USS North Carolina celebrates 65th ‘Berthday’ in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The USS North Carolina is marking its 65th anniversary in Wilmington next month, celebrating the arrival of the historic battleship in the Port City in 1961.

The ship, which served in every major engagement in the South Pacific during World War II, was destined to be scrapped before a statewide fundraising campaign helped save it.

More than 700,000 North Carolina children contributed to the effort to preserve the battleship in the late 1950s and early 1960s, according to Jay Martin, executive director of Battleship North Carolina.

“As the battleship came up the river, many of the schools had let out so that kids could come in and see with their parents the battleship’s arrival,” Martin said.

The campaign also drew support from national leaders. President John F. Kennedy, who had served in the Navy during World War II, was among those who contributed to the effort.

Martin said Kennedy was the first admiral to donate money to the campaign, giving $250 with a personal check.

After the battleship was towed to Wilmington in 1961, it grew from a small tourist attraction into a memorial honoring North Carolinians who served in World War II.

The anniversary comes as Battleship North Carolina works to restore the ship, open previously inaccessible areas to visitors and prepare it for its next century.

“We’re working to restore the ship, open new spaces that have never been seen by the public before, and prepare her for her next hundred years,” Martin said.

As part of the anniversary events, the museum also plans to light the ship in red, white and blue in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.