- Attraction: Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial
- Location: 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103
- Industry: Museum
- Website: https://www.battleshipnewjersey.org/
Picture yourself standing on the deck of a warship that spans nearly three football fields.
The USS New Jersey isn’t just any vessel—she’s earned 19 battle stars and holds the title as America’s most decorated battleship.
Launched on December 7, 1942, exactly one year after Pearl Harbor, this Iowa-class battleship served with distinction in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and even the 1980s conflicts in Lebanon and the Persian Gulf.
After her final decommissioning in 1991, she found her permanent home on the Camden Waterfront in 2001, just two miles from where she was born at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
Today, this floating monument offers something you won’t find at most museums: complete freedom to explore an authentic piece of naval history from the inside out.
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Keep Exploring →What makes this experience remarkable is the sheer access you’ll have.
Unlike typical museum ships where you peek through plexiglass at roped-off areas, the New Jersey invites you to sit in Admiral Halsey’s command chair, stretch out on the bunks where sailors slept, climb into massive 16-inch gun turrets, and walk through spaces that once housed over 2,000 crew members during wartime operations.
Why This Battleship Tour Stands Out
Those Legendary 16-Inch Guns: The showstoppers here are the nine colossal 16-inch guns housed in three turrets. These monsters could fire 2,700-pound shells up to 23 miles away.
You can actually climb inside Turret II and descend five decks to the powder room, seeing firsthand how crews loaded those massive shells and powder bags.
The special Turret II guided tour even lets you pull the simulator trigger to experience what firing these behemoths felt like—a hands-on element that brings history roaring back to life.
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Discover MoreMiles of Self-Guided Exploration: Following color-coded tape lines throughout the ship, you’ll journey five levels up and two decks below the waterline. The self-guided routes give you freedom to linger wherever captures your attention.
Plan for at least three to four hours if you want to truly soak it all in, though passionate history buffs have been known to stay from opening until closing time.
The Engine Room Experience: Deep in the bowels of the ship, you’ll encounter the engineering spaces that powered this 45,000-ton giant to speeds of 33 knots. The machinery remains impressively intact, and walking through these spaces gives you a visceral sense of the heat, noise, and raw power that kept this warship moving.
Authentic Living Quarters: From the cramped enlisted berthing areas with their stacked bunks to the surprisingly spacious Captain’s In-Port Cabin, you’ll see exactly where sailors lived during months at sea.
The barbershop, laundry facilities, mess deck, library, and even the brig are all preserved and accessible. Kids especially love sitting in the barber’s chair and getting playfully locked in the ship’s jail cell.
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Keep Exploring →Combat Information Center: Step into a time capsule featuring the computer technology of the late 1980s. The CEC might look like retro sci-fi today, but it represents cutting-edge naval warfare technology from that era.
Meanwhile, the gunnery control for those massive main guns uses essentially the same systems from World War II—a fascinating contrast in military technology evolution.
The Helicopter & Observation Deck: Up on the main deck, you’ll find a helicopter on display along with stunning panoramic views of the Delaware River and Philadelphia skyline. The deck also showcases the enormous anchor chains—each individual link weighs 123 pounds, and there are 11,000 feet of chain for each anchor.
Special Guided Tours: Beyond the standard self-guided experience, specialty tours offer even deeper dives. The Fire Power Tour provides 90 minutes of guided exploration through weapons systems, the Admiral’s and Captain’s quarters, the navigational bridge, and wardroom.
For true enthusiasts, the Curator’s Tour led by Ryan Szimanski—the popular face of the battleship’s YouTube channel with over 270,000 subscribers—takes groups to hidden corners of the ship often featured in his videos.
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Discover MoreThe Museum Experience & Historical Exhibits
Educational Displays Throughout: Information boards are strategically positioned along the tour routes, providing context about what you’re seeing. The exhibits cover everything from daily life aboard ship to the New Jersey’s role in major naval battles. You’ll learn why this battleship earned its fearsome reputation and discover stories of the sailors who served aboard her.
The Evolution of Battleship Design: Near the end of the tour, you’ll find extensive exhibits documenting battleship development by the United States and other naval powers. The New Jersey and her Iowa-class sisters represent the final evolution of battleship design before aircraft carriers became the dominant force in naval warfare.
Interactive Elements Everywhere: This museum’s philosophy centers on hands-on learning. You won’t just read about naval history—you’ll physically experience it by climbing the same ladders, navigating the same narrow passages, and operating the same equipment that sailors used during decades of service.
Atmosphere & Experience
The Physical Challenge: Be prepared for a workout. You’ll climb steep ladders (that’s Navy-speak for stairs), duck through knee-knockers (high thresholds between compartments), and navigate tight passageways.
This authentic naval environment means the tour isn’t suitable for those with significant mobility issues, though the museum does offer a Main Deck Tour option that uses pier elevators for easier access.
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Keep Exploring →Temperature & Ventilation: The ship has ventilation systems but no air conditioning. Temperatures vary significantly throughout the vessel. Summer visits can get quite warm inside, especially in the lower decks. Dress in layers and bring water, as there aren’t vending machines aboard. The coolest areas tend to have the strongest musty odors—a reality of touring a historic warship.
The Scale is Staggering: At 887 feet long and 11 stories high, the New Jersey’s size overwhelms you from the moment you approach. Walking the decks really drives home just how massive these floating fortresses were. Seeing tiny details like the helicopter looking miniature on the vast deck helps put the scale in perspective.
Preservation Quality: Fresh from a 78-day dry-docking renovation in 2024, the ship is beautifully maintained. Most rooms along the tour routes are fully outfitted with period-appropriate furniture, tools, equipment, and personal items, creating an authentic time-travel experience rather than just empty spaces.
Other Considerations
Pricing & Value: Self-guided tour admission runs $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and children 12 and under, and $20 for veterans. Specialty guided tours like the Turret II Tour cost $40 for adults ($35 for veterans, children, and seniors).
While some visitors initially balk at the ticket prices, the consensus is overwhelming that you get excellent value considering the extensive access and hours of exploration available. This isn’t a quick walkthrough—it’s an all-day adventure if you let it be.
Parking Logistics: Onsite parking costs $15 for regular spots or $20 for VIP parking closer to the entrance. There’s no street parking in the immediate area, and Camden’s parking situation can be tricky. After visiting, be cautious with GPS navigation as it may route you through less-maintained neighborhoods—consider mapping your exit route in advance.
Family-Friendly But Not Toddler-Friendly: The museum appeals to visitors of all ages, but strollers aren’t permitted aboard. Parents must carry infants and very young children (front carriers required) and navigate those steep ladders while doing so—a genuine challenge.
Kids who can walk independently and handle stairs will have a blast, especially with interactive elements like Jason’s Kids Kompartment play area.
Food & Facilities: The Black Dragon Cafe in the landside Visitors Center serves sandwiches, wraps, snacks, and beverages (including beer) from 10am to 5pm. There are restrooms in the Visitors Center, and some facilities exist aboard ship, though you’ll want to use the shoreside facilities before boarding.
Best Times to Visit: The museum is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm (last boarding at 4pm), with a daily guided tour at noon. Weekdays tend to be less crowded than weekends. Avoid extremely hot summer days if possible, as the interior heat becomes uncomfortable. The ship typically closes only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Combine Your Visit: The Adventure Aquarium sits right next door, making it easy to spend a full day on the Camden Waterfront. You can also catch trolleys connecting to other Philadelphia-area attractions. The location offers excellent photo opportunities with the Philadelphia skyline as your backdrop.
Unique Overnight Experience: For scout troops, youth groups, and families seeking something truly memorable, overnight encampments let you sleep in authentic sailor bunks, eat in the mess deck, and experience life aboard a battleship from dinner to breakfast. These programs book up quickly.
The YouTube Connection: The museum operates an incredibly popular YouTube channel that’s become a phenomenon in the naval history community. Curator Ryan Szimanski’s engaging videos have introduced millions to the ship’s history and inner workings, creating an enthusiastic online community of battleship enthusiasts.
Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial
📍 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103
