The Historic Battleship Wisconsin Celebrates 79 Years of Service This Weekend
Norfolk, Va. (April 12, 2023) — This weekend, marks a special day for one of Norfolk’s icons, as the Battleship Wisconsin celebrates its 79th birthday. Since 1944, the USS Wisconsin has served as a testament to the strength of the United States Navy and in her honor, Nauticus has planned a special day of programming for the community.
Visitors are invited to board the iconic Wisconsin to explore newly interpreted spaces such as the print shop, valve shop, refrigeration decks and more. This will be the first time these historic spaces will be available for public viewing. This restoration was made possible thanks to the proceeds from Nauticus’ annual holiday experience, WinterFest on the Wisconsin.
“We have had a dedicated group of volunteers over the past few months that have been carefully preparing the new spaces for this historic day. We are inspired and excited by their work and look forward to opening these new spaces this weekend,” says Rehn West, Director of Development and Marketing at Nauticus.
In addition to new spaces, visitors can enjoy a performance on the fantail by the Metro Band, meet with BB-64 veterans to hear their accounts of life aboard the ship, and enjoy a bourbon tasting from Ironclad Distillery. For a detailed schedule of events, please visit https://nauticus.org/events/battleships-birthday/.
Where: Nauticus and Battleship Wisconsin at One Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA 23510
When: Saturday, April 15, 2022, from 10 AM to 5 PM
If you would like to cover the event, please email Catherine.boyle@norfolk.gov.
Cost: All general admission tickets are $15.95 for adults and $11.50 for children. Members are free. Paid admission includes access to the Nauticus museum, special programming, and the Battleship Wisconsin.
Information: Tickets and additional details are available online here.
About Nauticus
Nauticus is a maritime discovery center located along the waterfront in downtown, Norfolk, VA, offering a unique form of experiential learning for all ages. Through interactive exhibits and STEM to STERN programming, Nauticus uses the museum, Battleship Wisconsin, sailing center, and Schooner Virginia to tell the story of the maritime environment, industry, and the military. For more information, visit www.nauticus.org.