HULL PRESERVATION: PRESERVATION METHODS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE BATTLESHIP NORTH CAROLINA MEMORIAL WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

Abstract

The USS North Carolina (BB-55), was the most decorated battleship in the United States Navy during World War II. During its service, the USS North Carolina participated in every major action in the Pacific receiving fifteen battle stars. The ship was decommissioned in 1947 after only six years of service. It was then stricken from the Naval Vessel register in 1960 and was set to be sold for scrap. However, the residents of North Carolina, including thousands of school children, saved the ship from being scrapped and raised enough money to have it towed down the Cape Fear River to Wilmington, NC. It now serves as a memorial to the veterans of North Carolina who served in World War II.After sitting in its berth for decades, the ship began to experience hull deterioration. A project to repair the worst section of the hull (the starboard bow) finally took place in 2011. Now, several other sections need repair. Today, caretakers of USS North Carolina have recently finished installing a permanent cofferdam around the vessel. Repairs to several sections of the ship's hull are currently underway. Utilizing archaeological and cultural resource management approaches, this thesis will discuss the preservation issues that steel-hulled battleship museums face, focusing on the USS North Carolina, as well as the methods for restoring and maintaining the hulls of these ships. It will also analyze methods used to solve these preservation issues, which will allow for better preparation when dealing with similar issues that may arise in more recently converted battleship museums. This thesis will also seek to understand the relationship that battleship museums play in preserving cultural heritage.