The Battleship Texas

In October 2009, John Escamilla and his family donated his father’s collection of books, models, model kits, and modeling tools to the Houston Maritime Museum. Included in this donation was a scale model of the hull of the Battleship Texas, BB-35. Though incomplete, this model is of high quality and was constructed out of teak from the deck of the actual warship. Despite the local connection and the significance of the Texas, HMM has never had a model of it on display. The completion of Escamilla’s project will be a tribute to the decades of work that he contributed to the museum.

Lorena Alvarez, Master Modeler on staff at HMM, will complete the model. She has previously restored a model of the Texas, so there is no doubt that the model is in competent hands.

The restoration of the Battleship has been put on hold due to funding restraints. The museum needs just $4,000 to complete the model. Several small donations will quickly help us reach this goal.

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The Houston Maritime Museum offers special thanks to the “Plank Owners” who have generously contributed to the completion of the Battleship Texas model:

  • The Family of Al Escamilla
  • William Robb
  • Dana Rodriguez
  • Charles Pitt
  • Jack & Sylvia Ross
  • Ed McGuire
  • Henry S. Prime
  • Burton Reckles
  • Tom Jameson
  • The Houston Pilots
  • Laurence Shallenberger
  • Bob Webbon
  • Harry Bounds
  • David H. Johnston
  • Gerald & Margaret Davis
  • Gulf Coast Historical Ship Modeler’s Society
  • Robert Michonski
  • Capt. J. Thomas Tray
  • Tom Johnson
  • K.R. Archer
  • Jurgen Schroder, Schroder Marine Services, Inc.
  • The Corvair Club