Good Submarine Museums

[ShadowOps]

I am planning my vacation for this summer and I want to check out one or (hopefully) more Museum Submarines. I have been doing my research but finding examples of them is difficult. So now I am here asking which ones have you been to and which was your favorite. The only thing is that I have to unfortunately keep this trip within the United States. I don't have the time or money to make this an international affair.

[Schroeder]

The Pampanito is in San Francisco.
http://www.maritime.org/pamphome.htm

...and I only saw it from far away.:damn::damn:

[McBeck]

The Pampanito is in San Francisco.
http://www.maritime.org/pamphome.htm

...and I only saw it from far away.:damn::damn:Been there twice - loved it. If you are lucky, it will have some of the actual subsimmers there to let you know how it was to serve.

[Armistead]

Patriots Point in Charleston SC is a great WW2 stop. The Yorktown carrier is a floating museum with about 20 warbirds. The ship models are amazing, hundreds of them. You could spend 2 days in it. I like sitting on the bridge and listening to the actual battles as they were heard.

The Clagamore sub is still there. I heard they were going to scrap it, but believe they have gotten funds since. Was a Balao converted to a Guppy.
Overall, it still needs a lot of work and you get limited access, not the best visit for a sub, but nice over all.

Also a WW2 DD there, somers class, but may still be in dry dock being redone, so check.

Why you're in Charleston you can check out the Hunley, civil war sub. Course Charleston being a historic town plenty of other things to see.

http://www.patriotspoint.org/

[razark]

This book may interest you if you are trying to find museum boats from WWII to look at. It tells a brief history of each of the boats:
http://www.amazon.com/Final-Patrol-Stories-World-Submarines/dp/0451219511/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293027927&sr=8-1

[TLAM Strike]

In Buffalo NY I know there is a WWII era fleet boat, destroyer and cruiser all with post war conversions.

I've never been but I want to go some day.

[Takao]

It would help to know where you are planning on staying(general area), how long are you planning on being in the US, and how much you want to spend on travel time.

AFAIK, this list is up-to-date concerning sub museums.
http://www.submarinemuseums.org/

As always, it is best to contact the museums you are planning on visiting, just to confirm their operating hours, some subs, such as the USS Ling, don't have "standard" hours, so it is a good idea to call before visiting.

"Battleship Cove" in Fall River, Mass. is definitely worth a visit and has several ships to see. Also, The USS Intrepid museum in NYC has several ships, including the USS Growler, a post-war cruise missile submarine.

[Growler]

USS Torsk, a Tench class boat that sank the last warships of WW2, is in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, along with USS Constellation, the last all-sail warship built by the USN, WHEC-37 Taney, the last warship still afloat that was in Hawaii on 7 Dec 41, and an example of both a screwpile lighthouse and a diesel-electric lightship (LV-116, marked "CHESAPEAKE"). Go on a Saturday morning to meet the gang from the Torsk volunteer association, some of whom actually served aboard Torsk while she was still in commission, and who continue to serve aboard today.

[August]

http://www.ussnautilus.org/

[Jimbuna]

You know something...you guys are royally spoilt for naval museums :sunny:

Unlike us poor Brits :oops:

[Growler]

Buna, the door's open here; anytime, mate. Just because my POS rig didn't handle GWX well (read: at all) doesn't mean that I've forgotten having the chance to test it before release.

[Jimbuna]

Buna, the door's open here; anytime, mate. Just because my POS rig didn't handle GWX well (read: at all) doesn't mean that I've forgotten having the chance to test it before release.

I'm sorry but I'm not quite understanding what you mean.

Probably me having a sober moment but if you could kindly explain? :hmmm:

[ShadowOps]

Thank you guys for all the suggestions, I will continue to look into this a bit more based on some of the places named below (or above depending on your settings)

@Takao I live in the United States and will be staying in an area depending on which area has the most to offer as far as naval museums are concerned. I live in Texas and I dont really want to take a trip really far up North because of the price of airfare. Also thank you for the advice, I will keep that in mind when I decide on one.

@TLAM Strike Do you know if you can enter the museums in Buffalo? So far that sounds the most interesting to me. I will look that up.

Also, just to get it cleared so no one mentions it, I have been to the following museums:

-USS Lexington (Corpus Cristi, TX)
-USS Midway (San Diego, CA)
-USS Texas (San Jacinto State Park, Houston, Texas)

I have looked into the Pampanito and Ling. I do however like the idea of going to see the USS Yorktown in Charleston. It has alot to offer, not just the carrier but the whole city and its one of the farther south museums meaning I wouldnt have to spend so much on travel, leaving me more time and money to enjoy myself.

The Torsk sounds interesting too. Heck they all sound interesting.

[TLAM Strike]

@TLAM Strike Do you know if you can enter the museums in Buffalo? So far that sounds the most interesting to me. I will look that up.

99% sure you can go aboard the three large ships there. I don't know if you can go aboard the Nasty they got parked on blocks there. There are also some funky aircraft at the museum, and a couple of tanks too.

http://www.buffalonavalpark.org/index.html

[Bubblehead Nuke]

I enjoyed the USS Albacore museum in Portsmouth, NH. Basically they hauled it out of the water and put it on blocks, then cut two large holes in it. Thing is pretty much as it was the last time she went to sea.

The U-505 museum in Chicago is nice as well.

[Gargamel]

99% sure you can go aboard the three large ships there. I don't know if you can go aboard the Nasty they got parked on blocks there. There are also some funky aircraft at the museum, and a couple of tanks too.

http://www.buffalonavalpark.org/index.html

Back in my Boy scout days, I actually spent a few nights on the ship.


USS COD in Cleveland:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=178059

[ShadowOps]

@TLAM Strike
I am beginning to lean towards that idea, sounds pretty interesting.

@Gargamel
I have looked into the USS Cod as well, I am still iffy on that.

@Bubblehead Nuke
I have heard alot of good things about the U-505 exhibit in Chicago. I am tempted by that one because it is the only (to my knowledge) U-Boat in America, but from what I hear its a rather short guided tour, I prefer to go at it at my own pace, but then again if it was up to me I would spend all day in there!:D

[Takao]

I don't know why I forgot to mention this site:
Historic Naval Ships Association. http://www.hnsa.org/index.htm
It has a listing of pretty much, if not all, US museum ships.
Map locater is here: http://www.hnsa.org/hnsamap.htm

Well, if you looking for a short hop from Texas, why not the USS Alabama & USS Drum in Mobile, Alabama? http://www.ussalabama.com/ Looks like you could easily spend the day there. If it is not that long a drive from where you are in Texas(BIG state, yeah I know), road trip and stop at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and visit the USS Kidd. http://www.usskidd.com/

Decisions, decisions, decisions....

[ShadowOps]

I don't know why I forgot to mention this site:
Historic Naval Ships Association. http://www.hnsa.org/index.htm
It has a listing of pretty much, if not all, US museum ships.
Map locater is here: http://www.hnsa.org/hnsamap.htm

Well, if you looking for a short hop from Texas, why not the USS Alabama & USS Drum in Mobile, Alabama? http://www.ussalabama.com/ Looks like you could easily spend the day there. If it is not that long a drive from where you are in Texas(BIG state, yeah I know), road trip and stop at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and visit the USS Kidd. http://www.usskidd.com/

Decisions, decisions, decisions....

Takao you have been (not to put down anyone else, all of the answers I looked over and did a quick google search on if a link was not provided. I found all of them helpful) the hands down most useful person to reply. Like I said I'm not trying to be rude to the others who took the time to respond but you nailed it spot on. I actually live closer to Mexico than I do the east border of Texas, which isn't saying much considering I live practically in the dead center of the state, so I should be able to take that detour to see the Kidd. Thank you very much, you have just made my vacation. I also have never been to Alabama or any other southern state really, so I look forward to that. Have a Merry Christmas. :DL:DL

[Growler]

I'm sorry but I'm not quite understanding what you mean.

Probably me having a sober moment but if you could kindly explain? :hmmm:

Heh. Might be my memory, perhaps; it's been two, maybe two and a half years since Herr Kapitan Lehmann asked me to participate in testing GWX 1.04. You, IIRC, were instrumental in helping me at least get it off the ground, before we determined that my then-POS computer wasn't going to be able to do much with it. It is to that help which I was referring.

[Tessa]

I have heard alot of good things about the U-505 exhibit in Chicago. I am tempted by that one because it is the only (to my knowledge) U-Boat in America, but from what I hear its a rather short guided tour, I prefer to go at it at my own pace, but then again if it was up to me I would spend all day in there!:D

The museum/exhibits are quite spartan like there. You would be hard pressed to occupy yourself for a whole day there, or the staff would start asking you to leave as they would start seeing you as a nuisance and clogging up the exhibit. It's really very simple, the u-boat itself is sitting on the dock and you walk through the entire length of the interior compartment.

From the nature itself of the boat being small it can be difficult at times to stay in one place for a prolonged period if you want to carefully inspect/photograph something. You'll get the full u-boat experience of constantly having to move/contort yourself so others can pass through. While that's cool in its own way as that's how life was like, it can start to become a major irritation getting asked to move aside every 5 minutes (or less) as visitors go through while you try to photograph something or make a close inspection of a certain section.

Don't remember when you said you might be going, if its anytime in the next 3 months you won't have that problem at all. Since the musuem is right on the docks of the lake it will be severly cold (Chicago is always known to be cold, but anyplace close to or adjacent to the lake is significantly colder) in which case as long as it isn't closed (in the case of a major snowstorm or monsoon rainfall) you'll probably have full roam of the boat. Went there myself while I was there once at the beginning of April and it was very cold there (Scottland in winter type cold if you've ever been there) and was one of maybe half a dozen people that went through it while we were there that day.

Plus there's a lot of cool stuff to do in Chicago anyways, the pizza there among many other things is legendary and a lot of cool places to see.

If by chance your retired Navy/Marines there are some other museums on North Island and Point Loma here in San Diego, but you need to have access to the base in order to see them - i.e. retired/reserve/active duty. They are open to the public in respect to anyone that has access to the base can see them, but the general public is not allowed to go see them (only way around it is to go with something that is retired and be "their brother for the day" which would get you inside)

[Jimbuna]

Heh. Might be my memory, perhaps; it's been two, maybe two and a half years since Herr Kapitan Lehmann asked me to participate in testing GWX 1.04. You, IIRC, were instrumental in helping me at least get it off the ground, before we determined that my then-POS computer wasn't going to be able to do much with it. It is to that help which I was referring.

Ah, right....you got me there :DL

[ShadowOps]

The museum/exhibits are quite spartan like there. You would be hard pressed to occupy yourself for a whole day there, or the staff would start asking you to leave as they would start seeing you as a nuisance and clogging up the exhibit. It's really very simple, the u-boat itself is sitting on the dock and you walk through the entire length of the interior compartment.

From the nature itself of the boat being small it can be difficult at times to stay in one place for a prolonged period if you want to carefully inspect/photograph something. You'll get the full u-boat experience of constantly having to move/contort yourself so others can pass through. While that's cool in its own way as that's how life was like, it can start to become a major irritation getting asked to move aside every 5 minutes (or less) as visitors go through while you try to photograph something or make a close inspection of a certain section.

Don't remember when you said you might be going, if its anytime in the next 3 months you won't have that problem at all. Since the musuem is right on the docks of the lake it will be severly cold (Chicago is always known to be cold, but anyplace close to or adjacent to the lake is significantly colder) in which case as long as it isn't closed (in the case of a major snowstorm or monsoon rainfall) you'll probably have full roam of the boat. Went there myself while I was there once at the beginning of April and it was very cold there (Scottland in winter type cold if you've ever been there) and was one of maybe half a dozen people that went through it while we were there that day.

Plus there's a lot of cool stuff to do in Chicago anyways, the pizza there among many other things is legendary and a lot of cool places to see.

If by chance your retired Navy/Marines there are some other museums on North Island and Point Loma here in San Diego, but you need to have access to the base in order to see them - i.e. retired/reserve/active duty. They are open to the public in respect to anyone that has access to the base can see them, but the general public is not allowed to go see them (only way around it is to go with something that is retired and be "their brother for the day" which would get you inside)

Yeah thats what I had thought about the U-505. I do want to see it but it would be difficult to stay in there for a long period of time. Plus I have checked the Chicago Museum of Science's website and it says that the U-505 exhibit costs an additional fee to go inside. Even though I REALLY want to see it, I am going to have to pass on that idea for now. I do want to visit Chicago too but I am afraid I will pass on that this year.

[bobchase]

I am planning my vacation for this summer and I want to check out one or (hopefully) more Museum Submarines. I have been doing my research but finding examples of them is difficult. So now I am here asking which ones have you been to and which was your favorite. The only thing is that I have to unfortunately keep this trip within the United States. I don't have the time or money to make this an international affair.

Seeing that you are Texican like me, you might want to drive east to Alabama where the USS Alabama and the submarine USS Drum are on display, as well as 22 aircraft.

If you go up to Buffalo, then try to schedule your visit so that the brig Niagara is in port. Her museum is in Eire PA, just down the road from buffalo. She is still a sailing vessel, so she is in and out of port all summer. Of course, you could sign up for a barefoot cruise and learn the ropes - literally. http://flagshipniagara.org/flagship_niagara/day-sail_expeditions/index.htm

Hope you have a wonderful adventure

Bob Chase
Pearland, TX

[ShadowOps]

Seeing that you are Texican like me, you might want to drive east to Alabama where the USS Alabama and the submarine USS Drum are on display, as well as 22 aircraft.

If you go up to Buffalo, then try to schedule your visit so that the brig Niagara is in port. Her museum is in Eire PA, just down the road from buffalo. She is still a sailing vessel, so she is in and out of port all summer. Of course, you could sign up for a barefoot cruise and learn the ropes - literally. http://flagshipniagara.org/flagship_niagara/day-sail_expeditions/index.htm

Hope you have a wonderful adventure

Bob Chase
Pearland, TX

Yes, I have looked into the idea for going to see the USS Alabama and USS Drum and think that is what I will do. Thank You for your input. :DL

[Takao]

Don't forget to post some pics here when you get back.

Hope the weather is nice for you when you go.

[gimpy117]

Drive Up to Traverse City, MI for the National Cherry fest and visit the USS silversides in Muskegon on the way!

http://visit.cherryfestival.org/

http://glnmmorg000.web151.discountasp.net/apps/dnn/mydnn/

[ShadowOps]

@gimpy117
that sounds nice but thats a very long drive/flight. I live far south, I dont have enough time to take a trip that far.. :cry:

@Takao
When I get back I will be sure to post some pictures. :DL

[Tessa]

While I wouldn't plan a vacation around it (since there's not much else to do there) is go to the Trinity site when its open in April. Friend and I had planned to go last year but he got really sick (and definitely not a good place to be if you're already sick to begin with) so we didn't go. From San Diego we were looking at a 30-36 hour drive, not sure if you're closer or not. That's one of the few places in the world where you can stand on the ground where an event that changed the course of our history took place.

[ShadowOps]

That sounds pretty cool too, standing where the atomic age began and all. If I ever go to New Mexico in April I will be sure to stop.