USS NORTH CAROLINA
Why it's listed
Laid down on Navy Day, October 27, 1937, the battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55) was the first modern battleship built by the United States after World War I. Naval treaties limited its standard displacement to 35,000 tons and its beam, and it used welded construction on about thirty percent of the hull. Its main battery was changed from 14-inch to 16-inch guns after construction began. The ship was commissioned April 9, 1941, and took part in most major Pacific campaigns, including Guadalcanal in 1942 and Okinawa, and was awarded twelve battle stars. After the war it was saved from scrapping through the efforts of Governor Terry Sanford and Secretary of Commerce Luther Hodges. It was moored in Wilmington and dedicated on April 29, 1962, as a memorial to the men and women who served in World War II. Visitors can tour the weather decks, engine room, berthing compartments, and pilot house.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the ship is significant for its direct role in the Pacific naval war against Japan, for its precedent-setting design and new shipbuilding technology as the first modern American battleship after World War I, and as a memorial to the men and women who served in World War II. Its preservation and open-to-visitors condition is also presented as an outstanding example of a period warship.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 81000424, listed July 23, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cape Fear River, Wilmington |
|---|---|
| County | New Hanover County |
| Listed | July 23, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000424 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1937, 1940-1942 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Engineering |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and open to visitors in Wilmington since October 2, 1961; the document describes it as in excellent condition and essentially unaltered. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Within district | Wilmington Historic and Archeological District |
| Coordinates | 34.23637, -77.95403 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 81000424.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.