USS North Carolina
Spot spectral sailors and hear the sounds of ghostly war onboard this historic World War II ship
Paranormal Activity on
USS North Carolina
- Disembodied voices are heard
- Cold spots are encountered
- Motion sensors are triggered by unseen forces
- Visitors report being touched by unseen hands
- Unexplained knocks and bangs are heard around the sick bay
- Shadowy figures are seen in corridors
- Apparitions are sometimes spotted peering out of portholes
- Sounds of doors and hatches slamming can be heard at times
- Unexplained feelings are experienced in certain spaces
USS North Carolina:
History of US Navy’s Showboat
Unless you’re an old-world sailor, Cape Fear, North Carolina is likely not as frightful as its name suggests. The coastal headland was once a landmark of the treacherous Graveyard of the Atlantic waterway. It’s known now for its scenic ocean views, and as the home of the port city of Wilmington. Just outside Wilmington, on the shore of Cape Fear River, sits a historic memorial that may strike some fear into visitors: USS North Carolina.
The USS North Carolina is a World War II battleship that saw both great fanfare and deadly warfare. It carries plenty of memories, and a few scars, from its naval service.
Now a museum, permanently moored on Cape Fear River, USS North Carolina is one of the Wilmington area’s most popular attractions. Though the battleship’s guns have gone quiet, the ghosts of war are said to make their share of noise on board.
Ghost stories have floated around USS North Carolina’s hull since it first opened to the public. And after decades of reports and encounters, some wonder if USS North Carolina could be the East Coast’s spookiest old ship.
Timeline of USS North Carolina's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see USS North Carolina through the years
1937
The keel of USS North Carolina was first laid down in 1937. The project came in an era of peace, as the United States had avoided major armed conflict since the first World War. USS North Carolina was the first battleship project started in sixteen years, making the ship the focus of many news stories.
Throughout construction, the constant media attention earned the battleship the nickname, ‘The Showboat.’ But while the US Navy’s ‘Showboat’ project began in peacetime, by the time USS North Carolina launched, war would be on the horizon.
1941
Formally commissioned in April, 1941, USS North Carolina entered service in an uncertain world. War tore through Europe and the Pacific, and threatened to arrive on US shores. When the attack on Pearl Harbor came in December of that year, USS North Carolina was in service in the Atlantic Ocean. In June, 1942, the ship transitioned to Pacific service, where it would remain for the rest of the war.
USS North Carolina was a fast battleship, primarily operating as a bombardment ship. It targeted numerous Japanese islands as well as the mainland.
1947
Despite damage from a torpedo part-way through the war, USS North Carolina was known as a devastatingly effective warship. Over the course of World War II, USS North Carolina earned over a dozen battle stars, while only losing ten sailors throughout the war.
After the Allies won, USS North Carolina became a training ship for naval midshipmen for a short time. But, in 1947, the US Navy formally decommissioned the battleship into their reserve fleet.
1961
By the early 1960s, USS North Carolina’s retired hull was destined for scrap. But, after a fundraising effort from citizens of North Carolina, enough money was raised to preserve the vessel as a museum. The ship was towed to Wilmington and moored off Cape Fear River in 1961. The World War II memorial surrounding the battleship was dedicated in 1962.
The ship has been a treasured local landmark in Wilmington ever since. But though the battleship has left war behind, some wartime specters may still man their stations onboard USS North Carolina.
Is USS North Carolina Haunted?
One reported paranormal hotspot aboard USS North Carolina is the site of the World War II torpedo attack. Inside the ship, the torpedo exploded in a lower-deck washroom, killing several sailors. Now, those sailors are said to haunt the rebuilt washroom.
The washroom is not usually open for daytime tours, but ship staff and all-access tourists report strange encounters in the area.
Disembodied voices in and around the washroom are purportedly quite common. Additionally, explorers visiting the washroom sometimes report sudden and unexplainable cold spots. But, one of the area’s most well-known reports is of a blond haired apparition.
No one has confirmed the ghostly young man’s identity, but many figure he is a victim of the torpedo attack, forever lingering in the historic hull.
See Sailor Spirits on
This Haunted Warship
The blond man’s apparition is seen most often around the area of the torpedo attack. However, some visitors claim to see him wandering all through the ship’s interior.
The mysterious blond sailor is not the only spirit who is said to appear onboard USS North Carolina either.
Another vivid sailor apparition is sometimes seen from outside the ship. He may be watching tourists come and go through the lower deck portholes.
Many people still claim to see this watchful figure as they approach. Though, whenever anyone goes looking for him, they find empty rooms and unmanned windows.
Find Specters in the Sick Bay
The battleship’s preserved sick bay is said to be another haunted hotspot. Visiting ghost hunters sometimes report the sounds of beds creaking and banging around, as if patients are getting into and out of bed.
Other kinds of loud knocking and tapping sounds are also reported from the sick bay at times. In at least one instance, an investigator claimed to be touched by unseen hands while exploring the onboard infirmary.
Phantom Footsteps & Strange Shadows
USS North Carolina’s corridors are notorious for an array of unidentifiable silhouettes. These figures reportedly move up and down the halls and dart from room-to-room. Sometimes, these shadowy forms appear alongside the manifestation of phantom footsteps. Sounds of distant footsteps from empty areas of the ship are some of the most common claims onboard today.
And even when they aren’t paired with a mysterious shadow figure, the footsteps can purportedly be quite eerie. Visitors report the footsteps sometimes being loud enough to echo through the metallic hallways. At times, the footsteps manifest simultaneously with the sudden, loud sounds of slamming doors.
Visitors Record Ghosts on USS North Carolina
In recent years, USS North Carolina has greeted many ghost hunting groups and even some TV productions. This has allowed them to explore and document potential evidence of the ship’s paranormal claims.
In these investigations, ghost hunters claim to capture EVP recordings of the ship’s unexplainable sounds. Some purportedly snap photos and capture video recordings of potential apparitions as well. Unseen entities on the ship are also said to regularly trigger ghost hunters’ motion sensor devices.
USS North Carolina:
Spookiest Spot on Cape Fear
As a war memorial and museum, USS North Carolina stands as a proud historic monument on the riverbank beside Wilmington. It remains one of the most visited sites in the area today, with countless tourists coming and going each year. In addition to its tours, USS North Carolina hosts numerous special events and public programs throughout the year.
In the past, USS North Carolina has opened up to ghost hunting groups for private investigations and news media visits. Today, the ship’s hauntings are mentioned in their online FAQ. And, it’s noted that the ship is continuously popular with paranormal investigation groups.
To inquire about any potential ghost hunts or paranormal programs, you can contact the museum directly via their website. Alternatively, you can book a daytime tour or attend a regular program, and see what you might encounter onboard.
USS North Carolina hasn’t been an active battleship for generations, but the US Navy’s old ‘Showboat’ may still have some spooky sights to show you.
