The first battleship declared to be a National Historical Landmark (in 1976) in the United States is the USS Texas (BB-35). Currently moored at San Jacinto State Park, USS Texas is also the first battleship memorial museum in the country. It is the last dreadnought-type battleship in existence.

The ship was constructed by Newport News in Virginia and launched on May 18, 1912. USS Texas was commissioned two years later on May 12, 1914, serving in patrols in the North Sea during World War I. When World War II broke in 1941, Texas became a battleship escort during the Atlantic campaign, where she later bombarded enemy strongholds in the beaches of North Africa and Normandy. In 1944, Texas transferred to the Pacific Theater and provided naval firepower support.

USS Texas retired with 5 battle stars and was decommissioned in 1948.