WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - Wilmington is marking the 50th anniversary of landing the battleship that carried North Carolina's name into battle during World War II.

The StarNews of Wilmington reports that Sunday marks 50 years since the battleship USS North Carolina was prodded by tugboats to its permanent berth opposite the city's downtown.

The floating historical monument reverted to its 1961 admission prices on Sunday by charging 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children.

Battleship North Carolina Memorial director Kim Robinson Sincox says more than 10 million visitors have paid to board the ship since 1961.

The state of North Carolina bought the ship from the Navy for $330,000. It was dedicated in 1962 as a memorial to North Carolinians of all services killed in World War II.

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