Summary and Key Points: Efforts to preserve the USS Texas, the only surviving battleship to have served in both world wars, are ongoing, but finding a permanent home for the ship remains a challenge.

-The Battleship Texas Foundation has ruled out Seawolf Park due to high dredging costs. Instead, the ship is considered for relocation to Pier 21 in Galveston, though this faces opposition from a local restaurant concerned about obstructing harbor views.

-Despite these hurdles, restoration work continues on the USS Texas, which had previously been docked at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site for over 70 years.

USS Texas: The Historic Battleship's Search for a New Home

Efforts to restore and help preserve the only surviving battleship to see service in both world wars continue—and while the New York-class battleship USS Texas (BB-35) has apparently successfully fended off its greatest post-World War II enemies (time and the elements) for now, another fight continues.

That is, namely, where the honorary flagship of the Texas Navy will next call home.

The Houston Chronicle reported this week that a fight from a popular restaurant could derail plans to see the warship relocated to Pier 21 in Galveston. The "award-winning" Katie's Seafood House launched a viral social media campaign that warned how BB-35's presence would block the postcard-worthy view of the harbor that includes Pelican Island and a "mosquito fleet" of shrimping boats.

The eatery—which is reported to be a Texas institution—even drafted a Change.org petition that urged Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees, the public entity that manages the port including Pier 21, to block the relocation of USS Texas. Apparently, food and a few of the boats that Forrest Gump might own seem more important than finding a home for a historically significant warship.

An Ideal Option Deemed Too Expensive

It is noteworthy too that the Battleship Texas Foundation, which oversees the care and maintenance of the warship, has already ruled out "definitively" bringing BB-35 to Seawolf Park, which would seem the ideal location.

It is home to the Galveston Naval Museum, as well as the Gato-class submarine USS Cavalla (SS-244), which had the distinction of sinking the Japanese aircraft carrier Shkaku during World War II, and the Edsall-class destroyer escort USS Stewart (DE-238). In addition, Seawolf Park maintains the remains of the World War I tanker SS Selma – one of the twelve experimental concrete ships constructed.

Unfortunately, it has come down to money. The foundation deemed the move simply too expensive.

"It's just not the right spot for the battleship," Battleship Texas Foundation vice president of operations Matt Pham told The Houston Chronicle.

"Namely, because of the dredging costs associated with the battleship being at Seawolf Park, it would cost us an estimated $11 million to be there. That's above the [estimated $60 million] restoration cost of the battleship, so that's certainly not a feasibility at this point in time," Pham added.

Restoration Continues on USS Texas 

Even while a permanent home has yet to be found, the restoration continues. Though the USS Texas was launched in 1914 and saw service in both World Wars, time and the elements have been her greatest enemies.

Before she was moved to Galveston for repairs, the iconic 122-year-old dreadnought made her home at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site for more than 70 years.

All that time in the water took its toll on the old battle wagon, and in June 2017, a six-by-eight-inch hole about 15 feet below the waterline opened and caused the USS Texas to list six degrees.

There is still much work to be done, but significant progress has been made to restore the honorary flagship of the Lone Star State to her former glory. Now she just needs a home – one she most certainly deserves!

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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