Thanks to Eddy Meyers, ET2 USN, who forwarded this story from his Navy buddy, James
Patrick “Pat” Malone, ET3 USN, who lives near Dallas. Eddy served on the USS
Snowden DE-246 from 1967–68 and was home-ported in Philadelphia, where he saw the
New Jersey re-commissioned for Vietnam duty. Pat served on the USS Agerholm DD-826 in the
Vietnam seas from 1966–68. The following story appeared on the Texas Parks and
Wildlife site.
December 18, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — It fought in two world wars, saw action in Europe, Africa and the
Pacific, traveled more than 728,000 miles, as far north as Iceland and as far south as
Chile. It is the second longest-serving battleship ever commissioned by the U.S. Navy, in
service from 1914 to 1948. Now, thanks in part to increased funds from the Texas
Legislature, the Battleship Texas is getting an update that will make its long history more
accessible and engaging for visitors.
On its final mission for the U.S. Navy, the Texas returned 4,267 U.S. troops from the
Pacific theater to San Pedro, California in time for Christmas 1945. After its service in
World War II had ended, the ship was presented to its namesake state, commissioned as the
flagship of the Texas Navy, and brought to a permanent home at Buffalo Bayou — minutes
from downtown Houston and adjacent to the site of the Battle of San Jacinto, on the
anniversary of the battle that won Texas’ independence in 1836.
Battleship Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife — 3½-minute video.
Please visit our other battleship-related pages.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department took possession of the ship in 1983. The
following year, TPWD began an extensive renovation of the ship.
The latest suite of updates includes a complete redo of all the ship’s interpretive,
wayfinding, and safety signs — 55 new interpretive labels located at significant points
throughout the ship, about 14 larger interpretive exhibit panels in the port and starboard
aircastles, orientation and welcome signs, assorted safety signs, new directional signs and
maps, and a new interpretive brochure.
“If people arrive at a state park, whether it’s a natural area or a historic
site, and they’re totally on their own with no written or visual aids and no staff to
explain things, they’re going to miss a huge part of the experience,” said Phil
Hewitt, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department State Parks Division interpretation and exhibits
director.
“Turn that around, and invest in people and resources to tell the story, and you
have an exponential increase in visitors ‘getting it,’” Hewitt said.
“Interpretation makes the crucial difference for people to understand what’s
special about a park, to learn about natural and cultural resources, and to just have a lot
more fun while they’re there.”
The new interpretation will explore the battleship’s place in America’s
history — spanning the period from America’s emergence as a nascent world power
to the end of the Second World War. When Texas was commissioned in 1914, the warship was the
most powerful weapon afloat. Texas, one of only eight remaining battleships in the world,
is a National Historic Landmark.
