Calendar
The Battleship New Jersey hosts many private and public events on the ship.
Check out what public events are coming up on our calendar.
Car Show on the Battleship, Saturday, April 22, 10am to 2pm
Plenty of spaces are still available in lot #1, across from the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion. To park in Lot #1 for the show, we are asking for a $20 donation per vehicle.
The Battleship New Jersey and the Independence Seaport Museum next Lecture as part of their yearlong Fleet Talk series will take place at the Battleship on Saturday, April 22 at 7pm.
The topic will be Evolution of US Battleships.
The presenter will be Ryan Szimanski, Curator of the Battleship, who will present the how battleships evolved throughout time in the US Navy.
American dreadnoughts evolved an incredible amount from USS Monitor, the first turreted armored warship, through the age of USS Olympia and the Great White Fleet, to USS New Jersey and beyond. This program is a look at the innovative design practices the Navy used as their all-big-gunned capital ships evolved over the course of the late 19th and 20th century taking the United States from third rate power to the most dominant Navy on the planet.
Ryan Szimanski has worked on museum ships for more than half his life. He has been the executive director of the Historic Naval Ships Association for the last two years and the vice president of curatorial and education affairs for Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial for more than five years. Previously he spent twelve years with Historic Ships in Baltimore starting as a tour guide and working up to managing the maintenance on one of their ships.
Arrive at 6pm and enjoy a Main Deck Tour of the Battleship. Light snacks, wine and beer will be available during the lecture, which will take place in the Officers’ Wardroom of the Battleship New Jersey.
Tickets are a $100 donation. To purchase tickets by phone, call
866-877-6262 x108
EVENING ENGINE ROOM GUIDED TOUR
Descend into the armored citadel of the ship for a 90-minute, family friendly, guided, walking tour of the most powerful engineering plant ever installed on a battleship. Learn how steam powered engines moved the massive ship at record breaking speeds and see the spaces crew members worked in. This hands-on walking tour is fun for all ages and allows guests to climb down seven stories into a fire room to see the huge boilers, an engine room to see the turbines and throttle wheels, and a one of the ship’s many steering positions.
$30 donation per adults.
Members: Register or sign-in above to receive your discounts.
For tickets, click
https://63691.blackbaudhosting.com/63691/page.aspx?pid=196&tab=2&txobjid=07e915f3-6a32-48ea-8d33-59c942d26632
Or call 866-877-6262 x108.
Thank you sponsors and ticket buyers!
The Adm. Halsey Awards Dinner is sold out. We appreciate the support of everyone who sponsored and bought a ticket to this event. All proceeds go to the on-going maintenance of the Battleship New Jersey, a non-profit museum and memorial.
Second Annual Admiral Halsey Awards Dinner will take place Thursday, May 11, 2023.
Featuring Master of Ceremonies ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio
Experience a captivating evening, beautiful views of the Philadelphia skyline, live music, with cocktails and dinner on the deck of The World’s Greatest Battleship. Join us as we celebrate leaders who show excellence in military, public service and business. The second annual Admiral Halsey Awards Dinner captures the spirit of Admiral William “Bull” Halsey, a native of the Garden State, who called the USS New Jersey his flagship during World War II.
The Battleship is excited to have commissioned Camden artist William Butler to create a unique artwork of his impression of the Battleship New Jersey. William has been working on the painting, which will be unveiled during the Battleship’s annual Adm. Halsey Awards Dinner on Thursday, May 11. People may bid to own this priceless piece of art during an online auction at
https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?vhost=FrKAV
Bidding will end at 8pm on May 23, the 80th anniversary of the Commissioning of the USS New Jersey into the US Navy.
Own this unique piece of art and help the Battleship. All proceeds from the bid for the art go to the on-going maintenance of the Battleship New Jersey, a non-profit museum and memorial.
EVENING TURRET II TOUR
Join a knowledgeable tour guide in a 90-minute, family friendly, walking tour that takes guests through the five stories of one of Battleship New Jersey’s massive 16″ gun turrets. Visitors will get to stand in the armored gun house where the gun captain oversaw reloading procedures, explore the magazines where 1-ton shells and thousands of powder bags were stored, and pull the triggers in the plotting room where primitive but effective computers aimed the guns over the horizon. This fun for all ages experience includes many hands-on elements that let’s guests see and feel what it was like for a World War II crew member to fire the ship’s guns.
$30 donation per person.
Members: Register or sign-in above to receive your discounts.
Click below to purchase online:
Turret II Tour
Or call 866-877-6262 x108
Big Guns Cornhole Tournament on the Battleship!
Saturday, May 13
Keystone State Cornhole Association will again hold a tournament on the decks of the Battleship! Food and bar service will be available.
Proceeds from each registration goes to the on-going support of the Battleship, a non-profit museum and memorial.
To register your cornhole team, visit
https://www.keystonestatecornhole.com/events-1/2023-big-guns-cornhole-tournament
Pull the trigger and fire a salute from the Battleship’s Saluting Gun on Saturday, May 13 from 12pm to 2pm.
Just a $50 donation to fire a salute!
Purchase your ticket at the Battleship Ticket Office
Or call 866-877-6262 x108
Other Saluting Gun Salutes dates will be:
- Saturday, May 27, 2023
- Saturday, June 10, 2023
- Saturday, June 24, 2023
ENGINE ROOM GUIDED TOUR
Descend into the armored citadel of the ship for a 90-minute, family friendly, guided, walking tour of the most powerful engineering plant ever installed on a battleship. Learn how steam powered engines moved the massive ship at record breaking speeds and see the spaces crew members worked in. This hands-on walking tour is fun for all ages and allows guests to climb down seven stories into a fire room to see the huge boilers, an engine room to see the turbines and throttle wheels, and a one of the ship’s many steering positions.
$30 donation per adults.
Members: Register or sign-in above to receive your discounts.
For tickets, click:
https://63691.blackbaudhosting.com/63691/page.aspx?pid=196&tab=2&txobjid=6550f3b9-f2fe-4c66-a1b9-71fa2e9c1f54
Or call 866-877-6262 x108.
EVENING ENGINE ROOM GUIDED TOUR
Descend into the armored citadel of the ship for a 90-minute, family friendly, guided, walking tour of the most powerful engineering plant ever installed on a battleship. Learn how steam powered engines moved the massive ship at record breaking speeds and see the spaces crew members worked in. This hands-on walking tour is fun for all ages and allows guests to climb down seven stories into a fire room to see the huge boilers, an engine room to see the turbines and throttle wheels, and a one of the ship’s many steering positions.
$30 donation per adults.
Members: Register or sign-in above to receive your discounts.
For tickets, call 866-877-6262 x108.
The International Churchill Society, Churchill Society of Pennsylvania, Chartwell Affinity Club of the Union League of Philadelphia, and the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial cordially invite you to our inaugural Winston Churchill Victory Gala on Saturday, May 20th at 6 PM, aboard the USS New Jersey.
Join us for an elegant and historic evening aboard America’s most decorated battleship! This momentous gala will commemorate and celebrate Sir Winston Churchill becoming Prime Minister in May of 1940 and declaring ‘Victory in Europe’ in May of 1945. Vice Admiral Michael Franken, USN, Retired, will provide the evening’s Keynote Remarks. Admiral Franken has a long, storied career of service, including being the very first commanding officer of the USS Winston S. Churchill.
Transport back in time aboard the iconic WWII-era Battleship New Jersey! Dress is black tie preferred (feel free to theme your attire around the popular styles of the 1920s–1940s; Churchill style bowler & top hats encouraged!).
Celebrate the 20th Century’s Greatest Statesman and his leadership that led to ultimate VICTORY while helping to support the preservation of the legendary Battleship New Jersey!
“You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: VICTORY!” – Sir Winston S. Churchill, May 1940
Ticket Price: $180 Per Person
Ticket includes red carpet reception, dinner, entertainment, deck tour of the Battleship NJ, Churchill-themed souvenir, prizes, surprises, a 1-year membership in the International Churchill Society & Churchill Society of Pennsylvania, and a special Battleship New Jersey Churchill cigar!
Special International Churchill Society/Churchill Society of PA Member Price: $150 per person
Special sponsorship opportunities and group ticket and table packages are available. Have questions? Contact the Churchill Society of Pennsylvania at: info@ChurchillPA.com
The battleship New Jersey is anchored on the Camden Waterfront on the Delaware River with the beautiful Philadelphia skyline as its backdrop.
Battleship New Jersey
62 Battleship Pl
Camden, NJ 08103
Special International Churchill Society/Churchill Society of PA Member Price: $150 per person
The Battleship will be the end point of the annual Heores Wreath Motorcycle Ride on Sunday, May 21 Several hundred bikes will park on the pier and landside. Riders will enjoy a self-guided tour of the Battleship, lunch catered by Mission BBQ and live music on the fantail.
Meet will be at the “Old” Philadelphia Police Academy, 8501 State Road, Philadelphia, PA at 9am. Ride will begin at 11am.
For more information or to register, visit
https://www.fallenheroeswreathprogram.org/
In conjunction with the Anniversary of the New Jersey’s Commissioning Ceremony on May 23, the Battleship will also unveil 22 new banners of Heroes who served or helped our military from our region. The new banners will be on display along the Battleship’s Promenade. A booklet with details on all of the Banner Honorees will be available for free in the Visitors Center.
The ceremony, which will take place on the fantail on Tuesday, May 23 at 11am, is free to attend.
The Heroes to be honored on the banners along the promenade include:
- Jedh Colby Barker, LCPL, USMC
- Richard H. Best, LT, US Navy
- Ronald L. Bon, CAPT., US Air Force
- May Brill, SK3, US Navy Waves
- Nelson V. Brittin, SFC US Army
- Peter Spencer Connor, S/SGT, USMC
- Samuel S. Coursen, 1LT, US Army
- Walter E. Demsey Jr., SF4, US Army
- Louis A. Ivey, Capt., MD, US Navy
- Elden H. Johnson, PVT, US Army
- Rosella Johnson, “ROSIE THE RIVETER”
- Douglas J. Katz, VADM, US Navy
- Edith M. Claypoole, “WENDY THE WELDER”
- Richard D. Milligan, RADM, US Navy
- Nicholas Minue, PVT, US Army
- Paul Reason, ADM, US Navy
- Carlton Robert Rouh, 1ST LT, USMC
- David B. McGuidan, CAPT, US Navy
- Raymond A. Spruance, ADM, US Navy
- Chaplain Charles J. Watters, MAJ, US Army
- Judith Tapper, GOLD STAR MOTHER, and David M. Tapper, PQ1 US Navy Seal
- Melinda Kane, GOLD STAR MOTHER, and Jeremy Kane, LCPL, USMC
A special thanks to Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 19 for sponsoring the banners
Thanks to Philadelphia Sign for printing the banners.
The past Heroes Banners that were flying along the Promenade have been moved to fly along Wiggins Marina.
A very special Thank You to all our honorees for their services to our county
USS New Jersey Commissioning Anniversary/Veteran Banners Unveiling
Tuesday, May 23, 11am
The Battleship will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Commissioning of the USS New Jersey and the unveiling of new banners honoring veterans from the region and the Battleship with a ceremony on Tuesday, May 23 at 11am.
The event will feature remarks from
- Author and historian Paul Stillwell,
- WWII USS New Jersey veteran William “Bill” Ryan,
- Capt Louis Ivey, USN (Ret), the first African-American Officer on the New Jersey,
- VADM Douglas Katz, Commanding Officer of the New Jersey from 1987-1989,
- Capt. Mark Easton, USN (Ret), crewmember on the New Jersey during the 1980s,
- Rear Adm. Samuel Cox, USN (Ret), former Commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). and current Director, Naval History and Heritage Command and Curator of the Navy.
Capt. Walter M. Urban, USN (Ret), will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Live performance of “God Bless America” by Maria Discuuillo, and the National Anthem and TAPS performed by the Battleship’s Bugler, volunteer Nan LaCorte.
This free ceremony will also feature veterans. live patriot music performance and even birthday cake as we celebrate the Battleship’s 80th year and honor veteran and supporters .