Hardhat Tours
Join us on a tour of the engine and machinery spaces of the USS Stewart! We are excited to offer guided tours of areas of our ships are normally closed to the public. Learn about how Destroyer Escorts operated while underway and see the working conditions of sailors from the World War 2 era.
Tour Schedule & Fees
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Scheduled tours will be offered on a first-come first served basis, Wednesday thru Sunday at 10:00am and 2:00pm.
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Tour fees are $45 per person and include: Flashlights and Guided tour of the Cavalla’s conning tower, The Stewart’s Flying Bridge, The Windlass Room, The Engine and Auxiliary Machine Spaces.
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Tickets must be purchased online 24hrs in advance.
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Limit 10 guests per tour
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Guests must be 14yrs of age or older and minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult/guardian.
What to Expect in the Sailor Experience:
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Climbing steep ladders between decks
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Navigating through narrow hatches
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Exploring different levels of the ship
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Wear closed-toe shoes; no baggy clothing, skirts, dresses, or jewelry that can snag
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Wear clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty
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Expect high temperatures in engine spaces due to limited ventilation and no AC
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Be aware of environmental hazards such as broken glass, loose flooring, and dust
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Participants should expect to be on their feet for 60 minutes.
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The tours are range from 90-120min
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Each participant must wear a hard hat, which will be provided by Galveston Naval Museum for use during the tour.
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Your reservation assigns you to a scheduled tour, and the departure and start times will be printed on your ticket. You must check in at the Galveston Naval Museum Ticket Trailer on the ground floor of the Galveston Naval Museum. The reservation is non-transferrable. If you miss your scheduled Hard Hat Tour, you will not be able to join another Hard Hat Tour.
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Tour participants must stay with a Galveston Naval Museum guide at all times. Unauthorized entry of areas off the guided tour will be considered trespassing. Violators will be subject to arrest and prosecution.
PREPARING FOR THE TOURS
Tours will be held regardless of the weather, and the buildings are not climate controlled. Participants must be properly dressed for weather conditions in Galveston, TX on the day of their tour. This may include rain, heat or wind. In extreme weather, the Galveston Park Board may close the island early or for the entire day, requiring cancellation of the tours.
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Wear closed-toe shoes; no baggy clothing, skirts, dresses, or jewelry that can snag
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Expect high temperatures in engine spaces due to limited ventilation and no AC
Building conditions and artifacts:
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Participants understand that they will enter unrestored compartments containing potential hazards including broken glass, uneven walking surfaces, dust, cracks and loose fixtures. Participants will exercise care to avoid all hazards.
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These unrestored compartments do not comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Participants must be able to climb stairs. We regret that visitors with wheelchairs or scooters are not permitted on the tour.
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Per Galveston Naval Museum regulations, removal or disturbance of historic artifacts on GNM is prohibited. Participants will not touch anything in the compartments unless specifically permitted by the GNM tour guide.
Photography:
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Still photography is allowed as long as it does not delay the tour, at the Galveston Naval Museum tour guide's discretion. Additional camera gear such as tripods, unipods and additional lighting is not permitted.
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For your safety, visitors are not allowed to take video while walking
