Battleship New Jersey Announces Transformational $24.25 million Redevelopment Project
NJEDA-supported investment will create a new visitor center, add dedicated parking at Wiggins Marina, and fund $6+
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NJEDA-supported investment will create a new visitor center, add dedicated parking at Wiggins Marina, and fund $6+ million in critical shipboard improvements
CAMDEN, NJ, UNITED STATES, August 12, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial today announced a $24.25 million redevelopment project that will transform the visitor experience, address critical infrastructure needs aboard the historic ship, and strengthen its role as an anchor of the Camden waterfront.
The project is supported by $19.9 million in tax credits awarded through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Cultural Arts Facilities Expansion, or CAFÉ, program. It represents the largest capital investment in the Battleship since it opened as a museum and memorial in 2001.
The project includes an approximately $9.5 million landside visitor center, a $5.5 million parking structure at Wiggins Marina, and more than $6 million in improvements aboard the Battleship. Together, these investments will create a more accessible and welcoming arrival experience, expand educational and exhibition opportunities, strengthen earned-revenue potential, and complete major preservation and infrastructure work that would otherwise remain beyond the museum’s financial reach.
“After successfully preserving the Battleship’s physical future through her historic dry docking in 2024, our responsibility is to build an institution around her that can thrive for generations,” said Marshall Spevak, Chief Executive Officer of the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial. “This project will fundamentally change how visitors arrive, how they experience the ship, and how we sustain this national treasure over the long term. It is the culmination of years of planning and partnership, and it gives us the opportunity to match the greatness of the ship with the visitor experience she deserves.”
“As a Navy veteran, I know Battleship New Jersey stands as an enduring testament to the service and sacrifice of generations of Americans,” said New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill. “This investment will preserve that legacy and strengthen one of New Jersey’s most treasured historic destinations. It will also bring more visitors to Camden and create new activity along the waterfront, supporting the surrounding community. Future generations deserve the opportunity to experience this extraordinary ship and understand what it represents.”
“Under Governor Mikie Sherrill’s leadership, the CAFE program is helping to spur economic activity, drive foot-traffic into key corridors, and revitalize communities across the state,” said NJEDA CEO Evan Weiss. “The NJEDA is proud to support Battleship New Jersey’s improvement project, which will expand access to this historic icon for students, families, and visitors to hands-on educational experiences, ensuring it remains a community cultural hub for years to come.”
“For more than 25 years, I have been proud to stand with the Battleship New Jersey, beginning as one of the founding members who helped bring this historic ship home to the Camden waterfront,” said Congressman Donald Norcross, a Founding Trustee of the Battleship New Jersey. “The Battleship is a national treasure that preserves the service and sacrifice of generations of American sailors and Marines. This investment will ensure that students, veterans, and visitors from across the country can experience that history while strengthening education, tourism, and economic opportunity in Camden and throughout South Jersey.”
“The Battleship New Jersey is a living memorial to the Sailors, Marines, and in a broader sense, all veterans who have served the United States,” said Vincent Solomeno, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs. “This investment ensures that the Battleship’s rich history is preserved and interpreted. It strengthens the Battleship as a place where New Jersey’s veterans are honored, their families are welcomed, and future generations can better understand the meaning of service.”
“Camden County is proud to be a partner to the Battleship New Jersey in this project and in its continued growth as one of our region’s most important cultural and historic institutions,” said Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. “This investment will improve the visitor experience, support tourism, and strengthen the Battleship’s role as an anchor of the Camden waterfront. It is a significant investment not only in the ship, but in the future of Camden County and the entire region.”
“The Battleship is an unmistakable part of Camden’s identity and an enduring symbol of our city’s strength and resilience,” said Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen. “This project means new investment, new activity, and new opportunities along our waterfront. Most importantly, it ensures that Camden residents and visitors from around the world will continue to experience this historic ship right here in our city.”
“The Battleship New Jersey is an essential part of Camden’s identity and a powerful educational resource for students from the city and across our state,” said Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Assemblyman Bill Moen, Jr., and Assemblyman Bill Spearman of New Jersey’s 5th Legislative District in a joint statement. “By bringing history to life and connecting young people with the service and sacrifice of generations of Americans, the Battleship offers learning experiences that cannot be replicated in a classroom. This investment will strengthen a treasured Camden institution, expand its ability to educate New Jersey students, and ensure that the Battleship remains an anchor of the city’s waterfront for generations to come.”
For Battleship Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas Reilly Sr., the project also carries a deeply personal significance. Reilly’s father served aboard USS New Jersey during World War II.
“My father was one of the thousands of sailors who served aboard this ship, and I have always viewed our stewardship of the Battleship as a promise to them,” Reilly said. “We have an obligation not only to preserve the ship, but to tell the stories of the people who served aboard her with the care and permanence they deserve. This investment will allow us to honor that responsibility while preparing the Battleship to serve new generations of visitors.”
The project is expected to take approximately two years to complete. Construction is anticipated to begin mid-2027. Additional information about construction phasing, visitor access, and individual project components will be announced as plans are finalized.
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Marshall Spevak
Battleship New Jersey
info@battleshipnewjersey.org
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