Texas Is Moving a Century-Old Battleship in Hopes It Will Attract More Tourists
- State has spent $60 million to refurbish 1914 ship’s hull
- Foundation eschews bond market, sets fundraising campaign
The battleship was berthed in the Houston Ship Channel at the San Jacinto battlefield park, where it received between 80,000 and 90,000 visitors a year.
Photographer: David J. Phillip/APThis article is for subscribers only.
If your tourist attraction isn’t bringing in enough attendees – move it.
That’s not an option for most attractions, but it is for the state of Texas, the Battleship Texas Foundation and their 573-foot-long ship, originally commissioned in 1914 and a veteran of both World Wars. The state owns the vessel while the foundation operates and maintains it.