Brothers Monument is located.

The Monument is amazing to see. The Monument is 60 feet tall and sits atop Kill Devil Hill which is 90 feet tall. The Monument honors the Wright brothers and marks the site of the hundreds of glider flights that preceded the first powered flight. From this location you have great views of the surrounding area as it is one of the taller locations on the outer banks.

The visitor center and the first flight centennial pavilion are worth a visit. Inside both, there are historical exhibits about flight and the Wright Brothers. Additionally, if you are looking for a souvenir or a drink that is the place to go. Furthermore, the buildings are air conditioned and let you get out of the heat on a hot day.

Outside, there is the reconstructed 1903 hangar and quarters/workshop. One building depicts the hangar the wright brothers used for their 1903 flyer and the other building is similar to their workshop and living quarters. Right next to this area is where the first flight actually took place. There is the First Flight Boulder which marks the start where all the flights originated. There are a total of 4 more markers which mark the end point of each of the 4 flights. The first flight lasted 12 seconds and went 120 feet. The second flight lasted 12 seconds and went 175 feet. The third flight lasted 15 seconds and went 200 feet. The fourth flight lasted 59 seconds and went 852 feet.

Ashley and I would highly recommend a visit to the Wright Brothers National Memorial because there is so much history associated with this location.

Rating: Elevation Gain: 180 ft. (Easy), Distance: Variable (0.25 - 2) Miles Roundtrip (Easy).

Time to Complete Hike: 1 - 2 hours.


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