One of a kind ship with a great tour route. I've been to several ship museums and this was outstanding. Very well maintained. The upper decks were closed because the mast was being restored but even so the tour route allowed you to wander all through the ship and each compartment was very well displayed. What is cool is that the ship remains primarily in WW2 configuration, and the (I think) Measure 33 camouflage is awesome. I was lucky and got a ticket to view the Azalea festival fireworks from the deck- closest thing to watching a shore bombardment you could get I suppose. Job Well Done to those that served and continue to serve on the ship.

Great piece of history to tour and see what the greatest generation was apart of. You are able to take tours or go and your own pace. You can feel how cramped a battleship that size is that would hold 2000 people. This is great for young and old to enjoy an hour or more of seeing something amazing in an amazing era of industrial age.

Beautiful historic place. Paying for a deck pass helps support the ship as it is self supporting and I thought that was amazing. Also when you get on the deck you can go up 4 levels into the captains den (picture of the bow) and down a level into the sleeping area. So much to explore and overall a great experience.

4.5 stars, it was great a lot of steps you got to take. Really narrow some places. It's a war world 2 ship understandable. Really big ship it was awesome. It really shows how the men lived on this. I would go back definitely. But it was really hot I would recommend going earlier in the morning

We visited from out of town and decided to spend our free Saturday here. We are strong supporters of our military and fascinated by military and especially WWII history. The battleship didn't disappoint. Parts of it were under construction and closed to the public but we still had over 3 hours of walking in all parts of the ship. Many signs, stories and lots of helpful information to help you see, feel and smell what life aboard the ship must have been like. The self guided tour was great. The museum building was new and clean and the staff were extremely knowledgeable and helpful too. I highly recommend for families.

I cannot decide if this is the most massive ship I've ever been on or if the incredible access to everything just makes it seem so. So many decks to explore and I love the way that there is a balance between the military operations and everyday life of the ship. The memories and quotes from the servicemen really bring to life what it was like to live and work on this vessel. We spent 3 hours touring Deck After Deck. Incredible!

Really cool place to take the kids and learn some history. If you’re in Wilmington even just for vacation, this is a cool place to visit. So much to learn and think about while you climb in and out of all the compartments on the ship and read about how the service men spent their days. The guns are also very impressive, it’s a little surreal to sit in the seats and think about what transpired on ships like these during war times. Highly recommended!

Well worth the time & money! So much to see here. Exhibits well done & easy to follow. Lots of narrow stairs, so if mobility is an issue, maybe not best tour. Bring a water bottle as it can be a bit warm:) Nice gift shop at end of tour.

If you are a fan of WWII naval history, this is pretty much as good as it gets. The ship itself is very close to its original condition when it was decommissioned and is kept up (as I understand it) by volunteers. In order to navigate the ship, there is quite a bit of climbing of narrow and steep stairs, so come prepared. Also, the parking lot can flood at high tide, so plan accordingly!

My granddaughter has been wanting to visit the battleship for a long time so today was the day. It has been about 10 years since my last visit. She loved it. We followed the signs for the self tour. So much more has opened up since my last visit. There were many volunteers in period uniforms throughout the ship. They answered questions and told stories of ship life as it was back in the 1940's. One Chief even typed a liberty chit for my granddaughter after explaining to her all about what liberty was and how sailors got to go on liberty.

Must go. Read the crew memories alongside the display description. Those give you a glimpse of the times, some are soul touching and some are outright funny. Parking was plenty on a sunny November day. It took us close to 4 hours to finish the self guided tour. Service animals are allowed. Not stroller friendly and one has to constantly do narrow stairs which makes it a moderately difficulty task. Take it slow. Take enough breaks and have plenty of water. There are soda and water vending machines on the main deck. Was adequately ventilated inside - consider also that it was not a hot and humid day.

Amazing place. Being able to walk through almost all the most important parts of the battleship is really something. The kids had a blast, but there are some very steep sets of stairs and ladders, so I can see how younger kids (e.g. 3 and under) would not be able to do this alone, and it's so narrow that even parents would have a tough time going up/down the ladders/stairs carrying a toddler/baby. All is well kept and gives you a chilling sensation when you put yourself in all those sailors shoes, imagining what the ship would have looked like at its peak.

A beautiful piece of history. There was no wait to enter even though it was a Saturday morning. The tour guides and volunteers are very knowledgeable about the history of the ship and love to answer any questions. Most areas of the ship are open to the public, there are a few tours you can join for access to areas not open for the general public, check online. It is wheelchair accessible in a few areas but the majority of the tour requires climbing up and down narrow stairs. The wooden walk around the ship is very nice and allows for great pictures. The gift shop is nice and has some refreshments, there are also some drink vending machines in various areas on the decks.

Family of 7, (youngest is 4). We arrived about an hour and a half before closing and there was no wait to get tickets. The children were immediately excited and enjoyed looking at all the old wartime memorabilia. We all enjoyed it. The battleship is in excellent condition and very clean. The tour we took was self guided, but I believe they offer guided tours. There were arrows to point you in the right direction and each section was labeled with descriptions and pictures. It probably would have taken 2+ hours to tour the entire ship but our little ones had to use the restroom after about an hour and we had to find the restroom which was back on the main deck. I would only caution to be careful with small children, climbing up and down the ladders as they are steep and the railings weren't built for kids. That was the only thing that made me a little nervous.

Such an awesome place In Wilmington. Really cool to see a piece of history like this. The tour was very cool with everywhere you go the people give you information about the different parts of the ship and what the sailors and people did on the battleship. The admission wasn’t a bad price and it was a huge ship. So many things to look at. And the battleship shop was cool as well having a lot of different things in it. We bought a navy sticker for my dad who served in the Navy for 4 years.

Absolutely a Must-See if you are anywhere in the region. It's wonderful to walk around this massive steel ship and it does feel like a step back in time. You see the small folding racks used as beds, kitchen, engine room, targeting room, officers quarters and much more. The massive gun turrets are absolutely amazing. Don't miss this!

Outstanding! The Showboat. Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes. So much technology and history! I have wanted to visit since the first time I saw her crossing the bridge to Wilmington in '95. Why did I wait? I have been on a few museum ships and this is one of the best. Be sure to check out the turret decks and slip into the turret itself too.

What an awsome experience. Slowly time is taking over. So many lives effected by that war, which was the war to end all wars. To look at what went into to create this mighty battleship at that time in history, gives the understanding what a xountry can do in time of crisis. And to understand that women played a key part in the building of these massive structures.

This was amazing. Much more interesting than I originally thought. It is alot of climbing down tight stairs, but to understand how things were makes it all worth it. My kids loved it. Glad we did this!!!!

An excellent exhibit of the most decorated US ship of WW2. Many areas of this ship are open to the public that you don't usually get to see. My friend and I were able to get a private tour by one of the volunteers after hours. His knowledge and stories made the ship come alive! Don't miss this beautiful piece of WW2 history. The Show Boat.

What an incredible experience! If you are a WWII or history buff, this is a must stop. The guides are full of information and the ship is open to see all it workings. Loved my visit!

Honestly, I didn’t have a high expectation but ended up having a blast. It was a pit stop on our way to Myrtle beach. The kids was a blast exploring a maze of different levels and compartments, along with thousands of buttons, dials, and levers to play with.

The Battleship is great for kids & adults to see how our military lived & still do also there are probably some updates to the battleships now. This ship is huge! We visited on a Friday at 4pm (hour before closing) in June 2023, so it wasn't crowded, which was good. It was $14 for adult, I think around $8 for a child. Although a good experience, I'd prefer not to take another tour through it! 🤣 Stairways are tight, some curvy, & I not temptress controlled so in the summer >t was freaking hot down there!. Plenty of signs & arrows to te you which way to go but still can get confusing. Takes at least an hour (or close) to get through it. After about 15 min I was looking for the exit. It's a workout! However, so fascinating to see the living quarters, the newspaper/ mail area, kitchen & how food was stored, laundry room, etc. Amazing to see how soldiers lived in such a confined space for months/years at a time & didn't kill each other. At the end there is a gift shop (of course over-priced but most are). There's a small sitting area with vending machines. After being in that heat, you'll definitely need a something to drink. Great piece of history to learn about & tell/show or kids & generations to come. It's Def something I think everyone should experience at least one time!

If you’re in the area and can manage to go up and down steep stairs, this is a must visit! This is the second Museum Battleship I’ve visited, the first being the USS Missouri and I enjoyed my visit here more than the Mighty Mo. There are less tourists on the North Carolina so it’s easier to explore the tight corridors and the ship appears to be cleaner. If we’re in the area again, we’ll definitely come by for another tour.

Awesome piece of history! Really enjoyed the tour and seeing all parts of the ship. The anchor was huge and the 16in guns were impressive. Highly recommend

Great time! We didn't want to go down further than the first deck below, but even so there was plenty to see- multiple galleys (kitchens), infirmary, dispensary, surgery room, sleeping quarters, officer quarters, mail rooms, pantries, the chapel, canteen, soda fountain, butcher shop, communication/radio room and much more. Large and diverse gift shop, two pressed penny machines (bring your own coins because the gift shop does NOT take cash). Vending machines and plenty of restrooms and places to sit along the way. VERY friendly staff all around. Would go again! We got more enrichment out of it than the beach.

Visited the USS North Carolina near the downtown area of Willmington NC with my grandson and we had a great time. A beautiful well maintained ship with living history at every turn. A lot to see and take in. Directional signs throughout. Lots of climbing to the 9 different levels of the ship. Not recommended for small children and elderly people. Highly recommend a visit.

Being a competitive World of Warships player, it's on my bucket list to visit every surviving battleship in my lifetime. USS NC does not disappoint. She was the first "modern" battleship built for the USN and featured multiple cutting edge shipbuilding technologies in her construction. She is in a remarkable state of preservation. The parking lot is sufficiently large, however it is prone to flooding, so make sure to wear shoes that won't soak through if you don't want wet feet. Getting to see an iconic piece of American WW2 naval history for a small $14 admission is a steal in my book.

This ship is massive and really really cool. To see all the history this ship has to offer is alot to take in. It is like a maze once inside, I actually got disoriented a few times. That's not a good feeling, so it goes to make me think of what the sailors must have felt until they got used to living on this ship for months at a time. One of the coolest aspects of this ship is that it's really like a miniature city inside. They had everything they would have needed to survive. This is a must-see if you've never been. The size of the guns are mind blowing. I'm sure you will enjoy it!