Wilmington, NC – March 15, 2021 – On April 9, 1941, NORTH CAROLINA was commissioned into the U.S. Navy, making this year the Battleship’s 80th birthday.
Battleship NORTH CAROLINA invites the public to celebrate with her, through family admission bargains and encouraging children to make birthday cards for the Ship.
From March 15, 2021, through April 11, 2021, the Battleship will offer up to three (3) free child admissions with any one (1) paid adult admission.
Children can also join in the fun by creating a birthday card for the Battleship and sharing it with her through social media or the Battleship website. Submissions received by April 5 will be featured on the Battleship website and through social media.
Families can post a photo of their cards using #BNCbirthday or by tagging @battleshipnc on Instagram or Twitter. They can also add a photo in the comments of the post seeking submissions at the USS NORTH CAROLINA Battleship Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NCBB55/. Or photos can be emailed to bb55.mktg@battleshipnc.com.
No photos nor cards themselves will be collected at the Ship.
Adult admission is $14 for ages 12 and above, $10 for military ID holders and seniors. Child admission includes ages 6 through 11; ages 5 and under are admitted free.
Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Ticket sales end at 4 p.m. daily.
When commissioned in 1941, NORTH CAROLINA was the first battleship to join the U.S. fleet in 16 years. She was a new design and was built to keep pace with aircraft carriers, a new type of ship following the first World War. At the helm on the momentous occasion was 54-year-old Olaf Mandt Hustvedt.
Battleship archives house letters and scrapbooks from the Hustvedt family. They have recently been scanned to become part of the Ship’s digital collection as part of a NC CARES: Humanities Relief Grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council.
Congratulations came from far and wide for the captain, including from Chief of Bureau of Navigation Chester Nimitz and Admiral Isaac Kidd, who was on the bridge when the ARIZONA was attacked at Pearl Harbor.
“My heartiest and warmest congratulations. Have been reading in the papers about the North Carolina; she must be a grand ship,” wrote Harold Train, Chief of Staff, Battle Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
It’s been 80 years since NORTH CAROLINA officially joined the Navy fleet. Come aboard and see her glory for yourself!
About the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA
The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is self-supporting, not tax supported, and relies primarily on admissions to tour the Ship, sales in the Ship’s Store, rentals, donations and investments. No funds for its administration and operation come from appropriations from governmental entities at the local, state or federal levels. Located at the junction of Highways 17/74/76/421 on the Cape Fear River, the Battleship is open daily. Visit www.BattleshipNC.com or follow us on Facebook.com/ncbb55, Twitter.com/battleshipnc and Instagram.com/battleshipnc for more information. The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is a historic site within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (www.NCCulture.com).
About the North Carolina Humanities Council
The North Carolina Humanities Council is a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Humanities Council supports through grants and public programs vital conversations that nurture the cultures and heritage of North Carolina. Learn more about the work of the North Carolina Humanities Council at www.nchumanities.org. Also on Facebook and Twitter.
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