Focus at Four: A $35 Million renovation keeps Battleship Texas in ship-shape

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Earlier this week, the Battleship Texas moved from a dry dock to a nearby wet berth in Galveston.

The Battleship Texas Foundation says it’s a cost-saving move that allows work to be done topside of the ship.

That includes replacing the wood deck, more repainting, and finishing work on the navigation bridge.

Tony Gregory, the President and CEO of The Battleship Texas Foundation joined First News at Four to discuss the progress of the $35 million renovation.

Gregory said getting the ship back in the water was a huge part of the project’s progress.

“We’ve been in dry dock for almost 18 months, and the dry dock allowed us access to the hull so we could replace parts of the hull, repair it and make it substantially watertight. In her final destination, she will be in the water. And so we wanted to get back in the water and make sure and confirm that all the work we’ve done on the hull, the result would be that she didn’t have any substantial leaks,” he said.

But, Gregory said the idea of people being proud of the work they are doing to ensure she is preserved is a huge encouragement.

“It actually gives us the motivation to get it in tip-top shape so that all Texans, including school children, can put their hands on a piece of history which they don’t normally do. You know, we have the advantage. We’re not a virtual display. We are a piece of hardware,” he said.

The boat is not only a huge part of U.S. history, but Texas history.

“She’s a symbol of US naval power and there’s no other battleships left that served in World War I and World War II. She’s very historic and we feel like she’s a very important way to educate this generation and future generations about the role that the US Navy played in the victories of World War I and World War II,” Gregory said.

The work continues, but they are nearing the finish line.

“We still have a lot of work to do topside, and then we have to put in the exhibits and the interactive display. So our goal is late in 2025,” he said.