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You need a Whole day to read and tour this massive battleship! You can buy same day ticket, there is a resto with mostly sandwich or snacks available. Restrooms are available inside the ship. It is the most decorated and longest! They have a parking space near costs $30. See images for reference.
Waited a long time to come here and it didnt disappoint! Great self guided tour with 3 different areas ti cover. Green, yellow and red. Highly recommended
This was an amazing museum to visit. A real piece of living history. An actual real world, in person, Iowa Class Battleship. I could feel the seventy years of history as I stepped on board. Battleships have always been of interest to me. So beautiful but so deadly. The Iowa Class battleships were the greatest battleships ever built by any nation. The four we built served us well in World War 2, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War. Sadly, the age of the battleship really ended with age of the aircraft carrier. This ship was fascinating to simply walk around on. You can take a guided tour but I opted to just walk around and explore the ship. Seeing the huge sixteen inch guns and seeing how they were loaded and fired was incredible. I could close my eyes and hear the sailors in their bunks, work stations and the main guns firing. This was a ship of war so the stairs, many hallways etc are not well suited for children or people with disabilities. I was there to see the ship and the Azur Lane convention on board and if you're familiar with Azur Lane, this battleship was a perfect host. The convention and the ship were worth every penny and the flight to Philadelphia. I highly recommend this museum if you are navel power history buff like I am.
The New Jersey recently returned from a 3 month dry dock visit to freshen her up. Last week, I visited her for inspection! Lol. Actually with this visit I have now been on 3 of the 4 Iowa's with only Wisconsin left. Parking here is $15 on a narrow street that leads to the ship. They really need to get a parking lot here. For $5 more they will let you park closer saving you about an extra 100 yard walk. There is a building where you can buy tickets, visit the head and peruse the gift shop. Not bad but I have seen better. As you board her the #2 16" turret is open and inside is very well maintained. There is a nice instructional video about firing the big guns and the space is well lit. Proceeding to the bow, I was impressed with the new wooden deck making it look factory fresh. There are 4 self guided tour routes throughout the ship. Red, Blue, Yellow and Green. The first two take about 40 minutes each and the last two are about 15 minutes each. I found the Big J to be in very good shape overall. The spaces below deck have many exhibits to view of life onboard. Just follow your colored line and you will see what they have to show. There are restrooms onboard too near the enlisted galley. Above the main deck you can climb all of the way up to the bridge including the enclosed and protected battle conn. The ladders are all safe and easy to hold on. Just always be mindful of your head. The main deck allows you to see the 3 16" turrets, 5" turrets and a few 40 mm and 20 mm AA guns. Also you can see Harpoon and Tomahawk launchers along with 2 CIWS. During my visit the fantail was covered with 2 big tents for some kind of special event taking place later so I couldn't see much back there. This ship does not appear to have any floatplane type of aircraft. My only complaint about the ship was that I found 2 small areas on the main deck that were in horrible shape regarding the deck condition. I took a pic of one area. The other non pictured area had weeds growing on it. Everything else onboard was spic n span. Another nice feature of this ship is periodically they will broadcast over the ships speakers announcements as if the ship is underway including announcing ships bells. I liked that unique touch! Across the river you can see the old cruiser Olympia and WW2 submarine Becuna on the Pennsylvania side. The Iowa's were the most attractive warships ever built. With its low silhouette and long length they are gorgeous and New Jersey represents the class well. Come visit the beautiful ship!
The ship looks better that it ever did when I served on board. This is due to an incredible group of volunteers who seem to work night and day to keep the ship outfitted at its best. Not only is the appearance superb, it is a living history of its service from World War II through the end of its last deployment. It had been almost 30 years since I last saw the ship the experience took my breath away. Just standing on the bridge one last time, thinking of being officer of the deck and going down river, brought back so many memories of shipmates now gone and the wonderful times we shared. The curator, Ryan Szimanski, it's without peer and his efforts to display the ship with as many spaces as possible open to the public are just fantastic. In addition, there are so many wonderful events, go once, and you'll be a regular for all the activities offered by this fantastic Iowa class battleship.
Has a ton of history and things to see! They have tours within the ship at certain times which was cool to see the behind the scenes things! Definitely would recommend for a fun activity or date! If you're in the area and want to try something different this is the place!
A lot of fun :) Plan to be there more than 2 hours to see the whole ship. Parking is $15 dollars cash.
This place is so interactive and every second you are learning something new and seeing all the wonders and aspects of the ship. Some of my favorite parts included the simulated audio and how it mimicked a drill for needing ammunition, how you can be self guided and choose which paths to go, with amazing guides to give you advice for which paths have what, and which you choose to do. Another really cool part was being INSIDE the turrets! Seeing all of the rooms makes you feel great sympathy and understanding of how life was on the USS New Jersey, some notable rooms were the medical wards, the ammo rack storage unit, Halsey theater and the main command control center.
The battleship is a unique experience. If you do not like walking or climbing this is not for you. The visitor ticket office was nice. They answered all of our questions and created a happy vibe. Once we left, we were greeted by greeter at the front which explained our next step on how to enter the ship. Once on the ship, we were greeted by 2 more greeters. They explained which colors to follow and how to begins the tour. The tour is done by Shopify, the man drags it out so we decided to explore on our own. As long as you followed the lines you won't get lost. Throughout the shop there are several tour guides to help and explain things. This was definitely worth the visit. Be sure to get the city pass, it makes it worthwhile.
The most decorated battleship in the history of the Navy that is now a floating museum practically in my own backyard?! Yes please. As a lover of history and museums in general, this is right up my alley. I've been here many times over the years with my young son, and even had my 20th high school reunion here a few years ago. First launched in 1942 and decommissioned in 1991, she is now docked permanently in Camden, NJ and serves as both a museum and memorial. You can do audio tours, or go with a tourguide, or just wander around on your own. The last time I went, there was a retired sailor in the Admiral's dining quarters who was able to answer all of my and my son's questions. There are so many levels and rooms to explore, and some really nice photo ops on the deck. There are different colored lines painted on the floor to follow around so you can make sure to see it all. Bring sturdy shoes because there is a lot of walking and A LOT of stairs. There's also a playroom for really little kids in case they need a break. The signs posted all over the shop offer a lot of information to take in. I don't have a military background and don't have any friends or family that served in the Navy, but I still find the whole thing fascinating whenever I come. They offer overnight encampments for scouts, church groups, families, etc, so I can't wait to sleep over someday with my son.
I came here on a Monday afternoon in late June 2022. I took the metro from Philly into New Jersey and walked all thr way to the Battleship - would NOT recommend it if it's hot or cold. For me, it was hot. I wish I had taken an Uber from Philly instead of getting lost for 30 minutes and taking another 45 minutes to finally get to the battleship. Don't make the same mistakes I did! This place was cover under the CityPass which was very convenient for me since I was planning to go to a bunch if Philly's other sites. One thing you MUST do before you go is download the audio guides BEFORE getting there. There was very little reception in that area and once you get below deck the reception was completely blocked. Such a shame because I love guided tours. Guide-led tours only happen on the weekend so those audio guides were all that were available to me. I've been to the other Battleships in California and Hawaii but this one was way better because it's bigger and more of it is opened to the public. In addition to the audio guided tour, there are 3 additional tours that lead further below deck to where the weapons, dining area, and the medical clinic. What's also interesting is that their toilets are actually running so there are plenty of toilets in operation if you need to go. Also, they have a play area for kids under 3 years old on the ship, which is super thoughtful of them.
Big Larry loves war stuff that serves as a reminder for ordinary folk not to kill people. We have not learned this lesson as a species but must keep trying. At least Larry bees thinkin' so. This battleship is worth seeing, but plan on a day here. Warning: low overheads. Wear a bike helmet! Seriously. There is so much to see, and Larry has been to many war memorials on many continents, but this one has so many nooks and crannies, and each one is filled with such history that you will need a long time to see and digest it all. If you can afford it, get a private docent tour, you will see parts of the ship and get a really in-depth understanding of its history and travails. Oh, and the further down you go towards the engine room, the hotter it gets. HOT. But fascinating stuff, though, the engine room, steering the UUGGGGE guns which, to the disappointment of the Larry, he was not allowed to fire once, even with his Eagle Scout creds. Dang it, another bucket list item left unfulfilled. They have an audio tour which is also good, but if you bring small kids, they will get fidgety climbing up and down the ladders. Larry found the huge Machine shop amazing, as well as the mechanisms they used to move the bombs around. The infirmary was cool and the kitchen and mess hall was epic. Climb onto the main gun turret on the deck if it is open and imagine sitting in that thing during battle. The courage of those sailors is simply unimaginable to Larry and he gots some serious imagination. Oh, and a shoutout to all the volunteers who do everything from painting to managing the 480 volt electrical system. Zap, anyone. Those people are amazing and they possess skills that are slowly vanishing in our instant everything culture. Larry likes the latter, but admires greatly the former. Keep it up people and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Signing off now.
PROS: this was the most impressive battleship I have ever been on. Everything was authentic, many rooms to tour, large decks and insides to view, every profession (barber, doctor, etc) rooms were displayed. Easy to navigate and the staff was friendly CONS: I think $30 is a high price for this. I know it's a good experience but it shouldn't be more than $20 a person. Also you have to pay for parking which is $10. The gift shop also didn't have prices on any of the food and drinks forcing me to ask for each price OVERALL: I think this was An amazing ship and I will definitely come back. I suggest if these prices are good with you, you should come too
It's an impressive ship - once the flagship of the US Navy fleet, especially during World War II. It's a living monument. The parking lot near the aquarium is just a 5-10 minute walk from here and as of this writing, only $10 to park for the whole day. If you're a military history nerd, or if you are fascinated by engineering, this ship is worth a tour. We had a Philadelphia City Pass, which allowed for us to do a self-guided tour, which was perfect for us managing three kids. The self-guided tour has a painted green line that you can follow and stop at different areas of interest. Some spaces are quite cramped, which gives you an appreciation for the thousands of sailors who were posted here over the decades. Inside the main part of the ship, there are many plaques highlighting major missions and theaters where the New Jersey played a major role. While I feel a way about us humans building monstrous machines with the purpose of destroying each other, I can't help but feel awe at this incredible feat of human engineering and logistics to keep such a floating citadel running. A great piece of history to experience. read more
29 days ago
Five stars for a battleship may sound like too many. It is, unless the battleship is the New Jersey. My son and I have taken to volunteering aboard her recently. We spend our time elbow-deep in blueprints, cataloging the skeleton of this steel leviathan. He comes home covered in dust and joy, which is all a father really wants. The crew of staff and volunteers on board are absurdly knowledgeable. They know every bolt, every rivet, every ghost story. They speak with the authority of engineers and the reverence of monks. This is not a floating pile of history. This is a cathedral to the twentieth century and to the people who tried to steer it. Walking her decks is like strolling through a very loud poem written in armor and oil. The museum does not sanitize or sentimentalize. It informs. It remembers. It honors. There are four different self-guided tour routes available, each with unique portions of the ship to explore. I suggest you take all 4 if you have the stamina and dexterity to navigate the ladders. If you are the sort of person who ever wondered how a nation flexes its will across oceans or how a young man from Nebraska could end up staring at the sky through a periscope hatch, the New Jersey is waiting for you. She is not quiet, even when at rest. read more
1 year ago
You need a Whole day to read and tour this massive battleship! You can buy same day ticket, there is a resto with mostly sandwich or snacks available. Restrooms are available inside the ship. It is the most decorated and longest! They have a parking space near costs $30. See images for reference. read more
This was an amazing museum to visit. A real piece of living history. An actual real world, in person, Iowa Class Battleship. I could feel the seventy years of history as I stepped on board. Battleships have always been of interest to me. So beautiful but so deadly. The Iowa Class battleships were the greatest battleships ever built by any nation. The four we built served us well in World War 2, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War. Sadly, the age of the battleship really ended with age of the aircraft carrier. This ship was fascinating to simply walk around on. You can take a guided tour but I opted to just walk around and explore the ship. Seeing the huge sixteen inch guns and seeing how they were loaded and fired was incredible. I could close my eyes and hear the sailors in their bunks, work stations and the main guns firing. This was a ship of war so the stairs, many hallways etc are not well suited for children or people with disabilities. I was there to see the ship and the Azur Lane convention on board and if you're familiar with Azur Lane, this battleship was a perfect host. The convention and the ship were worth every penny and the flight to Philadelphia. I highly recommend this museum if you are navel power history buff like I am. read more
The New Jersey recently returned from a 3 month dry dock visit to freshen her up. Last week, I visited her for inspection! Lol. Actually with this visit I have now been on 3 of the 4 Iowa's with only Wisconsin left. Parking here is $15 on a narrow street that leads to the ship. They really need to get a parking lot here. For $5 more they will let you park closer saving you about an extra 100 yard walk. There is a building where you can buy tickets, visit the head and peruse the gift shop. Not bad but I have seen better. As you board her the #2 16" turret is open and inside is very well maintained. There is a nice instructional video about firing the big guns and the space is well lit. Proceeding to the bow, I was impressed with the new wooden deck making it look factory fresh. There are 4 self guided tour routes throughout the ship. Red, Blue, Yellow and Green. The first two take about 40 minutes each and the last two are about 15 minutes each. I found the Big J to be in very good shape overall. The spaces below deck have many exhibits to view of life onboard. Just follow your colored line and you will see what they have to show. There are restrooms onboard too near the enlisted galley. Above the main deck you can climb all of the way up to the bridge including the enclosed and protected battle conn. The ladders are all safe and easy to hold on. Just always be mindful of your head. The main deck allows you to see the 3 16" turrets, 5" turrets and a few 40 mm and 20 mm AA guns. Also you can see Harpoon and Tomahawk launchers along with 2 CIWS. During my visit the fantail was covered with 2 big tents for some kind of special event taking place later so I couldn't see much back there. This ship does not appear to have any floatplane type of aircraft. My only complaint about the ship was that I found 2 small areas on the main deck that were in horrible shape regarding the deck condition. I took a pic of one area. The other non pictured area had weeds growing on it. Everything else onboard was spic n span. Another nice feature of this ship is periodically they will broadcast over the ships speakers announcements as if the ship is underway including announcing ships bells. I liked that unique touch! Across the river you can see the old cruiser Olympia and WW2 submarine Becuna on the Pennsylvania side. The Iowa's were the most attractive warships ever built. With its low silhouette and long length they are gorgeous and New Jersey represents the class well. Come visit the beautiful ship! read more
11 months ago
The ship looks better that it ever did when I served on board. This is due to an incredible group of volunteers who seem to work night and day to keep the ship outfitted at its best. Not only is the appearance superb, it is a living history of its service from World War II through the end of its last deployment. It had been almost 30 years since I last saw the ship the experience took my breath away. Just standing on the bridge one last time, thinking of being officer of the deck and going down river, brought back so many memories of shipmates now gone and the wonderful times we shared. The curator, Ryan Szimanski, it's without peer and his efforts to display the ship with as many spaces as possible open to the public are just fantastic. In addition, there are so many wonderful events, go once, and you'll be a regular for all the activities offered by this fantastic Iowa class battleship. read more
4 months ago
2 years ago
Has a ton of history and things to see! They have tours within the ship at certain times which was cool to see the behind the scenes things! Definitely would recommend for a fun activity or date! If you're in the area and want to try something different this is the place! read more
1 year ago
A lot of fun :) Plan to be there more than 2 hours to see the whole ship. Parking is $15 dollars cash. read more
11 months ago
This place is so interactive and every second you are learning something new and seeing all the wonders and aspects of the ship. Some of my favorite parts included the simulated audio and how it mimicked a drill for needing ammunition, how you can be self guided and choose which paths to go, with amazing guides to give you advice for which paths have what, and which you choose to do. Another really cool part was being INSIDE the turrets! Seeing all of the rooms makes you feel great sympathy and understanding of how life was on the USS New Jersey, some notable rooms were the medical wards, the ammo rack storage unit, Halsey theater and the main command control center. read more
The battleship is a unique experience. If you do not like walking or climbing this is not for you. The visitor ticket office was nice. They answered all of our questions and created a happy vibe. Once we left, we were greeted by greeter at the front which explained our next step on how to enter the ship. Once on the ship, we were greeted by 2 more greeters. They explained which colors to follow and how to begins the tour. The tour is done by Shopify, the man drags it out so we decided to explore on our own. As long as you followed the lines you won't get lost. Throughout the shop there are several tour guides to help and explain things. This was definitely worth the visit. Be sure to get the city pass, it makes it worthwhile. read more
The most decorated battleship in the history of the Navy that is now a floating museum practically in my own backyard?! Yes please. As a lover of history and museums in general, this is right up my alley. I've been here many times over the years with my young son, and even had my 20th high school reunion here a few years ago. First launched in 1942 and decommissioned in 1991, she is now docked permanently in Camden, NJ and serves as both a museum and memorial. You can do audio tours, or go with a tourguide, or just wander around on your own. The last time I went, there was a retired sailor in the Admiral's dining quarters who was able to answer all of my and my son's questions. There are so many levels and rooms to explore, and some really nice photo ops on the deck. There are different colored lines painted on the floor to follow around so you can make sure to see it all. Bring sturdy shoes because there is a lot of walking and A LOT of stairs. There's also a playroom for really little kids in case they need a break. The signs posted all over the shop offer a lot of information to take in. I don't have a military background and don't have any friends or family that served in the Navy, but I still find the whole thing fascinating whenever I come. They offer overnight encampments for scouts, church groups, families, etc, so I can't wait to sleep over someday with my son. read more
I came here on a Monday afternoon in late June 2022. I took the metro from Philly into New Jersey and walked all thr way to the Battleship - would NOT recommend it if it's hot or cold. For me, it was hot. I wish I had taken an Uber from Philly instead of getting lost for 30 minutes and taking another 45 minutes to finally get to the battleship. Don't make the same mistakes I did! This place was cover under the CityPass which was very convenient for me since I was planning to go to a bunch if Philly's other sites. One thing you MUST do before you go is download the audio guides BEFORE getting there. There was very little reception in that area and once you get below deck the reception was completely blocked. Such a shame because I love guided tours. Guide-led tours only happen on the weekend so those audio guides were all that were available to me. I've been to the other Battleships in California and Hawaii but this one was way better because it's bigger and more of it is opened to the public. In addition to the audio guided tour, there are 3 additional tours that lead further below deck to where the weapons, dining area, and the medical clinic. What's also interesting is that their toilets are actually running so there are plenty of toilets in operation if you need to go. Also, they have a play area for kids under 3 years old on the ship, which is super thoughtful of them. read more
Big Larry loves war stuff that serves as a reminder for ordinary folk not to kill people. We have not learned this lesson as a species but must keep trying. At least Larry bees thinkin' so. This battleship is worth seeing, but plan on a day here. Warning: low overheads. Wear a bike helmet! Seriously. There is so much to see, and Larry has been to many war memorials on many continents, but this one has so many nooks and crannies, and each one is filled with such history that you will need a long time to see and digest it all. If you can afford it, get a private docent tour, you will see parts of the ship and get a really in-depth understanding of its history and travails. Oh, and the further down you go towards the engine room, the hotter it gets. HOT. But fascinating stuff, though, the engine room, steering the UUGGGGE guns which, to the disappointment of the Larry, he was not allowed to fire once, even with his Eagle Scout creds. Dang it, another bucket list item left unfulfilled. They have an audio tour which is also good, but if you bring small kids, they will get fidgety climbing up and down the ladders. Larry found the huge Machine shop amazing, as well as the mechanisms they used to move the bombs around. The infirmary was cool and the kitchen and mess hall was epic. Climb onto the main gun turret on the deck if it is open and imagine sitting in that thing during battle. The courage of those sailors is simply unimaginable to Larry and he gots some serious imagination. Oh, and a shoutout to all the volunteers who do everything from painting to managing the 480 volt electrical system. Zap, anyone. Those people are amazing and they possess skills that are slowly vanishing in our instant everything culture. Larry likes the latter, but admires greatly the former. Keep it up people and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Signing off now. read more
3 years ago
PROS: this was the most impressive battleship I have ever been on. Everything was authentic, many rooms to tour, large decks and insides to view, every profession (barber, doctor, etc) rooms were displayed. Easy to navigate and the staff was friendly CONS: I think $30 is a high price for this. I know it's a good experience but it shouldn't be more than $20 a person. Also you have to pay for parking which is $10. The gift shop also didn't have prices on any of the food and drinks forcing me to ask for each price OVERALL: I think this was An amazing ship and I will definitely come back. I suggest if these prices are good with you, you should come too read more
Long overdue review. I visited Battleship New Jersey a little bit right before the pandemic. It was a pretty dope experience to tour the largest battleship ever built. This was the last battleship to serve the US military. This fought in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the gulf during the 1980s before it retired. And it was decommissioned in 1991. This is a full self guided tour that let's you see up close and personal our nation's military history. It is now a museum where they've tried their best to preserve the legacy of the battleship. And you get to see the entire ship, both upper and lower deck, for however long you want. Keep in mind that there are steep steps though! And lots of climbing. Don't miss out on this! read more
7 stars. Add on a star because it's in a little disrepair and needs our attention. But that's PRECISELY the cool part. Please donate if you can. Anyone who rated this less than 5 stars...shame on you. Currently, I imagine it as if you get to see the Black Dragon as our servicemen would have. There has been a little restoration and I personally think that adds to the badassedness. You honestly feel like a part of the crew. There are signs everywhere still telling you that switches are live. Cool. Inside the forward 16" turret is a painted mural of the Grim Reaper reading "Those Who Oppose Will Meet Me - Democracy At Any Cost." And to think some poor souls actually believe in socialism. Go see the Big J. Please make a donation. Please crawl all over as much as you can. Keep this piece of history alive. To all those maintaining this museum. We salute you. To all those who served on her decks. We salute you. To all those in the Navy serving. Thank you for your service. To all those in the Navy still out on patrol, thank you for giving all. Carry on. Rock. Sold. 8 stars. read more
9 years ago
We visited the USS New Jersey Jersey (BB-62) Iowa Class battleship and she is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named after the US State of New Jersey. New Jersey earned more battle stars for combat actions than the other three completed Iowa-class battleships and was the only US battleship providing gunfire support during the Vietnam War. I have to say she is still quite majestic and site to behold, built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and launched December 7, 1942 which was just a year after Pearl Harbor. Besides WWII, She had been also Commissioned for battle during Korea, Vietnam & to assist our Marines during the Lebanese Civil War. She was also part of President Reagan's 600 ship Navy. Eventually she was Decommissioned in 1991 and in 1999 she was Classed as a Category X and took her final voyage to Philly for restoration to become a museum and memorial, finally in 2001 she was moved to the Camden New Jersey waterfront where we are all able to visit her today. Which brings me to my visit and how I found myself walking a long a huge deck, following the signs showing me where I was on the ship, walking down what seemed like endlessly long corridors, through heavy hatches, climbing up steep ladders and down really narrow ladders, the galley, cramped berthing quarters, engine rooms, Officers Wardroom and the Bridge. Did I mention she has the most impressive set of guns I have ever seen? This beautiful Lady wasn't messing around!! she meant serious business when she was called upon- firing nine 16-inch guns reaching land targets nearly twenty-three miles away! She is nearly 3 football fields long and 11 stories high- Keeping our Sailors and all who needed her, safe. I have posted a few photos, I took TONS, but with the weather being so snarky right now, maybe wait until the weather gets a bit warmer in spring to take the family and check it out. Please remember it is also a memorial as well as a museum and if you are like me, I always drop serious coin at the museum shops. They offer tours, overnights for groups or hold a birthday party for your kids where they can ride the 4D Flight simulator and if you choose an overnight birthday, they can sleep in the bunks that the crew of the USS New Jersey once did and eat in the galley. Of course, if you were in the Navy (like my Mr.) You fondly remember-- those bunks -- yaaa good times right?!! plentyyyy of leg room!!! LOL read more
Have been here a few times and it never ceases to impress and amaze me! I know all about the how and why the ship can float but the fact that is does is still impressive. Sitting in the battle bridge, behind massive armor, is quite impressive. I cannot imagine what it would have been like during battle. The big reason for the ship, of course, was to allow the use of the nine 16 inch guns. Built in an era where battles at sea were common, the USS New Jersey has been upgraded over the years. Going inside one of the main turrets, which is huge, is quite an experience. As an Army artillery officer, I am interested in the whole operation and plan to come back for a turret tour. Being able to send a projectile almost 26 MILES to the target, with accuracy, is what it was all about. Artillery is called the King of Battle for good reason - even when it is on a ship. Well worth the time and expense to tour a true engineering marvel. read more
3 years ago
Oops. I forgot to check in while I was there. Touring this iconic marvel of the U.S. Navy's history was an awesome experience, and really should be experienced by all who have a chance to. However a word of advice or warning; strollers, handicapped or tall people (I'm only 5' 9", and I bumped my head on the bulkhead by the tomahawk cruise missiles) won't fare well on the tour. There are a few different tours that you can take: a guided tour, a self-guided tour (with or without audio guidance; hear explainations of the ship's functions + actual commentary by former Captains of her) and the turret 2 experience (unfortunately, this was not available today). I've taken too many pictures to post here. But, when I get the chance, I'll post a download link and you can get them all. But, you got up close to a lot of areas that, unless you served on a ship, you've only seen on T.V. And, with a bit of imagination, you went back in time. So, if I enjoyed it so much, why only a 4-star rating? Well, there are a few reasons; I used the audio tour, but several of the spots were either missing, or I just didn't see them e.g.: went from audio #2 to #5). Turret 2 tour was not available. And her wood decks, and some areas of deck plating and bulkheads were sadly deteriorated. On the property, there is a F/A-18 Flight Simulator, which was pretty cool too. However, this is a ride for 1 to 9 people (I was alone), and not where you do the flying. :-( I got to "experience" a carrier take off, firing AGMs and Sidewinder AIM missles, air refuelling and a carrier landing. While there were a few tense seconds here and there, it's not as bad as I thought it would be. As a matter of fact, I've been on a roller coaster that was more tummy-turning than this. read more
USS New Jersey, the second of the famous Iowa class battleships, is one of the last of her kind and served a storied naval career in 3 major conflicts (WWII, Korea and Vietnam). In modern times, the "Big J" was modernized with radar and missiles to serve in Ronald Reagan's 600 ship navy in the Mediterranean and later return to the Pacific. Her guns went silent in 1991 when she was decommissioned from active service and later ceded to her namesake state to become a museum ship in 2001. We'd come here over 10 years ago (long before Yelp) and I owed the NJ a return visit and a review. It's fitting that we came back on Veterans Day also. A lot of history is encompassed in her steel hull, from her birth at the Philadelphia Naval shipyard across the Delaware river to her present berth in Camden, NJ. From her triple 16" gun turrets that fired on beaches of Leyte Gulf to her modern Tomahawk missiles, New Jersey is a national monument to the sailors that fought for our freedoms for over 50 years. You can tour the ship on your own or have a knowledgeable docent to show you all the ins, outs, ups & downs of this 58,000 ton vessel. Along the guided path, you see the crews quarters, the luxurious Captain's cabin, Ward Room and and the gigantic Crews Mess that fed almost 2000 crew members 3 squares a day. Walking on the topside decks, it's like a time warp when you see the WWII era weapons like the 5" anti-aircraft gun turrets, right next to the high-tech Harpoon missiles, Phalanx CIWS and radar systems. You can also feel the history of the thousands of sailors that walked on the teak wood decks before you. You'll notice some of the teak decks are currently being renovated & replaced and look incredible. Just be careful as you go up & down the steep ladders and don't miss crawling into the tight confines of the aft 16" gun turret. New Jersey's 3 sisters all became museum ships as well, with Iowa in Los Angeles, CA, Missouri in Pearl Harbor, HI and Wisconsin in Norfolk, VA. Seems NJ was the only one to be homeported to her namesake. It is my intention to visit all the Iowa class sisters as well as their other steel battlewagon cousins throughout the USA. Watch for them here! read more
Until the arrival of Chris Christie, the most destructive representative of New Jersey was a sea-fearing vessel - the Iowa-class battleship that bore the state's name. Iowa-class battleships, of which there were only four produced, were a class of "fast" battleship ordered by the United States Navy to escort the Fast Carrier Task Forces that would operate in the Pacific Theater of World War II. One of the most decorated battleships in U.S. Navy history, USS New Jersey was active for nearly five decades and has the distinction of being the only US battleship providing gunfire support during the Vietnam War. Battleships had one purpose - inflict massive amounts of punishment. This ship is packed with guns, guns, and even more guns. But although the turrets and batteries will be the first things to catch your eye, it's what you'll find below deck that will really give you your money's worth. First and foremost, this self-guided tour is definitely not handicap friendly. Trail markers painted on the ground will lead you around the ship, but there are many narrow corridors and steep staircases in which to navigate. An elevator is there if you simply want to get onto the deck of the ship, but to really explore everything this ship has to offer, you'll need to be able-bodied. In select rooms, guides will be stationed to answer any questions or offer a bit of historical narrative. Many of the guides were active-duty servicemen and have lots of interesting stories to tell. On board, there's a full-fledged museum with many artifacts, exhibits, and informational tidbits. That includes a full photo gallery of all of the admirals and captains in the ship's history, full-size replicas of the shells fired from the cannons, and walls of letters from girlfriends, wives, and children from actual service members dating back to the 50s. It really is a great piece of history. At a gingerly pace, you can see everything on the tour route in about an hour and a half. But you're really free to explore the ship in an open-ended kind of way. You can start and finish wherever you please - the "trail markings" are merely a suggestion. Great panoramic views of Philly from the ship's deck are just an added bonus. read more
At first I was apprehensive to visit Battleship New Jersey with 3 kids in tow (6, 4, 1.5). They all had a blast! Sure, the littlest one needed help on those steps/ladders. There is plenty to see and touch. There has been a great effort to preserve the legacy of the ship. The display sections at the end are quite informative. You really feel like you're in 1980 in the computer room with the 5.5" floppy drives. There was no food served in the snack shop yesterday. Bathrooms were just okay, but had a changing station. It's hard to swallow $10 for parking next to the boxcar trains and rock piles. It's tempting to just park in the street outside the attraction. I would go again. Check if your library has free passes to rent (otherwise $21/adult). read more
8 years ago
Came here for the Battleship Brew Fest but took a very quick version of the tour beforehand. What amazed me was that there is so much history behind the ship. It has seen battle and many, many lives lived on this ship. It was interesting to think about how these men had to run around the ship at all times of day knowing where they were going and what they were doing all the while not running into pipes, walls, and anything else that is part of the ship. I couldn't imagine having to climb up or down the stairs with the speed that was required of them. I could also see how it would be very easy to get lost on the ship of the size. Standing under the cannons on the top deck is an experience simply for their size. The ship has a lot of history and throughout there are plaques and signs to explain things and provide direction. The ship, though I believe dry-docked, is still active so they ask that you not touch any buttons or levers. It was tangible history and I found it to be interesting. read more
I simple adore boats and ships, be they of any type or of any variety. The Battleship New Jersey (USS New Jersey BB-62) is one of the largest battleships (an Iowa Class) every built, from where Admiral Halsey commanded the 3rd Fleet and the most decorated of all U.S. Navy ships. Commissioned in 1943 the New Jersey served during World War II, in the Korean War, in Vietnam, the Lebanese Civil War and saw action in the Persian Gulf, not being decommissioned until 1991. When you board her, you pretty much have a free run of the ship. The setup and the displays are both impressive and inspiring. Just being aboard such a historic ship is a moment that will indelibly etch its way into your memory. read more
A MUST see. This tour is comprehensive including the history of the ship, the history of naval battle and of battleships, the lives of the men and women on board, and in depth look at all the operations and history of each component of the ship (navigation, armor, weaponry, communications). Nothing like it. The community that looks after this Battleship cares deeply about its history and its future and it shows on every part of the tour. read more
They say they will never build another battle ship. This was the last one to serve in the US Navy. This ship fought in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and in the Gulf. She was not retired until 1991. I came to visit on a misty day in the middle of the week recently so I had the ship almost to myself. Unfortunately the chow line was closed also due to the lack of visitors. I still had a great time going through this great ship. I had toured this ship years before and hope to return again someday. Maybe next time the chow line will be open. There is a lot to see on this ship. I spent half a day onboard. They really put in a lot of timed effort on all the exhibits. Quite a mix of the old and newer. Even if you are not a history buff I think you would find this a fascinating place to visit. There are not too many historic Naval ships like this where you can see so much if it. You can climb up into one of the large turrets and see the 16 inch guns and the massive 16 inch shells that could fire over 26 miles going up to 30,000 feet into the atmosphere. I was able to speak with one of the volunteers who served on the New Jersey and he described the jobs of those who sat in front of computer screens and radar where the Admiral's area used to be. Great views of Philadelphia and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge from the ship. read more
9 years ago
5 years ago
Great experience to see her! Lots of stairs, no flip flops or open toe shoes, they had a kitchen that served hot dogs on ship but they were cooked to almost nothing. The are has no places to eat so be prepared to pack a lunch or head over bridge to Philadelphia. The staff is helpful and we had hoped that more televisions were operating with videos around the ship but not a issue for us. We got to see the bunk my husband slept in when he served and the area he worked in. What a great way to show your children what it's like to be on a ship in the navy even if she is decommissioned and a museum. read more
I have known and followed the USS NJ from the West Coast through the Panama Canal, trek its present day birth since it arrived here in 01. It was very exciting watching online it being towed all those miles. This classic battleship was in-service from 1943 to 1991, quite a long tenure and what is the only battleship deployed to Vietnam. We toured the ship at our own leisurely pace and visited the captains & crews quarters, the ward rooms and walked around the various decks. We were also here for another event as well. The New Jersey craft beer festival was sponsored by the Garden State brewers guild. There were 50 independent Brewers represented here on the pier and upon the aft section of the ship. The crowds were at peak pace throughout the afternoon. Various bands/groups provided music as the beer pumped up the people. It was a fun event on a Beautiful-afternoon. Bathrooms were hard-to-find but with docent help, that was easily accomplished. . read more
This really is a hidden gem. Moved to Philly nearly 2 years now and haven't really gotten a chance to take in the sights and attractions. Now that we are adjusting to the new Covid normal, I decided to take advantage of the attractions in the area. This battleship has/is still being refurbished for the public to see. It's not as glitzy not glamorous as the carriers such as the Intrepid or Midway, nor should it. I feel that the tight passages and corners give this an authentic feel to truly get a grasp of the stories from this ship. read more
9 years ago
Being somewhat of a history buff I'm not sure why I haven't been here before. This a great place to visit and filled with our American history. The NJ served us in 3 wars before being decommissioned. Be prepared for some walking because we parked in the municipal lot on Delaware Avenue and it's maybe just less than a half mile walk to the ship. That and walking around the NJ's deck for an hour or more adds up; but all worth it. While walking around I realized sailors must have been mindful of all the hazards there were just being on board. Many a time you had to duck your head or walk around or over an object (pipe, vent, elec). to get around; yet in comparison to submarines it is expansive. As I walked around I marveled at the 70 + year old engineering that went into it. You had to get all the ventilation, plumbing, conduits, electrical, munitions storing and usage to fit and still allow access to every area for normal in boat transportation, maintenance, etc. Step back in time and share our heritage. Visit when you can. read more
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100 Clinton St
Camden, NJ 08103
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Ask the Community - Battleship New Jersey
Is there air conditioning in the battleship?
There is a ventilation system, but no air conditioning. Temperatures vary throughout out the ship. Unfortunately, the coolest areas have the strongest odors
Kid friendly for 3 year old?
Steep stairwells are a concern for any parent. Even if you carried your toddler, it would be tough. I would say no!
Review Highlights - Battleship New Jersey
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