USS NORTH CAROLINA                            if you ever get a chance,       you must   visit  to the  USS NORTH CAROLINA             she is moored in the cape fear river , just across  from the city of  Wilmington North Carolina .                             She was mothballed after the war - never receiving up grades or post war modifications -            she is truly one  of the finest  living history museums / war  memorials   in the nation .                    You will   go below decks -   check out the big 18"  guns .....          You can even operate the elevation wheels on one of the  40 mm antiaircraft weapons .                                         If you are lucky  ,   you might get to meet LEO ,            one of the ships 'guides'                 this ' old salt ' was stationed on the North Carolina            from her  very first   ' shake down '  cruse ,    through   the end of the war .....          When  the ship was anchored along side the USS  Missouri  ,  in Tokyo bay  ................., witnessing the surrender of Japan  .                          He has more than  a few war stories to tell ,  and if your lucky ,..... he might  be  happy to share  some of them with you .                                                     The  big   ship is the closest thing you can get  to traveling back in time  .....                                    I consider the old battle wagon the ultimate collectable ....                          While she is  a bit too large to keep on your shelve ....  You can visit  her ,   just about any time you want to  !