Battleship Texas fundraising efforts hit the road, heading to Texas craft breweries

PHOTOS: The life of the Battleship Texas An ice sculpture shaped to look like the Battleship Texas was a focal point of the party for the battleship back in July. >>>See photos of the USS Texas through the years... less PHOTOS: The life of the Battleship Texas An ice sculpture shaped to look like the Battleship Texas was a focal point of the party for the battleship back in July. >>>See photos of the USS Texas ... more Photo: Craig Hlavaty Photo: Craig Hlavaty Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close Battleship Texas fundraising efforts hit the road, heading to Texas craft breweries 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

The efforts to help save the Battleship Texas, located just yards away from the San Jacinto Monument in La Porte, are hitting the road.

Fundraisers are scheduled for Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas craft breweries in the coming weeks with the proceeds going to fund The Battleship Texas Foundation's ongoing efforts to preserve the ship.

LIVING HISTORY: Spending a night aboard the Battleship Texas, the last of her kind

Bruce Bramlett, executive director of the Battleship Texas Foundation, said the current need is get her out of the water, build a dry dock, and develop a plan to put new steel on her to keep around for decades to come. About $70 million has already been invested in keeping her around but more is needed. It would cost another $30 million to scrap her.

On Saturday, Aug. 18, the East Austin brewery Friends and Allies Brewing will host a fundraising bash. Brewery co-founders Devon Ponds and Ben Sabin are both Houston natives and have vivid memories of touring the ship as kids, according to Austin360.

The party moves to San Antonio and the Alamo Beer Company on Sept 22., and the last event is scheduled for Oct. 13 at Revolver Brewing, located in Granbury southwest of Fort Worth and Dallas.

A DATE WITH DESTINY: The Battleship Texas played a big, booming part at D-Day

Last month a Saturday afternoon fundraiser at the Karbach Brewing Company raised $9,000 toward the historic warship's preservation. A petition signature is the only price of admission to the event, with shirts, hats, and other collectibles for sale on site.

In addition to monetary donations over 1,200 petition signatures were collected at Karbach to deliver to Governor Greg Abbott and Texas lawmakers to show them that Texans are invested in preserving the Texas.

DOWN SOUTH: La Porte shares photos from its early days

Bramlett told Chron.com in July that events like this remind Texans of how important the ship is.

The Battleship Texas was the most complex machine of its time when it was commissioned as a naval warship in 1914. It would serve in both world wars and is the last remaining big-gun battleship of its dreadnought class, sidestepping the scrapyard since it was given to the state of Texas in 1948, entering its new life at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site as a museum ship.

Ship supporters can also sign the petition online if they can't make it to brewery party.

Craig Hlavaty covers Houston history and pop-culture. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | craig.hlavaty@chron.com