Battleship Texas

Regarding “Battleship Texas opens to the public for last time before leaving Houston area,” (Dec. 3): I am overjoyed additional much-needed repair work will be performed on our state treasure, the Battleship Texas. When completed, it is my hope she will be returned to the location that has been her home since 1948, the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site.

Carol J. Rhodes, Texas City

The San Jacinto location of the Battleship Texas has never made any sense, either historically or financially. There is no historical relationship between a ship that fought on the seas in the 20th century and a land battle 50 miles from the sea in the 19th century. Putting that aside, one of the world’s greatest naval monuments has all this time been isolated from both the sea and a major seaside tourist destination. The potential number of visitors, as well as the resulting revenue, would be vastly greater in Galveston. The fact that this has not been a factor in the past is historically remarkable and financially inept. As to the idea of locating the ship in Beaumont, the question is simply: Since when was Beaumont a tourist destination? To maximize proximity to a large potential for visitors, a moderate-size city far from any large population center pales as a viable location compared to an island city adjacent to both the sea and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States

Stanley Santire, Houston

During its 73 years at the San Jacinto Battleground site, I have not seen a roadway sign anywhere in the Houston area advertising the existence of the battleship. Now the battleship commission wants to move the ship to a new location in order to make more money. In the

process they will spend millions to set up a new site. It sounds like the commission is made up of dreamers and not business people.

Jack Beckham, Deer Park