USS North Carolina Battleship, Wilmington

The USS North Carolina Battleship, across the river from the main strip of Wilmington, is a very interesting place to visit. Here you get to climb down super steep staircase ladders with tiny metal foot rests, checking out many layers of this fascinating boat! Wear sneakers, and don't come on a super hot day since it's not air-conditioned (though there are fans).

You get to see more of the ship than at other battleship attractions around the US. You take yourself on a self-guided tour, following the arrows. You can see the oil room, medical and surgery rooms, sleeping bays with beds stacked four high, laundry room, cobbler room, print shop, captain's quarters, and more. Fun music is playing in the cafeteria and fake food is displayed. You can see the projector which provided movies in the cafeteria. It's interesting to see how little privacy there was in the bathroom- terrible :(
Techies will enjoy seeing the huge computer and its dials and gauges, the working periscope inside the massive main turrets, and the Kingfisher seaplane. The main guns are gigantic and everything about them is explained, how they were loaded and fired, from above and below. Techies will be very sad to have to leave without having read the plaques or explored the amazing ship in detail, so they should come alone, not with young kids! 
There are fantastic quotes from military personnel who lived on the ship, and photos, all throughout the boat. 
The ship has a strong oily, turpentine smell so be ready for a strong desire to get back up to the fresh air at the top, if you're a sensitive person. It must have been awful to sleep in that smell (or maybe the ship just needs to be cleaned now). The ship is a bit rickety these days so it feels a little hair-raising climbing the ladders.
What brave soldiers, sailors, and military personnel, who lived on this ship!
There is a cute view at the waterfront park near the parking lot, across the river to the Wilmington Riverwalk and historical buildings.
After, stroll along the lovely Riverwalk of Wilmington, and have dinner.

Directions

USS North Carolina Battleship is located at 1 Battleship Rd NE, Wilmington NC 28401. There is plenty of free parking.
Open daily 8-5 most of the year, and 8-8 in summer. Closes early at 5pm on July 4 and opens late at noon on Dec 25. 
Entry is $14 for adults and teens, $10 for military active and retired, $6 for children aged 6-11, and free for children aged 5 and under.
You can also pay for special tours. The usual entry includes a self-tour, with optional audio guide.

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