Ever wonder what it would be like to stand next to the towering Battleship New Jersey? We don’t mean standing on the dock next to it at the Camden Waterfront, we mean standing next to the behemoth of a ship – on land. 

Well, we have some good news. You can do just that starting next month. For the first time in over 30 years, the U.S.S. New Jersey will be taken out of the water for drydock maintenance. 

On Thursday, March 21, the ship will be towed south on the Delaware – passing under the Walt Whitman Bridge – all the way to Dry Dock #3 in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, where it will undergo repainting of the hull, inspections and other maintenance. The work is estimated to take approximately 8 weeks, and the organization hopes to have the Battleship back in Camden and open for tours in June. 

But the Battleship is leaving in style – with a special celebration featuring speakers, live music, food and vendors starting at 11 am (gates open at 10 am) on Thursday. The ship will depart at noon. And if you want a truly unique view for the trip, you can grab a ticket to cruise alongside the Battleship as it floats down the Delaware. 

Visitors are also invited to the Shipyard for tours every Saturday and Sunday during the drydock process starting in April, with a special tour led by curator Ryan Szimanski. Tickets start at $225. 

Information for the cruise and drydock tours is available here.