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This was one of the best experiences to see an historical ship. The best advice I can give be sure and take one of the tours. That was the most educational and informative tours ever. The former sailor shared stories of his time on the Wisconsin. Highly recommend visiting the Wisconsin.
This review is just for the winter time show when the ship is decorated with Christmas lights. It was unbelievable. There are over a million lights and it is voted as one of the best light shows in the US. You also have the chance to go below deck and see how they men lived on the ship when it was in service. You have to park at a parking deck across the street but it in fairly convenient. This is definitely worth your time if you are in the area while the lights are still on
I've been on several old ships turned museum. This was by far my least favorite. If you have been on an old battle ship it is worth a the experience. But it more of a money grab. There is a lot of stuff closed off to the public. Not much to see on the ship at all. $20+ per person and don't see much. The USS Alabama in Mobile my favorite. $10 per person. You get to see just about everything on the ship and interact with most of it. Plus there is an airplane and submarine museum as well
The boat was super cool! It was so big but definitely doable in a day. Great views from there as well.
Permission to come aboard I've visited the USS MISSOURI so why not come here? It was Christmas season when I toured and unfortunately I wasn't able to see it all lit up. It's still an impressive site. There's actually two museums. One being the boat and the other a building that not only talks about the USS WISCONSIN but also the history of the military. I'm going to concentrate on the boat review. First there are two types of tours, one self guided (limited) and the other escorted (more access). I took the self guided tour because that way I don't hold anyone up. It's big. I swear being a submariner these guys were spoiled. You surface people get fresh air. We get recycled farts. I'm just kidding.......alittle. I could spend hours here and I pretty much did. Seeing how this side of the Navy lived was a true delight. It makes you appreciate what some people did to fight for their beliefs and freedom of others. Overall five stars. You can get a quick glimpse of the Navy or spend your time looking at Navy ingenuity. Either way I'm sure you'll be impressed by the sacrifices the men and women took to make and run this boat. Lastly thank you veterans and active duty personel for your sacrifice, dedication, and courage to defend what we have. M
The last battleship ever built. USS Wisconsin was constructed in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, first commissioned into service on 16 April 1944 and served out the last 16 months of WWII shelling the beaches of Okinawa and the Japanese home islands before being decommissioned in 1948. She was recalled to duty in 1951 to serve in the Korean War and reactivated again in 1988 and served in the Persian Gulf War in 1991, firing off the first Tomahawk cruise missiles into Iraq. She was soon retired months after the war. In 2009, Wisconsin was transferred to the City of Norfolk and finally opened as a museum ship in 2012. A little known fact is that in 1956, Wisconsin had an accident at sea, colliding with the destroyer USS Eaton in dense fog and ripping off the lower part of her bow. Her sister ship, the incomplete battleship Kentucky at the time was cancelled, so her bow was transplanted and welded to Wisconsin, hence her nickname "WisKy". The Wisconsin Battleship Museum is part of the Nauticus complex at the downtown Norfolk waterfront, just upstream of her old active duty homeport at the Norfolk Naval Station. She was the last of the 4 Iowa-class battleships to be turned into a museum, so she is in pretty good condition. Her teak decks had been replaced in the late 80's reactivation and there is very little rust on her, surprisingly. She retains most of her original guns including the (9) 16" Mk 7 guns in her 3 armored turrets, (12) 5" Mk 12 guns in 6 turrets, as well as the (8) Tomahawk Armored box launchers from the 80's. However, 3/4 of her Harpoon launchers and all (4) Mk15 Phalanx CIWS had been removed to be reused elsewhere when she was mothballed. Our self-guided tour started at the bow up to the foc'scle (forecastle), up topside to the missile launcher decks, down 3 decks to the sailor living spaces and the officers quarters including the wardroom. One of the docents gave a talk about the 16" guns and the 1900 lb shells they fired. There are additional guided tours ($20) that go into the Pilot House, Captain's Quarters and below decks to the engine and machinery spaces. We skipped the additional tours because I was already pooped from climbing all those inclined ladders. Christmas is already in preparation on the Wisconsin with light nets installed all over her weather decks waiting for the signal to turn on. I just wish that we could have been there for that. For Norfolk, it's like lighting the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is for New York City. We completed the set of visiting the 4 Iowa sister battleships after seeing New Jersey in Camden, NJ, Missouri in Pearl Harbor, HI and Iowa in San Pedro, CA.
Took the day to explore this place and it was great. Devote at least a few hours to explore everything.
Great experience to walk and study on this magnificent battleship. So much service on USS Wisconsin. From WW2 all the way to Desert Storm. Self guided tour have access to 2 levels above and below the deck. If you are mobile, you can see everything and take a bunch of pictures in 1.5hr. Guided tour can go all the way up top. Which is worth it in my opinion, so you can have a better look and understanding of the ship. Museum and gift shop on the visitor building is very nice too. A lot history and there is giant battleship to play
We opted to do the guided tour. It was very informative and well worth the extra money! We were able to see places not viewable from general admissions. Our tour ran long so we didn't have time to explore the other parts of the ship but will be back!
Great place to learn about recycling and environmental saving ideas, and history. Like all open events and activities, make sure you book tickets in advance and plan your arrival during COVID. I felt very comfortable coming here. Everyone social distance and there were planets of sanitary station. Everyone is masked as well. Some exhibits are outsides. We get to watch some science experiments, pledge our no to use of plastic and save the earth. There is a cafeteria here if you're hungry. We didn't dine in as we're done with the tour and decided to lunch nearby.
How amazing is it to stand on the deck of a ship that was at Iwo Jima. The sheer history of this great ship is worth the time to visit if you are here. We went every where we could and I finally found the fire control rooms and was able to place my hands on the firing keys down below. How awesome to walk the places heroes walked.
Such a cool piece of history and impressive engineering feat right here stateside for visitors to appreciate! The ship is massive and you could honestly spend all day exploring the various books and crannies of the ship. It truly makes you appreciate the sacrifices our service members have made to keep us safe. By paying the entry fee, you get access to the Nauticus museum with lots of interactive exhibits and background information on the USS Wisconsin. You also get access to a majority of the ship to explore at your leisure. There are lots of steep stairs and small hallways under the ship, but there are also plenty of elderly/kid-friendly areas that don't require going up/down any stairs There are extra 1-hour guided tours available for a fee. We didn't have the time during this visit, but I would definitely recommend it to understand the history of the ship and see extra areas not otherwise accessible.
Words can't express how AWESOME it was to see the USS Wisconsin. My cruise ship is pulling away as I write this. I'm watching the Wisconsin fade away in the distance. The Nautiscus Museum and the Wisconsin are the same attraction.
We were in Norfolk for a short time on our cruise, and we docked right next to the USS Wisconsin. So we decided we would checkout this historic Navy battleship. The museum is full of historic information and articles to view. One of the coolest part of the experience is being able to board the USS Wisconsin, even for someone like me, a wheelchair user. I was able to tour the deck and check out many areas of the ship. The docents and museum personnel were friendly and knowledgeable when anyone had a question or wanted to know more of the history of "Old Whisky" I am a naval history buff and the chance to be able to get on a ship that helped the US in WWII, it was a treat. Whether you are visiting Norfolk for a long or short visit, put this historic Navy battleship! read more
Love passing this little backyard I have I live down the street and get to enjoy walking downtown and seeing the Wisconsin when families in town we do the winner fest on the Wisconsin. I've done yoga on there. I've had a party for girls on the run for a half marathon. read more
I've toured many battleships and this one was a bit too much a a free for all for me. What I mean is that there is typically a path to follow when touring the inside of a ship. In this ship you could go any which way you liked and it was easy to get lost and not know which way to go. What we did see was super cool and it was so crazy thinking about everything this ship has been through. The staff members were super nice and willing to answer questions. They were really knowledgeable. Parts of the ship were closed off from the public for various reasons such as air quality concerns. The ship was blanketed in Christmas lights and will be featured on the great Christmas Light Fight TV show next week. We are looking forward to seeing that as we only saw the ship in the daytime. read more
1 year ago
This was one of the best experiences to see an historical ship. The best advice I can give be sure and take one of the tours. That was the most educational and informative tours ever. The former sailor shared stories of his time on the Wisconsin. Highly recommend visiting the Wisconsin. read more
This review is just for the winter time show when the ship is decorated with Christmas lights. It was unbelievable. There are over a million lights and it is voted as one of the best light shows in the US. You also have the chance to go below deck and see how they men lived on the ship when it was in service. You have to park at a parking deck across the street but it in fairly convenient. This is definitely worth your time if you are in the area while the lights are still on read more
2 months ago
11 months ago
I've been on several old ships turned museum. This was by far my least favorite. If you have been on an old battle ship it is worth a the experience. But it more of a money grab. There is a lot of stuff closed off to the public. Not much to see on the ship at all. $20+ per person and don't see much. The USS Alabama in Mobile my favorite. $10 per person. You get to see just about everything on the ship and interact with most of it. Plus there is an airplane and submarine museum as well read more
2 years ago
Permission to come aboard I've visited the USS MISSOURI so why not come here? It was Christmas season when I toured and unfortunately I wasn't able to see it all lit up. It's still an impressive site. There's actually two museums. One being the boat and the other a building that not only talks about the USS WISCONSIN but also the history of the military. I'm going to concentrate on the boat review. First there are two types of tours, one self guided (limited) and the other escorted (more access). I took the self guided tour because that way I don't hold anyone up. It's big. I swear being a submariner these guys were spoiled. You surface people get fresh air. We get recycled farts. I'm just kidding.......alittle. I could spend hours here and I pretty much did. Seeing how this side of the Navy lived was a true delight. It makes you appreciate what some people did to fight for their beliefs and freedom of others. Overall five stars. You can get a quick glimpse of the Navy or spend your time looking at Navy ingenuity. Either way I'm sure you'll be impressed by the sacrifices the men and women took to make and run this boat. Lastly thank you veterans and active duty personel for your sacrifice, dedication, and courage to defend what we have. M read more
The last battleship ever built. USS Wisconsin was constructed in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, first commissioned into service on 16 April 1944 and served out the last 16 months of WWII shelling the beaches of Okinawa and the Japanese home islands before being decommissioned in 1948. She was recalled to duty in 1951 to serve in the Korean War and reactivated again in 1988 and served in the Persian Gulf War in 1991, firing off the first Tomahawk cruise missiles into Iraq. She was soon retired months after the war. In 2009, Wisconsin was transferred to the City of Norfolk and finally opened as a museum ship in 2012. A little known fact is that in 1956, Wisconsin had an accident at sea, colliding with the destroyer USS Eaton in dense fog and ripping off the lower part of her bow. Her sister ship, the incomplete battleship Kentucky at the time was cancelled, so her bow was transplanted and welded to Wisconsin, hence her nickname "WisKy". The Wisconsin Battleship Museum is part of the Nauticus complex at the downtown Norfolk waterfront, just upstream of her old active duty homeport at the Norfolk Naval Station. She was the last of the 4 Iowa-class battleships to be turned into a museum, so she is in pretty good condition. Her teak decks had been replaced in the late 80's reactivation and there is very little rust on her, surprisingly. She retains most of her original guns including the (9) 16" Mk 7 guns in her 3 armored turrets, (12) 5" Mk 12 guns in 6 turrets, as well as the (8) Tomahawk Armored box launchers from the 80's. However, 3/4 of her Harpoon launchers and all (4) Mk15 Phalanx CIWS had been removed to be reused elsewhere when she was mothballed. Our self-guided tour started at the bow up to the foc'scle (forecastle), up topside to the missile launcher decks, down 3 decks to the sailor living spaces and the officers quarters including the wardroom. One of the docents gave a talk about the 16" guns and the 1900 lb shells they fired. There are additional guided tours ($20) that go into the Pilot House, Captain's Quarters and below decks to the engine and machinery spaces. We skipped the additional tours because I was already pooped from climbing all those inclined ladders. Christmas is already in preparation on the Wisconsin with light nets installed all over her weather decks waiting for the signal to turn on. I just wish that we could have been there for that. For Norfolk, it's like lighting the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is for New York City. We completed the set of visiting the 4 Iowa sister battleships after seeing New Jersey in Camden, NJ, Missouri in Pearl Harbor, HI and Iowa in San Pedro, CA. read more
1 year ago
Took the day to explore this place and it was great. Devote at least a few hours to explore everything. read more
4 years ago
Great experience to walk and study on this magnificent battleship. So much service on USS Wisconsin. From WW2 all the way to Desert Storm. Self guided tour have access to 2 levels above and below the deck. If you are mobile, you can see everything and take a bunch of pictures in 1.5hr. Guided tour can go all the way up top. Which is worth it in my opinion, so you can have a better look and understanding of the ship. Museum and gift shop on the visitor building is very nice too. A lot history and there is giant battleship to play read more
We opted to do the guided tour. It was very informative and well worth the extra money! We were able to see places not viewable from general admissions. Our tour ran long so we didn't have time to explore the other parts of the ship but will be back! read more
5 years ago
Great place to learn about recycling and environmental saving ideas, and history. Like all open events and activities, make sure you book tickets in advance and plan your arrival during COVID. I felt very comfortable coming here. Everyone social distance and there were planets of sanitary station. Everyone is masked as well. Some exhibits are outsides. We get to watch some science experiments, pledge our no to use of plastic and save the earth. There is a cafeteria here if you're hungry. We didn't dine in as we're done with the tour and decided to lunch nearby. read more
2 years ago
How amazing is it to stand on the deck of a ship that was at Iwo Jima. The sheer history of this great ship is worth the time to visit if you are here. We went every where we could and I finally found the fire control rooms and was able to place my hands on the firing keys down below. How awesome to walk the places heroes walked. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Such a cool piece of history and impressive engineering feat right here stateside for visitors to appreciate! The ship is massive and you could honestly spend all day exploring the various books and crannies of the ship. It truly makes you appreciate the sacrifices our service members have made to keep us safe. By paying the entry fee, you get access to the Nauticus museum with lots of interactive exhibits and background information on the USS Wisconsin. You also get access to a majority of the ship to explore at your leisure. There are lots of steep stairs and small hallways under the ship, but there are also plenty of elderly/kid-friendly areas that don't require going up/down any stairs There are extra 1-hour guided tours available for a fee. We didn't have the time during this visit, but I would definitely recommend it to understand the history of the ship and see extra areas not otherwise accessible. read more
2 years ago
Words can't express how AWESOME it was to see the USS Wisconsin. My cruise ship is pulling away as I write this. I'm watching the Wisconsin fade away in the distance. The Nautiscus Museum and the Wisconsin are the same attraction. read more
Great place to learn about the fascinating naval history of Hampton Roads as well as the future advancements is the practical uses of drones! This place offers so much in the way of science and technology and how naval history has evolved! Take a deep dive and immerse yourself in this wonderful historical living museum!! read more
2 years ago
#1 tourist recommendation I have for you if you're visiting Norfolk. You have to pay for admission to the connected nautilus museum in order to get on the ship and it's a bit expensive ($16 per person, $1 off with AAA card). You can take or leave the nautilus, but the Wisky is super cool. Watch out: they only give you a map of the ship levels and called out points of interest, so if I were to do it again, I might consider a guided tour. You can mostly figure it out on your own but you might miss some of the rich history and fun facts. Battleships are no longer used in the navy and this is pretty special, especially those 16 inch guns! Just outside the ship and museum you can take the Cannonball Trail walking tour. Along the way, there are historical markers with fun facts. Go to the downtown Norfolk visitors center and ask for the map & pamphlet of that walking tour and you'll have a great time. read more
2 years ago
I stopped by the Battleship Wisconsin the night of illumination, Nov 21st, two Saturdays ago. I've never seen the ship dressed up so nicely as she is this year. Kudo's to the team of people who did that. The way the lights are the bridge of ship kinda looks like a green Pinocchio toy. The guns are also wrapped up like candy canes and they have projections of wreaths on the sides. There were lots of folks down there, most were socially observant however many also were not. Make sure you protect yourself. Not only was the ship looking great but next door over in Town Point all of the trees were wrapped in Christmas lights for Winterfest 2020. You have a month to see it all so go while you have a chance. read more
Excellent event space! Our office had a holiday get together there during the Winterfest onboard the USS Wisconsin. The friendly employees directed us throughout the entire tour. Plenty of hand sanitizing stations. I have to come back with my family during a non raining g day. read more
Today we went off the beaten path and arrived at this location. Berthed in Norfolk, the USS Wisconsin is one of the largest and last battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy. This ship supported operations in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. Recommissioned in 1988, the battleship served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm maintaining a significant presence in the Persian Gulf and dedicated to liberating Kuwait. Even with COVID, the battleship is well worth a visit - especially with the reduced pricing of $11 per person. So if you are in Norfolk, this ship is fun to explore and fun to think back on its history. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
6 years ago
This is such an amazing and well-kept piece of history! You can spend a lot of time on this ship, and there are so many awesome elements to explore. The construction and the technology are mind-boggling, and the docents know what they are talking about, so definitely ask questions! read more
2 years ago
8 years ago
Don't miss this AMERICAN TREASURE! Docents are great & very knowledgeable. We opted out of the Gold ticket due to time & that it was very hot Out. read more
13 years ago
I didn't take the tour of the ship or Nauticus but I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I'd like to take a tour inside sometime but I didn't feel it was worth the extra cost. There is, however, plenty to see around it and if you keep walking, there's a trail with a lot of historical notes along the way and statues and a great view of the dry dock along Norfolk's waterfront on the Elizabeth River. It's great for anyone interested in maritime history or if you just want to see a great big ship! I was definitely entertained. In celebration of Fleet Week Hampton Roads, Nauticus created a special 24-foot tribute wall entitled "A Note to Our Troops." That was cool to take part in! USS Wisconsin (BB-64), "Wisky" or "WisKy", is an Iowa-class battleship, the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. She was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and launched on 7 December 1943 (the second anniversary of the Pearl Harbor raid), sponsored by the wife of Governor of Wisconsin, Walter Goodland. During her career, Wisconsin served in the Pacific Theater of World War II, where she shelled Japanese fortifications and screened United States aircraft carriers as they conducted air raids against enemy positions. During the Korean War, Wisconsin shelled North Korean targets in support of United Nations and South Korean ground operations, after which she was decommissioned into the United States Navy reserve fleets, better known as the "mothball fleet". She was reactivated 1 August 1986 and modernized as part of the 600-ship Navy plan, and participated in Operation Desert Storm in January and February 1991. Wisconsin was last decommissioned in September 1991, having earned a total of six battle stars for service in World War II and Korea, as well as a Navy Unit Commendation for service during the January/February 1991 Gulf War. She currently functions as a museum ship operated by Nauticus, The National Maritime Center in Norfolk, Virginia. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
I was very pleased with this ship display because you can walk around and see what you want to see, or you can take a guided tour. Unlike most old ships that are on display, you get to see a lot of stuff on this ship. Plan on about 2-3 hours to see it all if you are just walking around. There is also a great museum attached so you can stay all day if you want. read more
5 years ago
We opted for the "Command and Control" guided tour and it was well worth it. You get to see parts of the ship and learn things that you simply wouldn't be able to experience otherwise. Our tour guide was Doug and he was simply fantastic! You can tell he truly has a passion for this and its contagious. I learned things from the very beginning to the very end. My 9 year old loved it as well and stayed within 2 feet of Doug the whole tour (he was hooked). Kudos to volunteers like Doug who make this possible and thanks again for the fantastic tour! Worth every penny and then some. read more
4 years ago
Only a handful of reviews? Why? America's old battleships are some of the coolest attractions going! Come on people! This is history. We could not build one of these right now even if we had to! I've toured all four Iowa-class battleships, and the Big Whiskey ranks second on that list. Missouri is the best because of the location and the massive history she holds. But, BB-64 is still a strong showing, and I'll tell you my favorite part is the view of the bow, which faces directly toward Norfolk. This view is unique because you cannot get that view of any of the other sister ships, which simply run parallel to their respective piers. If you're in Norfolk, and you want to see an attraction, I can't think of anything more worthwhile than visiting this ship. read more
5 years ago
Wow, what an amazing sight to see, walk on and tour. I paid the extra $20 and took the guided tour, and my goal its around 90 minutes and absolutely worth every penny. 100% recommend!! read more
4 years ago
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Norfolk, VA 23510
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