Battleship Texas, Why Is She Moving, Is This The REAL Reason? Probably

There are many reasons that the Battleship Texas needs to move. Is this the straw that broke the camels back? The Texas has not been able to raise enough money through tourism to pay for her own upkeep. Why is that? I think I know why, I think it's fairly obvious, and I think this video nails it on the head, but what do you think? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for watching and please subscribe.

[comradevlad]

I agree with this video. Take a look a USS Lexington in Corpus Christi. She sits on a beautiful beach and next to an aquarium with a beautiful sight of the city in the distance. No factories, no dirtiness, and she is far better off

[somethingsmart]

As a native Texan, and a historian, I love visiting both the monument and the battleship. I have taken dates there, just because I think it is so cool. Some have lived in Houston their whole lives and didn’t even know they are there. Schools need to do more to get field trips out to that area, especially when learning Texas history.

[Rorr]

As much as I hate to see her go I have to think it is for the best. it's not like she is being scrapped, just moved to a better area where more people will be able and inclined to visit her, and she definitely deserves that. Also I think the the added tourism will mean she gets better maintenance.

[Opinionteer]

I took my grandson to the battleship before it closed. I explained to him how Texas is an oil state and oil is as much as it’s history as San Jac.

[SuperTrevys]

This video made me tear up. I grew up at that park. I had a personal relationship with that ship. She almost felt part of my family. I know it sounds weird, but me and my dad bonded a lot inside that ship. We both have a strong liking for military history.
It's ashamed people these days and these newer generations won't get to experience what we did. Let alone will care about it.

[prex]

The port of Houston is massive, indeed not a scenic area. Totally worth going however.

[montegb]

I actually didn't mind driving through the industrialized part to get to the battleship. I found the refineries/production plants interesting. It was a stark contrast of technology between a WW1 era ship, and today's ability to harness energy. But, I'm from Kansas, so I don't see this kind of stuff on a daily basis.

[johnpolhamus]

I drove through in 2018, going from San Diego to Mississippi, and really wanted to go see the USS Texas, but getting all the way out there from was just too much, so I kept on going. I cam't be alone in reaching that decision. I still hope to see it someday!

[andyw]

Growing up in the 60's - 70's on special Sundays after church we would drive to San Jacinto to have lunch at the San Jacinto Inn and climb around the battleship. Now 60 I have a pretty long history of visits as a child and bringing my own children to see the Texas. My opinions, I never minded the refineries, thought the stink was pretty bad at times. The last time I went down there was after the ship had closed and I will say there were quite a few people in the park. Many were fishing in the ship channel next to the battleship, other just walking around viewing the grand lady. I disagree that the refineries are a big problem. It seems like the monument was closed for renovation more than it was open. In all fairness, the Washington Monument in DC seems to be closed for renovations every time I visit. Honestly, the reason I don't go down there, since all the children are grown, I don't feel compelled to drive across town. That and there isn't a San Jacinto Inn. I've heard talk about moving it to Galveston but honestly, maybe Corpus next to the Lexington would be a good place, if she could make the trip.

[subukai]

I was there in October 2016 saw the battleship and the monument. As a military history buff I loved it. I liked crawling in to the turrets and playing with the anti aircraft guns, seeing most of the decks. We chatted with the maintenance guys for the ship and they became our impromptu historians. I hope they save it. The out of the way location is probably the reason in conjunction with no other activiites other than that.

[jamespowell]

If there is a lot of tourism near the Carrier Lexington, then move the Battleship Texas nearby.

[tankacebo]

on my cross country motorcycle trip, I was lucky enough to be able to visit the battleship and park during the height of the pandemic- about this time last year. I left without being able to go aboard, but from a stroke of luck was able to get ahold of a man named Bruce, who is on the Battleship Texas... Board? the group that oversees the battleship. I pleaded my case of wanting to, at the very least, go on the deck and take a few pictures. I was only about 20 minutes away, by that point at which he returned my call, but I quickly returned to see the ship closer. much to my surprise, he had the head maintenance tech meet me at the dock, and I received a three-hour personal tour of the vessel for free. it was amazing. she's in better shape than her Wikipedia articles and others claim her to be. it will always be one of my favorite memories of that trip.

[keithland]

I'm 72 years old and my Mom told me when I was about 9 months old, she, my Dad and 3 of my 5 brothers were on a trip, from League City to the Battleground for a picnic. And I started showing measles. I don't remember much about it. :) But I have been to the Texas probably 40 - 50 times over the past 70 years and I can remember being there from probably 6 - 7 years old. Back then the ack ack guns were fully functional, as far as movement. Going through the inside all the gauges and controls were still in really great condition. The wardroom was really something to see and as I grew older there was a lot of information to read about it, pictures to see, etc. Going down to the engine area was a super great thrill, especially for a kid. The infirmary was pretty much as I would imagine it would have looked while She was out on the water. My Dad was in the Navy in WWII and was on the USS Bismark Sea when it was hit by kamakazi pilots and was sunk. 318 of the men were lost. My Dad had a round from one the machine guns hit him in the left calf, from the side and lost a big hunk of the muscle and flesh blown off. He pretty well recovered from it, fortunately. When the Captain issued abandon ship he and the other 500 left the ship and he was in the water for a bit over 8 hours. Fortunately 2 of the 3 kamakazi planes were shot down before the 3rd one hit the ship and disabled it, so there was none left to strafe the crew that was in the water, as the inhumane Japanese pilots often did.

As far as all the sandbags, they are placed on the "feet" of the fence posts to keep the temporary fencing from blowing down. I don't know why it was put up at that time. But it is not there now.

I also hate to see here leave her over 70 year home but am all for it if she can be restored at least to a reasonable semblance of her past glory. But I definitely do now want her to leave Texas and I am afraid that is more likely what will happen.

[seatedliberty]

I drove from Kentucky to Houston specifically to see the Texas. Had they let me, I would have driven through the fire to tour that ship (as it happened, the area was thankfully fire free when I visited). To me, the real problem is not enough Americans are interested in history and even less so in military history. She probably needs to be near an area with broader tourism appeal to get more visitation instead of as a stand alone historical park.

[timothycantor]

Good video. Its a harsh reality, but in an age of convenience she (Texas) needs to be in a better location. As a kid that grew up just north of Dallas, school kids should be going to both memorials despite the long drive. We should know our history. Hopefully this new location does the trick though.

[jessemask]

I took my grandson out there a few years ago and OMG the walk from the parking lot about killed me. When he first saw the battleship he pointed and said that he wanted to go there. I remember going there several times as a kid and always enjoyed it. I was saddened to see the state of disrepair that it had gotten into as it was taken out for work to be performed not that long ago and it had gotten so bad so quick. When I went into the park restrooms I remembered that I dreamed about going into some that looked exactlt the same, I guess my mind remembered what they looked like and being in there. The park is very nice and it is indeed sad that more people do not venture out there. I live real close. It is always reassuring to know that its there.

[motomanatgmail]

The drive up really is not good. It’s much worse than it was when I last visited in 2010.

Our ship needs a better home and I’m optimistic that the foundation is going to do us all proud. 🙏🏼

[kenmdem]

I remember when there was nothing but trees on that road when you get off of 225. The last refinery coming from Pasadena Texas was Shell; And it was several miles away. There were nothing but trees from that refinery to the Bay Town bridge.

[MakaiMauka]

Thank you Sir!
My family went at least 100 times innrhe 1960’s and 70’s.
My recall of the drive was that is was all green on the way from 225. I don’t recall anything on that road in the 1960’s.
Whoever permitted all the industry on the way to a sacred place for Texans should be ashamed of themselves, probably worse.
The aerial view sure shows how brilliant Houston was picking that place. Nowhere for Santa Anna to get away. Like being against the ropes in boxing then slipping out and turning the tables. It is tragic industry was allowed along the road to this Sacred Texas Place.

[wickerman]

Me & my dad road our Harley’s 400 miles to see the old girl. Didn’t really notice all that we were just glad we made it. That was the last trip like that I made with my dad. He just got where he couldn’t ride anymore. But glad we made that trip. I’ll never forget it.