This magnificent ship, the only remaining dreadnought battleship in the world to be preserved of her era, is now moored at the San Jacinto Memorial in LaPorte Texas and currently undergoing repairs. This painting portrays her in her prime while in her Atlantic flagship role, departing New York Harbor around 1939, paintwork spotless and brightwork shined. Much like her sister ship USS New York, USS Texas was, after her rebuild in 1926, slow, hard to handle, poor in rough weather, and deemed inappropriate for first line war service (referenced from Jane’s Fighting Ships 1935). Consequently both ships spent much time as training ships and relegated to Atlantic service.
Nevertheless, they both looked quite stunning in their pale gray peacetime livery.

An obscure fact about the museum: Sitting on display next to the wardroom silver is a model of a 17th century Dutch flagship. Her presence is testimony to an heroic act but also makes an unusual connection between USS Texas and the 1673 Battle of Texel.
The story: In May of 1915 USS Texas, along with some other battle ships, was in position off the northeastern United States when a Holland American Line passenger ship SS Rijndam was rammed by a fruit steamer, Joseph J. Cuneo, just off the coast of Nantucket. The American battleships came at once to the aid of the passenger ship, rescuing 230 passengers. In appreciation Holland America and the Dutch government presented both USS Texas and USS South Carolina with a pewter model of De Zeven Provincien.  De Zeven Provincien had been the flagship of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter during the battle of Texel in August of 1763, the last major engagement of the Anglo-Dutch Wars..

USS Texas is well-preserved and currently moored in LaPorte, Texas, where she is on hold for transfer to Galvston for additional repairs and a new home port.

Battleship Texas State Historic Park