Booking

Meet the Showboat Series

Meet the Showboat from Home!

The "Meet the Showboat" series is a great way to interact with the Battleship from the comfort of your own home.  Be sure to look at all of the topics that are available--there is something for everyone!

Battleship volunteers RDML Ron Henderson, USN, Retired, LtCol John Munn USMC, Retired, CDR Charles Gore USN, Retired,  LCDR Mike Bowers, USN, Retired, and Alex Dydula invite you to join them in an opportunity to "Zoom In" with an expert on Battleship NORTH CAROLINA. Each virtual program lasts 30-45 minutes followed by time to engage with the presenter. The programs are free but online registration is required as limited space is available.

In 2020, the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA received a NC CARES: Humanities Relief Grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, www.nchumanities.org. Funding for NC CARES has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan. 

  

Museum/Interpretation Programs

The Showboat: A Brief History

Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, aka "The Showboat", is the most decorated American battleship of World War II.  Let RDML Ron Henderson, USN, Retired, introduce you to the operational history of this floating warrior, which established the role of WWII battleships.


 


Reserve Your Spot Now!

City at Sea: Life Aboard

Home to 2,000+ officers, enlisted personnel and a Marine Detachment, Battleship NORTH CAROLINA provided a place to sleep, eat, shower, check out books, watch movies and boxing matches, get a haircut, have your shoes repaired and more.  Discover life at sea with RDML Ron Henderson, USN, Retired, a man who has "been there, done that."


 


Reserve Your Spot Now!

Engineered for Victory: Design & Technology

A true engineering wonder of her day, the Battleship showcases an array of technological advancements.  Discover design considerations and innovations that continue to amaze visitors from LtCol John Munn, USMC, Retired.


 


Reserve Your Spot Now!

The Few, The Proud: BB55 Marine Detachment

From their founding in 1775, Marines have performed vital functions aboard American naval ships.  Follow LtCol John Munn, USMC, Retired, into the world of the Showboat MarDet: the men, the mission, the equipment.


 


Reserve Your Spot Now!

Fire Control: The Mechanical Brains Behind the Guns

The Battleship is a floating weapons platform, but the finest guns are of little use without the means to direct their fire accurately at the target.  Fire control expert Alex  Dydula will explore the Ship's fire control equipment (directors/optical range finders, radar, computers) and how main and secondary battery plotting rooms operated.


 


Reserve Your Spot Now!

Fire Control: The Human Element

Developing a successful approach to fighting the Ship effectively required a team of officers and enlisted men.  They developed procedures and tactics based on lessons learned from engagements and adapted to evolving technologies.  CDR Chuck Gore, USN (Ret.) will introduce you to the Gunnery Department, its missions, and how tactics changed during the war years.


 


Reserve Your Spot Now!

Sailing Through Time Aboard Ships Named NORTH CAROLINA

Gracing the seas from 1824 to today, ships named NORTH CAROLINA provide insights into the traditions and innovations involved in navigation, propulsion, fire control (tracking targets and aiming guns), weapons, and daily life.  Join LCDR Mike Bower, USN, Retired, as he gives us a peek into the workings of our Navy vessels and her crews over the centuries  

 


Reserve Your Spot Now!

Test Info