The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Keeping the Battleship Open: Beach Music Festival

From June 8, 2011, Encore Online, Wilmington, NC.

The Battleship North Carolina, moored in Wilmington, NC, since 1961, is a self-supported museum, using no tax money.  All of its money comes from admissions, the gift shop and donations.  It is an expensive proposition.  Just painting the ship costs $200,000 and then there all the other costs involved with operations.

To keep it self-sustaining, all sorts of events take place on the ship or the surrounding grounds.  Of course, since it is a memorial to North Carolina's dead and veterans of World War II, there are some who say this not a fitting thing to happen, but the ship must go on.

Back in June of 2011, a Beach Music Festival was held at it.  Beach Music is a staple of North Carolina music, so it is fitting from tat stand point.  And, they had some mighty good Beach bands: Mark Roberts and the Breeze Band, Jim Quick and Coastline, the Band of Oz, the Tams, Chairmen of the Board and the Embers.

Gates opened at 10 AM, with the first band at 12:30 PM.  Visitors could park at the Cape Fear Community College for free with a shuttle to the battleship.  Tickets in advance were $18 and $22 at the gate.

I would have gladly paid to see those bands and a battleship, too.

Whatever It Takes.  --GreGen

No comments:

Post a Comment