Key Points – The historic battleship USS Texas (BB-35), a veteran of both World Wars, is undergoing a massive $75 million restoration in Galveston, Texas, to ensure its preservation for the next century.
-The extensive project includes replacing over 700 tons of steel, painting the hull in its WWII-era camouflage, and laying a new pine deck.
-Currently, workers are focused on a major refit of the 40-ton foretop, which controlled the ship’s main gun batteries.
-After years of repairs and overcoming regulatory hurdles for a new permanent berth, the dreadnought is expected to reopen to the public in 2026.
What’s the Status of the USS Texas Battleship?
The battleship USS Texas is getting a glow-up. The venerable dreadnought has undergone extensive repairs and refurbishment and is homeported in Galveston, Texas, with workers currently pouring over it. The attention is now on the ship’s foretop, where this large component is being replaced. The nearly 40-ton piece of the Texas is where the 14-inch and 5-inch guns are located. The foretop is the primary director for the guns.
The foretop is the highest point of the ship’s forward superstructure. This point is above the bridge. When the big guns were used to launch huge shells to bring doom down on enemy targets, the fire control officers did their jobs from inside the foretop. Below that section is the location of the battle lookout post. Sailors here would perform bomb damage assessment roles and find new targets for the guns.
Workers Are Busy Bees
“The foretop’s repairs included major structural work, restoring watertight integrity, reinstalling historically accurate antennas and lights, and fully coating the inside and out,” according to the Battleship Texas Foundation.
The work crews are using a tugboat and barge provided by local contractors in Galveston. The crews comprise welders, fitters, and painters. The foundation said that after completing the repairs, the Texas will be able to invite visitors for tours for the next 111 years.
Where Is It Located?
The Texas is being housed for repairs at Gulf Copper Shipyard in Galveston. Then, it will be moved to its permanent mooring location at Pier 15 in Galveston adjacent to the Strand District. The Strand has restaurants, bars, and other interesting places, including the Ocean Star Offshore Energy Center and Museum, Pier 21 Theater, the Texas Seaport Museum, and the tall ship Elissa.
Last Year, the Ship Was Painted and Refurbished
In 2024, the Texas was moved from Pier D to Pier A and Gulf Copper Drydock and Rig Repair. At that time, workers completed a refurbishment of the ship’s deck plus detailed work, including painting and other trim. Tourists were able to see the vessel during this repair period. The ship’s anti-aircraft guns were also restored in 2024. Plus, the 5-inch guns were replaced, and many of the quad 40mm Bofors guns were restored, too.
That year, the Battleship Texas underwent more repairs, “Workers are currently laying the pine deck on the ship’s bow … Yes, Battleship Texas had a deck made up of mostly pine during the ship’s service career. The underlying steel deck has been repaired and made watertight, with all existing studs removed and ground flush. Once welding has concluded in each area, the steel is properly coated,” the foundation said.
Blue Is the Magical Color
A work crew will paint the exterior of the Texas in a World War Two camouflage pattern. All vertical surfaces will be Navy Blue, and the decks will also be a Deck Blue color.
The main mast and antennas also had to be replaced. Workers also re-did the radar top mast and replaced antennas on both yardarms.
There Were Some Regulatory Issues
The supporters of the restoration of the USS Texas had to wait for the city to figure out the battleship’s permanent location. The project was in limbo for at least a year. The people involved could not agree on lease requirements and details. The Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees had entered a lease and then reconsidered, but they finally got all the t’s crossed and i’s dotted on the contract. Protection from severe weather was also a consideration.
“Getting it out of the channel is a better location for hurricanes,” Vice Chairman of the Trustees Jeff Patterson said. “The other part is that this location doesn’t compromise any of our future expansion plans, whatever those might be. This isn’t a space that’s available for the public or for us to use in the future.”
History of the USS Texas
The USS Texas is a very old ship, having been commissioned in 1914. The Texas served in World War One and World War Two. The dreadnought was restored and modernized in 1924. During World War II, the Texas served in the Atlantic Theater and escorted commercial ships during the re-supply of the Allies in Europe. The ship ensured that ammunition and other materials safely made it to Britain during a critical time during the war.
The Texas played an important role in D-Day. It provided thunderous fire support during the Normandy landings and took out numerous targets with its 5-inch and 14-inch guns. Later, the Texas supported other bombardments in France.
That’s not all. The Texas was also assigned to patrol in the Pacific theater. It took part in supporting the battles in Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The Texas would have been one of the main battleship assets had the Americans invaded Japan. After the war, the battleship ferried troops back home and was later de-commissioned in 1948.
Work should be done in 2026. The foretop and painting will be the primary focus of the restoration period over the next 6 to 12 months. However, it will be majestic once it is finally complete. So, consider taking a trip to Galveston and checking out the USS Texas. You will be astounded at how much work and effort has been spent on the ship. You can enjoy the other attractions near the port, and the whole sightseeing visit will be an experience to remember.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence.
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