The basics:

• $24.25M redevelopment will transform Battleship New Jersey museum
• NJEDA awarded $19.8M in CAFE tax credits
• Plans include visitor center, parking structure, ship upgrades
• Construction expected to begin in 2027

A $24.25 million redevelopment project aims to transform and upgrade the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial on the Camden waterfront.

Announced Aug. 12, $19.8 million in tax credits awarded through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority‘s Cultural Arts Facilities Expansion (CAFÉ) program backs the work.

Planned updates include:

• $9.5 million landside visitor center
• $5.5 million parking structure at Wiggins Marina
• More than $6 million in improvements aboard the Battleship

The goal is to create a more accessible visitor experience; expand educational and exhibition opportunities; strengthen revenue potential; and complete major preservation and infrastructure work.

The project is the largest capital investment in the Battleship since it opened as a museum and memorial in 2001, according to Camden County.

“After successfully preserving the Battleship’s physical future through her historic dry docking in 2024, our responsibility is to build an institution around her that can thrive for generations,” said Marshall Spevak, CEO of the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial. “This project will fundamentally change how visitors arrive, how they experience the ship, and how we sustain this national treasure over the long term.”

Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and will take about two years to complete.

[O]ur responsibility is to build an institution around [Battleship New Jersey] that can thrive for generations.
– Marshall Spevak, CEO, Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial

Drawing a crowd

Located at 100 Clinton St. in Camden, the museum attracts about 80,000 visitors a year, according to the NJEDA.

The Authority’s CAFE program aims “to increase cultural arts activities, attract visitors, boost engagement with the arts in underserved communities, and revitalize downtowns by providing tax credits to build or renovate facilities, including aquariums, historical societies, libraries, galleries, and museums.”

The NJEDA added that the state’s arts and culture sector contributes billions in economic activity each year.

“Under Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s leadership, the CAFE program is helping to spur economic activity, drive foot-traffic into key corridors, and revitalize communities across the state,” said NJEDA CEO Evan Weiss. “The NJEDA is proud to support Battleship New Jersey’s improvement project, which will expand access to this historic icon for students, families, and visitors to hands-on educational experiences, ensuring it remains a community cultural hub for years to come.”

“As a Navy veteran, I know Battleship New Jersey stands as an enduring testament to the service and sacrifice of generations of Americans,” Sherrill said. “This investment will preserve that legacy and strengthen one of New Jersey’s most treasured historic destinations. It will also bring more visitors to Camden and create new activity along the waterfront, supporting the surrounding community.”