Galveston for use as part of the American Undersea Warfare Center at Seawolf Park. The municipal park is a memorial to the Texans who died in World War II and is located on Pelican Island. Both vessels were placed, in their entirety, on land overlooking the city. Neglect Over the years, a lack of maintenance, the elements, and vandalism had left Stewart and Cavalla in extremely poor material condition with corrosion and missing equipment being the obvious issues. In 1996, the U.S. Navy was considering reclaiming Stewart and placing her in the care of the Carnegie Institute with the intention of moving the ship to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the condition that a metallurgical analysis found that the hull was in sufficient condition for her to be re-floated. In October 1998, the Galveston Parks Board announced its intention to scrap both vessels and turn Seawolf Park into an RV park. After a protracted public battle, the Parks Board allowed the Cavalla Historical Foundation to raise funds for the restoration and preservation of the vessels. Induction into the National Register of Historic Places On 11 November 2007, Stewart was officially inducted into the National Register of Historic Places in a formal ceremony held in conjunction with regular annual Veterans Day activities. Captain C.W. "Swede" Andersen, President of the Texas Navy Association, Dwayne Jones, Executive Director of the Galveston Historical Foundation, Lyda Ann Thomas, Mayor of Galveston, and a host of other dignitaries were present for the ceremony. Hurricane Ike On 13 September 2008, Stewart suffered extensive flooding and wind damage as a result of Hurricane Ike. While Hurricane Ike hit Galveston as a strong Category 2 storm, most of the damage resulted from the category 5-equivalent storm surge. Damage to both Cavalla and Stewart was extensive but restoration activities have brought both vessels back to daily maintenance level condition. See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Galveston County, Texas Effects of Hurricane Ike in Texas USS Slater - the last destroyer escort afloat in America, now a museum ship in Albany, NY. References External links Stewart's condition in 2003 USS Cavalla Historical Foundation HNSA Ship Page: USS Stewart All articles with dead external links Edsall-class destroyer escorts Ships built in Orange, Texas 1942 ships World War II frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States National Register of Historic Places in Galveston County, Texas Museum ships in Texas Museums in