The ship fired the last 16-inch shell of World War II during the bombardment of Kamaishi, Japan, in August 1945.
During the 1942 Naval Battle of Casablanca, the ship engaged the unfinished French battleship Jean Bart, the only time it engaged another battleship in combat.
The ship's nickname is 'Big Mamie'.
It has never lost a crew member to enemy fire in its entire combat history.
The steel used to build the ship was repurposed from the scrapped hull of the cancelled battleship USS South Dakota.
During the Cold War, the ship was part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet before being saved from the scrap heap by a campaign led by Massachusetts schoolchildren.
The vessel weighs approximately 35,000 tons and carried a wartime crew complement of over 2,300 personnel.
The USS Massachusetts (BB-59) is a South Dakota-class battleship permanently moored as the centerpiece of Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts. Commissioned in 1942, the vessel participated in Operation Torch and served extensively in the Pacific Theater during World War II. It remains one of the few surviving U.S. battleships from that era, retaining much of its original wartime configuration. Visitors can traverse multiple levels of the ship, including the bridge, engine rooms, and crew quarters. The site functions as a non-profit maritime museum dedicated to naval history and education. The ship is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as the official state memorial for Massachusetts veterans. Unlike many other museum ships, the USS Massachusetts allows access to significant portions of the internal machinery and weapon systems.
The bow of the ship from the pier for scale, or the view from the top of the signal bridge looking down the length of the deck.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe footwear with good grip, as the ship features steep ladders, narrow hatches, and uneven steel decking.
Bring a flashlight to better explore the darker, deep-interior compartments like the engine rooms.
Layer your clothing, as internal temperatures on the ship can be significantly different from the weather on the docks.
Attempting to tour the ship in sandals, flip-flops, or dress shoes, which are hazardous on steep vertical ladders.
Operations are subject to seasonal shifts and potential closures during severe winter weather; always check the official calendar for holiday closures.
Maintain a respectful demeanor as the ship serves as a memorial to fallen veterans; follow all marked safety barriers and signage.
