Trip ideas while visiting Evansville in Indiana
The USS LST-325 is the last fully operational WWII Landing Ship, Tank in existence, and it calls Evansville, Indiana home. Docked along the Ohio River at Riverfront Park, this 327-foot warship carries the weight of history in its hull, having participated in some of the most pivotal amphibious operations of World War II, including the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach. The ship is maintained by the USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc., a nonprofit organization that works to preserve the legacy of the Landing Ship Tank class and the men who served aboard them. Visiting this museum offers a rare opportunity to step aboard an authentic WWII vessel and feel the echo of history beneath your feet.
The ship was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1942 and commissioned in February 1943 under Lieutenant Ira Ehrensall. From its very first deployments, LST-325 was thrust into the heart of Allied operations in the Mediterranean, supporting the invasions of Gela in Sicily and Salerno in Italy. The vessel was designed to beach itself directly on shorelines, unloading tanks, trucks, and troops directly onto hostile beaches. Its flat, reinforced hull allowed it to navigate extremely shallow waters that conventional warships could not approach, making it indispensable for the kind of amphibious assaults that defined the European Theater.
On June 6, 1944, LST-325 was part of the largest armada in history, taking part in the Normandy Landings at Omaha Beach. On that historic first trip, the ship carried 59 vehicles, 30 officers, and 396 enlisted men directly into the chaos of D-Day. The ship’s deck logs record that on its very first return voyage from France to England, LST-325 transported 38 casualties back to a friendly port. Over the following nine months, the ship made more than 40 crossings of the English Channel, ferrying thousands of soldiers and vast quantities of equipment needed to sustain the Allied advance through France and into Germany. Two battle stars decorate the ship’s record for its WWII service.
After the war, LST-325 was decommissioned in 1946 and placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet before being transferred to the Hellenic Navy in 1964 under a grant-in-aid program. Renamed RHS Syros, the ship served with the Greek military for 35 years before being decommissioned in 1999. A group of American veterans then acquired the ship, sailed it back across the Atlantic, and in 2003, the vessel made a sentimental journey up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to Evansville. Over 35,000 people toured the ship during a 10-day stop in Evansville that year, a testament to the deep connection between the city and this historic vessel. Evansville became her permanent home port in 2005.
Walking the deck of LST-325 feels like stepping back in time, as the ship has been preserved inremarkable condition much as it was during active duty. The bridge, engine room, tank deck, crew quarters, and gun mounts all remain largely intact, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into life aboard a WWII warship. Guided tours, often led by veterans or extremely knowledgeable historians, walk visitors through the ship’s role in major operations, the living conditions of the crew, and the engineering that made LSTs so vital to Allied success. The ship is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a designation it received in 2009.
The best time to visit is during the spring and fall months from April through June and September through November, when weather is comfortable for walking the open decks and the Ohio River waterfront is at its most scenic. Summer brings larger crowds and the museum often participates in local festivals along the Evansville riverfront. Winter visits offer a quieter, more intimate experience with fewer visitors, though dressing warmly is essential as the ship is not fully heated. Admission fees support the nonprofit’s ongoing maintenance of this irreplaceable piece of naval history. Tour times vary by season, and it is advisable to check the official memorial website before visiting to confirm current hours and availability.