“It usually took us (Electricians Mates with assistance from the ICmen, Gunners Mates, Bos’n Mates, Quartermasters) three days to rig & test this light display… 10,856 light bulbs total.
This is the award winning display that won us the “Best Large Surface Combatant” award for four out of our six year commissioning during the eighties. (MED Cruise in 87, lost to USS America in 84)
I served aboard from Dec.1983 to June 1989, was involved with each and every one of those displays.”
Martin A. (Marty) Palmiere EMC(SW) USN(ret.)
USS Iowa BB-61 ’83-’89
[Image and comment found here.]
Tacky Raccoons 
I knew a GM who was on there around that time. Good stories and a heck of a ship. I also miss the christmas lights and trimmings on the ships in December. Folks kids loved walking around checking it out
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These days the USS Iowa museum is on-line only (which means “closed”).
https://www.pacificbattleship.com/museum_visit/
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Thats a shame. battleships are interesting. I did rescue training on the USS Alabama
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A long time ago my dad rented a house on Dauphin Island for vacation. While there we took a tour of the Alabama (and the USS Drum). Fascinating stuff.
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