mobile battleship tour

Set alongside Mobile Bay, the 175-acre Battleship Memorial Park lets you discover history that spans more than seven decades from World War II to Desert Storm. The Park is completely self-supported and serves as a memorial to all men and women, past and present, who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.

The highlight of the Park is the famed World War II Battleship USS ALABAMA (BB-60) which was commissioned in 1942 and served 37 months in action. The USS ALABAMA has a length of 680 feet and when fully loaded weighed in excess of 40,000 tons. The battleship's armament includes nine (9) 16"/45 caliber guns (contained in 3 separate turrets), twenty (20) 5"/38 caliber guns (10 mounts), forty-eight (48) 40mm guns (12 mounts) and fifty-two (52) 20mm guns. During service, each of the 16" guns could deliver a 2,700-pound shell up to 21 miles, and still hit a dime, and could unload 58,000 pounds of ammunition a minute.

The average USS ALABAMA crew was comprised of over 120 Officers and more than 2,200 Enlisted Men, of which 140 men manned each of the big gun turrets. During its 4-½ years of active duty, a total of 6,200 men served aboard the warship and only five of the highly trained crewmen lost their lives in combat situations, none to enemy fire.

Another key feature of the Park is the submarine USS DRUM (SS-228) which was launched in 1941. The USS DRUM is 311 feet in length and could dive to 400 feet when necessary. The average crew consisted of 7 Officers and 65 Enlisted Men. It's armament, which varied during World War II, includes one (1) 5"/25 caliber gun, one (1) 40mm single mount gun, one (1) 20mm twin mount gun and ten (10) 21" torpedo tubes (6 forward, 4 aft), fourteen (14) reloads, and a total of 24 torpedoes. The USS DRUM sank 15 enemy ships, ranking it eighth among all American submarines.

In 1964, the USS ALABAMA was brought home to rest in Mobile Bay and was subsequently moored in a specially constructed facility. The first 75 acres of the Park were created from the channel that was dug in order to get the ship into the Bay. The submarine was later added to the Park and opened to the public on July 4, 1969.

Subsequent additions to the Park include a collection of various aircraft from World War II (some Pre-WWII), the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Cold War. Among these are a B-52D Stratofortress and an A-12 Blackbird. Other military equipment included are an M4 Sherman Tank, an M26 Pershing Tank and a variety of other military vehicles and weaponry.

• Things to Do

USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park

• 2703 Battleship Pkwy., Mobile, AL 36602
• (251) 433-2703
• Toll-free: (800) 426-4929

Visit USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park and you will take a step back in time, embarking on an incredible journey into America's military past. Each step brings you closer to understanding how our veterans lived and worked. It's a unique experience never to be forgotten.

Living History Crew Drill

Veterans Day Celebration and Parade of Flags

Wine on the River Mobile

USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park

Explore the mighty WWII battleship USS ALABAMA, winner of nine battle stars, and the submarine USS DRUM, both are National Historic Landmarks Our aircraft pavilion is filled with over 30 historic planes and military vehicles including the Mach 3 A-12 Blackbird supersecret spy plane and newly restored B-25 Mitchell Bomber and Grumman Goose Mk II . Have your photo taken upon arrival or take excitement to a new level with our flight simulator or virtual reality experience! Our new restaurant Stevie's Kitchen USS ALABAMA is open daily with a full menu of delicious meals. We also have a gift shop, kennels for pets, picnic tables and a fishing pier. 

Getting There

Exits 27/30

• 2703 Battleship Parkway
• Mobile, AL 36602

Where to Stay

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USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park

The public is invited to tour the grounds and monuments, utilize the picnic area, fish from the fishing pier, and enjoy the bird observatory. The Gift Shop is open for retail sales. The Galley, our snack bar, is temporarily closed.

From the WWII Battleship USS ALABAMA to the Submarine USS DRUM and over 30 aircraft, the spirit of military pride is alive and well at Mobile’s USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park.

Spend less and do more by purchasing an All-in-One ticket. It’s your pass to experience a selection of the best attractions in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, all on one money-saving ticket. Choose between 1-day , 2-day , and 5-day passes. 

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Visiting the USS Alabama Battleship in Mobile, AL

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Until we visited the USS Alabama in Mobile, I had never been on a battleship before. And to be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to be all the interested in it. But on our way to Dauphin Island for Spring Break, we decided to make an afternoon stop at the USS Alabama, and I enjoyed it so much more than I expected. From marveling at the sheer giganticness of the ship and the close quarters men had to live in, to seeing planes and the submarine, we really had a great time!

If you are looking for things to do in Mobile, AL, visiting the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is a great option! Even if you have minimal interest in military-related things, there are still so many interesting things to see here, and it’s a really great family friendly activity in Mobile.

So here’s everything you need to know about visiting the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park — from what you can see to a few tips for your trip.

Where is the USS Alabama?

The USS Alabama is located in Mobile, Alabama at 2703 Battleship Parkway. This is just east of downtown Mobile in Mobile Bay, making this battleship easy to get to. It’s also easy to see if you are crossing the bay on I-10, so you’ll definitely know where you are going!

And it’s not just the battleship! Really this is an entire complex, with the battleship being the main attraction.

USS Alabama Cost and Hours

The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is open daily (except for Christmas) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last admission tickets being sold at 4:00 p.m.

General admission is $15 for adults and $6 for kids ages 6-11.

Check the USS Alabama website before you go of course, for possible updated hours or admission prices. (I certainly wouldn’t want to mislead you here if something changes and we don’t realize it!)

What to See at USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park doesn’t just have the battleship — there are all kinds of other military vehicles and historical items to see, from a submarine (my favorite!) to airplanes to tanks.

When you are visiting the USS Alabama, you can plan to spend anywhere from two to four hours there, depending on your level of interest. We spent a little less than two hours touring, and definitely could have spent more time. There were huge chunks of the battleship we didn’t even get to! But we were there pretty close to closing time and needed to move a little more quickly than we might have otherwise. (Plus, in all honesty, our kiddo was ready to move on after what had already been a full day on the road; and if you have kids, you know how that goes!)

USS Alabama

The USS Alabama battleship is obviously the main attraction here. “Mighty A” (a nickname for the USS Alabama) began as a WWII battleship, and was an essential part of the Pacific theater. In 1962, it was announced the USS Alabama would be scrapped, but Alabamians worked to instead install it as the centerpiece of a Veterans Memorial Park, which is where it is now.

Tours at the USS Alabama are self-guided, and there are three routes you can follow: Yellow, Green, and Red.

The Yellow Tour will take you through the main exhibits, officer’s quarters, and the outdoor gun turrets.

The Red Tour will focus a lot on the every day work of the crew, including the bakery, carpenter’s shop, barber shop, clothing stores and more.

The Green Tour focuses more on the military operations of the ship, including offices, the radio room, and the engine room as well as the sick bay.

You can do all three tours or just pick one depending on how much time you have.

The USS Drum is a submarine located in the park, and it’s actually the oldest US submarine on public display. Like the USS Alabama, the USS Drum was an important player in WWII.

The USS Drum is significantly smaller than the USS Alabama, so there is only one long hallway to follow. You’ll see torpedoes, the kitchens, quarters, offices…basically everything it took to keep the submarine running.

I found the submarine so fascinating! And considering how tight the quarters were, it’s crazy to think about large groups of full-grown men living there full time.

One thing to note: the USS Drum was definitely on the warm and stuffy side, so if you visit in warmer weather be prepared.

Aircraft Pavilion

The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park also has a big collection of wartime aircraft and other vehicles. A good number of them are housed inside, in the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion.

The collection includes WWII planes, planes flown by the Tuskegee Airmen, a restored Marine One, and an interesting spy plane. They really are so fascinating, and I had no idea so many different kind of military planes existed with so many different designs. Plus, this is a great place to cool down from the heat.

Outside Artillery, Planes, and Memorials

The outside areas of the park are full of things to see, too (which also makes this a great area for kids to run around).

Outside you’ll find planes, tanks, artillery, and more ranging from WW11 to Vietnam and Desert Storm. There really are some absolutely amazing things out here — we especially enjoyed the planes — and there are plenty of places for good photo ops (like standing underneath the airplane wings).

There are also several memorials you can see outside, including a Korean War Memorial, a Vietnam War Memorial, and a Fallen Guardian Memorial.

Tips for Visiting the USS Alabama

Here are a few tips to make your visit to the USS Alabama battleship go a little smoother:

• Where comfortable shoes. You’ll likely be doing a good amount of walking, so be prepared.
• Be prepared for stairs. If you want to go down into the ship, there are steep ladder-like stairs that must be climbed. There are good handrails, and even children will likely be able to do these with the help of a parent, but be prepared. Those with limited mobility, may be limited in what they can see. But there is always the top deck that is accessible for almost everyone (and there’s lots to see just there!)
• Wear seasonally appropriate clothing, especially in the summer. The ship, and especially the submarine, can get stuffy and warm.
• If you are traveling with your pet, they actually have on-site kennels that are free of charge where your pet can stay while you visit. A $10 deposit is required for the lock and key, but you will be refunded when you return them.

It you are traveling through Mobile, we definitely recommend visiting the USS Alabama Battleship. Whether you love military history or feel pretty lukewarm about (which, let’s be honest, is where I am), it is still such an interesting site. The scale of the ship and several of the other wartime vehicles is stunning, plus you get some great views of Mobile Bay. It’s definitely worth a stop!

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• USS ALABAMA BATTLESHIP
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• Park History
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• Stevie’s Kitchen USS ALABAMA
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Guided Tour

January 2 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm.

Experience the USS ALABAMA like never before with our guided tours this Snowbird season! Visitors will be able to enjoy a 90-minute tour as they board our WWII battleship. During this in-depth tour, our knowledgeable tour guides will take you back in time as you explore the main exhibit area, inside of turret no 1, Marine detachment, the ship’s post office, engine room, sick bay and so much more.

How to Reserve Your Spot: Guided tours are a first come, first serve basis and are included with general admission. Please arrive at the Ticket Office to begin the tour. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover the “Mighty A”!

To purchase general admission tickets, please click here .

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