Few museums are as impressive as the massive Battleship of New Jersey, a floating museum on the Delaware River—it’s a staggering eleven stories high and nearly three football fields long. This Iowa-class battleship, built to “keep floating and keep fighting”—with nine 16-inch guns that can reach up to 23 miles away—has a formidable presence that served it well in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf Wars. Today, it is an interactive preserved museum where you can walk, climb, and crawl into everything from bunks and bathrooms to laundry rooms, a mess hall, a library, and even an added modern play area for kids. I give this ship 19 stars (the battleship earned 19 Battle Stars during its service and is the most decorated one in the US) for a day that my family will never forget. And with improvements after a few months in dry dock, there’s even more to love. Scroll down for what we learned while we visited the Battleship of New Jersey, and be sure to check out our best things to do in NJ for more fun ideas. (featured photo credit: NJ MOM)
The Battleship of New Jersey: A Monumental Tour Experience
Choose your tour
After signing in at the Visitor’s Center, we selected our tour for the day. There are several interactive tours, and my kids chose the Fire Power Self-Guided Tour, which allows you to explore five levels above ground and two decks below. You aren’t totally alone, though—guides are stationed throughout each part of the battleship, so they can answer any questions, give insight, or take a guided tour or a curated guided tour for something extra special. There are also extensions to the regular tours that allow you to walk into the armored gun house, explore the magazines where powder bags were stored, and pull the trigger to simulate firing a 16-inch gun. My husband and son loved the ship so much that we took several self-guided tours around the boat. It was fun to have the freedom to explore the ship independently, and it was exciting to see a new surprise around every corner. There are also night tours, such as the Evening Turret II or Evening Engine Room Guided Tour (next time!).
Coming aboard the Battleship of New Jersey
As you step onto the ship, docents greet you, along with extraordinary views—you can see everything from Penn’s Landing to the Philadelphia skyline. We set out to explore the deck and were amazed by the sheer size of the chains and anchors. We were in awe when the docent explained that 11,000 feet of anchor chain are on each anchor, and just one chain link weighs 123 pounds. Before we left to start our tour, we spotted the massive bell, and my son was thrilled to ring it (thanks to my husband for lifting him to do it).
Choose your path
Since we were doing the self-guided tour, we could follow the lines on the floor and choose our battleship adventure with four color-coded options. The Green Line tour follows the main route, The Red Line features weapons and navigation, the Blue Line tour goes into the Citadel, and the Yellow Line tour features glimpses of the Crew’s Life. The lines were easy to see, but take note—there’s a lot of walking and climbing. There are several locations where you can see the ship’s inner workings, and adventurous kids and parents can opt to squeeze through these routes to see different views. After the tours, stop by Jason’s Kids Kompartment, where kids can play for a while (and parents can take a break). We spent only a short time there, but my kids liked pretending to be a boat captain, cooking a meal in the play kitchen, or playing some Sixers basketball.
Take a step back in time
As we made our way through our tour of the Battleship New Jersey, we had to remember that until 2001, this was a working military ship, and the crew used everything. It was neat to see what a TV studio, barbershop, laundry room (imagine doing all that laundry), navigation room, library, radio room, and even the Captain’s In-Port Cabin looked like when the ship was at sea. We were all enthralled by the unique High Line Chair that transferred you from one ship to another over the open water. There would be anywhere from 10 to 30 people pulling you over the ocean waves (think zipline), which my son declared was “way cool.”
Spend the night on the Battleship of New Jersey
Want to recreate what it felt like to be part of the crew? Schedule a sleepover on the Battleship New Jersey with the Overnight Encampment Program. If you’re considering it, you can book with a group (such as scouts, schools, etc.), request a family trip, or make it a birthday party. You’ll feel right at home after storing your gear in a locker and finding your bunk–both used by the enlisted sailors when they were at sea. Dinner is a chowline-style affair, followed by a tour of the ship, which explores different spots not typically included on standard tours. The following day, breakfast and hands-on programs are available, including an exploration of the science behind the battleship, before packing up and stopping at the gift shop for souvenirs.
Special events aboard the Battleship of New Jersey
Spending a patriotic holiday aboard Battleship New Jersey is a treat, especially when there are fireworks shows on the 4th of July. Watching fireworks bursting in the air over the 887-foot battleship is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Other events include the Small Sailors Tour and the Dry Documentary Premiere — check their events section to find out what’s happening.
What to know before you go
Explore the Battleship NJ with self-guided tour tickets at $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and kids 12 and under, and $20 for veterans; prices vary for other tours. There are several parking options, and public transportation is also available. It’s best to wear closed-toe shoes or sneakers because there are several steep steps (called ladders by the Navy) to maneuver up and down the ship, as well as “knee knockers,” which are high-step openings between rooms. Strollers are not permitted; front carriers are required for infants or toddlers. There is a gift shop, a visitor’s center, restrooms on-site, and the Black Dragon Cafe if you get hungry while on the ship.
Check out their website, Instagram, and Facebook before you go
Battleship of New Jersey
62 Battleship Place
Camden, NJ 08103
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