Battleship North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Built in 1941, this World War II battlewagon sank ships, shot down planes, bombarded beaches, and survived a torpedo hit. This floating museum was America's most decorated battleship of the Pacific Fleet, and now its superstructure may be the tallest edifice in low-rise Wilmington. Nearly everything on board is original, having been left behind by the U.S. Navy. Visitors are encouraged to touch everything on the ship and explore nine of its maze-like fifteen decks, winding through everything from the ice-cream parlor to the sailors' mass bathrooms. The North Carolina is 729 feet long and had a crew of 2,339.