Thanks to Eddy Meyers, ET2 USN, who forwarded this story from his Navy buddy, James Patrick "Pat" Malone, ET3 USN, who lives near Dallas.  Eddy served on the USS Snowden, DE246, from 1967-68 and was home ported in Philadelphia, where he saw the New Jersey re-commissioned for Viet Nam duty.  Pat served on the USS Agerholm, DD826, in the Viet Nam seas from 1966-68. The following story recently appeared on the Texas Parks and Wildlife site.

Dec. 18, 2009

Battleship Texas updates bring the past alive for visitors

AUSTIN, Texas — It fought in two world wars, saw action in Europe, Africa and the Pacific, traveled more than more than 728,000 miles, as far north as Iceland and as far south as Chile. It is the second longest-serving battleship ever commissioned by the U.S. Navy, in service from 1914 to 1948. Now, thanks in part to increased funds from the Texas Legislature, the Battleship TEXAS is getting an update that will make its long history more accessible and engaging for visitors.

On its final mission for the U.S. Navy, the TEXAS returned 4,267 U.S. troops from the Pacific theater to San Pedro, California in time for Christmas 1945. After its service in World War II had ended, the ship was presented to its namesake state, commissioned as the flagship of the Texas Navy and brought to a permanent home at Buffalo Bayou, minutes from downtown Houston and adjacent to the site of the Battle of San Jacinto, on the anniversary of the battle that won Texas’ independence in 1836.

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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department took possession of the ship in 1983. The following year, TPWD began an extensive renovation of the ship.

The latest suite of updates includes a complete redo of all the ship’s interpretive, way finding and safety signs-55 new interpretive labels located at significant points throughout the ship, about 14 larger interpretive exhibit panels in the port and starboard aircastles, orientation and welcome signs, assorted safety signs, new directional signs (maps) and a new interpretive brochure.

"If people arrive at a state park, whether it’s a natural area or a historic site, and they’re totally on their own, with no written or visual aids and no staff to explain things, they’re going to miss a huge part of the experience," said Phil Hewitt, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department State Parks Division interpretation and exhibits director.

"Turn that around, and invest in people and resources to tell the story, and you have an exponential increase in visitors ‘getting it,’" Hewitt said. "Interpretation makes the crucial difference for people to understand what’s special about a park, to learn about natural and cultural resources, and to just have a lot more fun while they’re there."

The new interpretation will explore the battleship’s place in America’s history-spanning the period from America’s emergence as a nascent world power to the end of the Second World War. The following sign, about the ship’s Main Battery, notes that when TEXAS was commissioned in 1914, the warship was the most powerful weapon afloat. TEXAS, one of only eight remaining battleships in the world, is a national historic landmark.