The 25 best sights in Wilmington (2024)

6 lists

Great piece of history to tour and see what the greatest generation was apart of. You are able to take tours or go and your own pace. You can feel how cramped a battleship that size is that would hold 2000 people. This is great for young and old to enjoy an hour or more of seeing something amazing in an amazing era of industrial age.

The Battleship is great for kids & adults to see how our military lived & still do also there are probably some updates to the battleships now. This ship is huge! We visited on a Friday at 4pm (hour before closing) in June 2023, so it wasn't crowded, which was good. It was $14 for adult, I think around $8 for a child. Although a good experience, I'd prefer not to take another tour through it! 🤣Stairways are tight, some curvy, & I not temptress controlled so in the summer >t was freaking hot down there!. Plenty of signs & arrows to te you which way to go but still can get confusing. Takes at least an hour (or close) to get through it. After about 15 min I was looking for the exit. It's a workout! However, so fascinating to see the living quarters, the newspaper/ mail area, kitchen & how food was stored, laundry room, etc. Amazing to see how soldiers lived in such a confined space for months/years at a time & didn't kill each other.At the end there is a gift shop (of course over-priced but most are). There's a small sitting area with vending machines. After being in that heat, you'll definitely need a something to drink.Great piece of history to learn about & tell/show or kids & generations to come. It's Def something I think everyone should experience at least one time!

What an awesome experience. My hubby and I were on our way to the Outer Banks and decided to make this a stop. My hubby served in the Marines and was excited to visit. The ships deck was handicap/wheelchair accessible. The rest of the ship is not. I am claustrophobic, so I was only selected to make it as far as the galley. My husband enjoyed the entire experience and explored the entire ship. He said it was fantastic, and he enjoyed the heck out of being able to do so. He highly recommends a visit if you love ships!

A beautiful piece of history. There was no wait to enter even though it was a Saturday morning. The tour guides and volunteers are very knowledgeable about the history of the ship and love to answer any questions. Most areas of the ship are open to the public, there are a few tours you can join for access to areas not open for the general public, check online. It is wheelchair accessible in a few areas but the majority of the tour requires climbing up and down narrow stairs. The wooden walk around the ship is very nice and allows for great pictures. The gift shop is nice and has some refreshments, there are also some drink vending machines in various areas on the decks.

We have visited here 3 times now and loved it every time! It is the most accessible battleship I've ever been on (in terms of what they open up to the public). There is so much to see and so many photo opportunities. You definitely want to schedule several hours. I went with my three kids (ages 7, 5 & 2) who never let me stop to read any of the information and we still spent 2 1/2 hours walking the decks and checking out below deck.

One of the last few classes of battleships, it's in good shape and quite a lot is open for the public to see and get to enjoy the history. Recommend walking shoes and would not call it very stroller friendly. Places you could hit your head are well marked and protected but you are walking and climbing through some step stair and ladder areas.

Beautiful historic place. Paying for a deck pass helps support the ship as it is self supporting and I thought that was amazing. Also when you get on the deck you can go up 4 levels into the captains den (picture of the bow) and down a level into the sleeping area. So much to explore and overall a great experience.

I cannot decide if this is the most massive ship I've ever been on or if the incredible access to everything just makes it seem so. So many decks to explore and I love the way that there is a balance between the military operations and everyday life of the ship. The memories and quotes from the servicemen really bring to life what it was like to live and work on this vessel. We spent 3 hours touring Deck After Deck. Incredible!

If you’re in the area and can manage to go up and down steep stairs, this is a must visit!This is the second Museum Battleship I’ve visited, the first being the USS Missouri and I enjoyed my visit here more than the Mighty Mo. There are less tourists on the North Carolina so it’s easier to explore the tight corridors and the ship appears to be cleaner.If we’re in the area again, we’ll definitely come by for another tour.

Since my two daughters joined the Navy in 2022- visiting restored battleships is our “thing”.This is the second ship we have visited- and some distinct differences from the USS Alabama. First of all- you could go up into the 16 inch gun turret- all the way- you could sit in the chair and see the control panels, where they loaded the shells, the optical sights, all very cool!Another cool thing was the first person narratives that were in all the different locations- mess hall- laundry- medical offices (the barking dog one was hilarious!)These narratives made the areas and situations so lifelike- I could actually imagine these people telling the story!The ship had been beautifully restored- and it was enjoyable to walk around and learn about its history!

This was way cooler than we expected. My two boys (aged 6 and 10) loved climbing ladders to get to a different level, and I was impressed by how much they learned on our self-guided tour. I enjoyed learning about the daily life aboard the battleship, especially the post office and the radio room. This excursion is not for the faint of heart however. The ladder steps are very steep and challenging. The spaces are small and there is no air conditioning, ( I was very appreciative of the electric fans that were stationed throughout the facility.) If you're planning to visit here, definitely go on the Riverwalk first because when you see it first from afar, you truly appreciate the actual magnitude of the ship when you step foot on it. I would definitely recommend visiting the Battleship North Carolina, if you're a history buff. It is well worth the price of admission

Amazing place. Being able to walk through almost all the most important parts of the battleship is really something. The kids had a blast, but there are some very steep sets of stairs and ladders, so I can see how younger kids (e.g. 3 and under) would not be able to do this alone, and it's so narrow that even parents would have a tough time going up/down the ladders/stairs carrying a toddler/baby. All is well kept and gives you a chilling sensation when you put yourself in all those sailors shoes, imagining what the ship would have looked like at its peak.

Being a competitive World of Warships player, it's on my bucket list to visit every surviving battleship in my lifetime. USS NC does not disappoint. She was the first "modern" battleship built for the USN and featured multiple cutting edge shipbuilding technologies in her construction. She is in a remarkable state of preservation. The parking lot is sufficiently large, however it is prone to flooding, so make sure to wear shoes that won't soak through if you don't want wet feet. Getting to see an iconic piece of American WW2 naval history for a small $14 admission is a steal in my book.

My granddaughter has been wanting to visit the battleship for a long time so today was the day. It has been about 10 years since my last visit. She loved it. We followed the signs for the self tour. So much more has opened up since my last visit. There were many volunteers in period uniforms throughout the ship. They answered questions and told stories of ship life as it was back in the 1940's. One Chief even typed a liberty chit for my granddaughter after explaining to her all about what liberty was and how sailors got to go on liberty.

Such a cool experience!I was visiting a friend in Wilmington and he suggested that all of us check out this battleship.Approaching the exit from the north was a little weird- it's easy to miss. From the south, it's easy to find the exit. There was plenty of parking even for a Saturday. No wait to get our tickets and begin our tour.Lots of interesting things to see here. From the long guns, to seeing how the bullets were loaded, how the crew sat in their stations, to where everyone ate and slept - all of it was fascinating!My favorite parts were climbing into the revolving canon chamber, and seeing the medical stations.There was someone in the Captain's bridge explaining some of the history of the ship. Me and my kiddos had a ton of fun here!

We visited from out of town and decided to spend our free Saturday here. We are strong supporters of our military and fascinated by military and especially WWII history. The battleship didn't disappoint. Parts of it were under construction and closed to the public but we still had over 3 hours of walking in all parts of the ship. Many signs, stories and lots of helpful information to help you see, feel and smell what life aboard the ship must have been like. The self guided tour was great. The museum building was new and clean and the staff were extremely knowledgeable and helpful too. I highly recommend for families.

This ship is massive and really really cool. To see all the history this ship has to offer is alot to take in. It is like a maze once inside, I actually got disoriented a few times. That's not a good feeling, so it goes to make me think of what the sailors must have felt until they got used to living on this ship for months at a time. One of the coolest aspects of this ship is that it's really like a miniature city inside. They had everything they would have needed to survive. This is a must-see if you've never been. The size of the guns are mind blowing. I'm sure you will enjoy it!

It was a self guided tour that allowed us to go at our own pace. It did get hot while inside the ship, but there were a decent amount of fans through out. Definitely recommend to wear tennis shoes, the painted floors were a bit slippery in our sandals. The stairs are very narrow and steep.Over all a super cool experience. My 5 and 3 year old boys loved it and asked to go back again 😊

I love military history. This is my second battleship that I ever visited and I was very impressed. This was a great museum that we could see just about any part of the ship. Staff was located all over the ship to give some valuable information. Be prepared to walk up and down some steps.

Really cool place to take the kids and learn some history. If you’re in Wilmington even just for vacation, this is a cool place to visit. So much to learn and think about while you climb in and out of all the compartments on the ship and read about how the service men spent their days. The guns are also very impressive, it’s a little surreal to sit in the seats and think about what transpired on ships like these during war times. Highly recommended!

Visited the USS North Carolina near the downtown area of Willmington NC with my grandson and we had a great time. A beautiful well maintained ship with living history at every turn. A lot to see and take in. Directional signs throughout. Lots of climbing to the 9 different levels of the ship. Not recommended for small children and elderly people. Highly recommend a visit.

Great self guided tour! Lots of history!Very reasonably priced.Lots of steep up and down steps, so if you have bad knees or legs, might want to skip.

I was completely drawn in and enticed by the USS North Carolina battleship in Wilmington. Initially, I had no intention of taking the tour, but the sheer presence of this massive ship compelled me to explore it further. The admission price was completely reasonable, and knowing that all proceeds go toward the preservation of the ship made the experience even more worthwhile.Opting for the self-guided tour, I found myself immersed in the history and grandeur of the vessel for about two hours, though one could easily spend more or less time exploring. The unique experience provided a wealth of knowledge about the ship and its role in history. I would highly recommend this attraction to anyone with an interest in history or as a family outing. It was truly an unforgettable experience that left a lasting impression.

This place is great. We spent 2.5 hours here but ran out of time because it was closing. We would have needed 3 hours to fully see everything, but we read all the signs.There's so many levels and so many things to look at. My favorite part was the mess hall, but all of it was really interesting. The diary entries on the sign were my favorite part, but my husband loved the history. They have decent parking, the bathrooms were clean.

Visiting the Battleship North Carolina offered a unique and engaging experience, akin to stepping into a vivid time capsule that captures the essence of naval life. The tour allows visitors to delve deep into the intricacies of a battleship, presenting an educational journey through history that is both immersive and captivating. My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the various compartments and decks, which provided a comprehensive insight into the sailors' lives during wartime.However, one aspect that could enhance the realism and depth of the experience is the use of actual figurines instead of the current cardboard cutouts. While the cutouts serve their purpose, life-like figurines would add a more tangible and authentic feel to the tour, making it easier for visitors to connect with the history and stories of those who served on the ship. Recognizing the potential cost implications of such an upgrade, I believe that a slight increase in ticket prices would be a reasonable trade-off for the added value and enriched experience that real-life figurines could provide.Overall, the visit to Battleship North Carolina is a must-do for anyone interested in history, naval warfare, or looking for a unique educational outing. The blend of historical authenticity and educational content, coupled with the potential for further enhancements, makes it a memorable experience for visitors of all ages.

We had a great time going down all the way to the bottom of the available decks (some of the stairs are very steep and I would not recommend going too far down if you have bad knees or hips). I loved all the rooms; you really get to see how cramped it was! Truly remarkable how hard the men on the ships worked all the time!!

The ship is a fantastic museum - very informative. The staff and volunteers on the ship were amazing, very friendly and helpful, and appreciated..!Highly recommended while in Wilmington..!

This is a must-see exhibit to visit and spend time at. Be sure to bring your tennis shoes because you'll be climbing up and down metal ladders within tight spaces. This was well worth the trip and I highly recommend it for the whole family ... just keep track of your kids, there's a lot of compartments to hide in!

An amazing piece of history! We often don't appreciate the sacrifices these brave servicemen made (there were no women on board during WW2). This floating city serviced the needs of about 2300 people, but with little in the way of comfort or privacy (there was none!). Still, the complexity and efficiency of the ship are astounding, even more than 80 years after it went into service. It all makes you think twice before complaining about your morning coffee!I wish there were more tours and guides, because I'm sure we missed a lot!

1 Battleship Rd NE, Wilmington, NC 28401, USA•https://battleshipnc.com/•(910) 399-9100•Battleship North Carolina reservations