On March 12th, 1914, the mighty Battleship Texas was commissioned at Norfolk Navy Yard, entering service as the most powerful weapon in the world at the time. She carried an impressive array of ten 14″/45 caliber guns – the largest guns on any ship of her era – capable of firing 1,400-pound shells loaded with over 100 pounds of high explosives up to 12 miles away.
Throughout her distinguished 34-year career in the United States Navy, the Battleship Texas served with honor in both World Wars, earning five battle stars during World War II. She fought valiantly in numerous major operations including North Africa, Normandy, Southern France, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Remarkably, throughout all her years of service, she lost only one crew member to enemy fire, demonstrating both her effectiveness in battle and the skill of her crew.
In 1948, this legendary vessel was donated to the State of Texas to serve as a museum and memorial, preserving her legacy for future generations. As her last captain, Charles Baker, poetically stated, “Her wars are over, she has won the right to rest peacefully in Texas waters.”