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There is amazing history here and great displays and memories. There is also a submarine that you can go on and tour amazing time if you like history definitely somewhere you would want to stop. Thanks for listening.
One of the few freebies you'll find in and around Mystic CT! However, Donations are suggested. You get to see the insides of naval ships without banging your shins or head on the bulkheads. There is a replica of the Turtle, from the Revolution. Imagine being in a large keg practically blind and deaf. Slowly moving forward to ram a mine into a ship and get away safely. You can be as immersive as you wish. There are people who can answer questions. Without sounding like every other review, I'll stop here. Go visit and see for yourself.
A great fun little place. The musuem itself only takes about 30-45 minutes to do if you skip the movie, but there's a lot of information in such a small space. Best of all, its free. A great time just looking and browsing and there's a couple interactive things too. Historians, scholars, really just about anyone can enjoy this spot. Plenty of parking, and located near the Navy Subase. A great way to spend a morning.
I visited the Submarine Force Library and Museum with my husband and some friends when we were visiting Connecticut over the Fourth of July weekend a week or so ago. It is the only submarine museum managed exclusively by the Naval History & Heritage Command division of the Navy and is therefore a repository of many historical artifacts. The main attraction of the museum is probably the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine and the first submarine to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole (in 1958). The submarine was launched in 1954 by Mamie Eisenhower. It was decommissioned in 1980 and has preserved at the museum since 1986 (she underwent preservation in 2002). You can walk onto the USS Nautilus and explore it in a self-guided tour. The museum building houses a permanent collection and permanent exhibits that include some of the museum's 33,000 artifacts. It has a replica of David Bushnell's Turtle (built in 1775 and considered the first submarine used in combat), midget submarines used in WWII, working periscopes, a submarine control room, and more. I was able to find the submarine my grandfather served on in WWII on their wall listing US Navy submarines. The museum was really great. Definitely worthwhile if you're in Groton/Mystic - even if you think you're not interested in submarines or naval history. I think the museum and its artifacts will win you over. And it's free to visit to boot.
This was a quick stop to a wonderful museum. You could spend 15 minutes here or two hours. Very interesting items on display. The tour from inside the submarine was informative and very interesting to see the close quarters. Be mindful that it is very difficult to go through if you are over a certain height. I would not recommend for anybody that has problems with stairs as some of the stairs are very steep. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the Groton, Connecticut area.
It's FREE Go and see what its like to be a submarine sailor and live in a can, maybe you can appreciate what you have. Excellent tour.
Wow! This museum which is well maintained is FREE in admission! So much learning if you are interested in submarines. Gift shop inside . See images for reference.
This museum is dedicated to the US Navy submarine fleet and chronicles the history of the "silent service" since the invention of the submarine and Bushnell's Turtle to the current SSBN class of Ohio submarines. Adjacent to the indoor museum is the OG itself, the USS Nautilus (the world's first nuclear powered sub. Most of the museums displays are on the ground floor with some others on the second floor accessed by stairs or elevator. The history of submarines and how they developed is quite interesting and the story told here keeps your attention. Included is a 20 minute continuous loop video showing the development of US ballistic missile development from the 1950's to present. In a theater they show a 43 minute movie every hour on the hour about the US Navy's history of subs from inception thru the end of WW II. Both are very good movies that I recommend you take time for to watch. Outside on the river is the Nautilus about a 50 yard walk from the museum. I have been on many WW II boats but never something like this. The walk thru begins at the bow and descends two levels and proceeds to about amidships and then circles back to the bow ascending back to the deck. This boat is of course much larger and consists of two touring levels which is unique. When Nautilus was commissioned it changed the game of naval warfare. It represented the future and became an instant legend. If the crew didn't need food, nuclear subs could stay submerged for years because they are so self sufficient. Finally this museum has its own free parking lot and admission is free too. Amazing!
I stopped here with my partner when we were just looking for something to do to kill time. My partner was interested in going here because it has the USS Nautilus, which was featured in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea among other movies. The exhibits were all interesting and educational, and we enjoyed looking at some of the memorabilia. Some areas were only accessible by stairs, and access to the Nautilus itself was closed off. The bathrooms were clean and the gift shop had some cool stuff in it. The people were all pretty friendly and knowledgeable.
I found this place on Yelp and it was on my way so decided to stop by. First it's on a side of a base and I thought that was pretty cool. There was a small parking lot right next to the water. The admission is free so you can't beat free. It's a pretty cool museum it has a lot to look at. They have real pieces of what a submarine looks like so you get a better idea of what things are. Then you actually get to go into a submarine and walk all inside. Definitely such a great experience and I learned a lot. My favorite part was seeing the Purple Heart that was so cool. If you pass by the area you definitely have to stop here.
Well designed and offer submarine museum! I always enjoy seeing some history, and also reading about the forces that protect our great land.
I visited the Submarine Force Museum recently, which is the first time I've been since I was a little kid... But it was just as cool as I remembered! First off, the museum is completely FREE, so you can't really go wrong in making the trip. There is a large parking lot that is also free. The museum is located right next to the Submarine Force Base New London, but keep in mind that the base itself is not open to the public, only the museum. Once inside, there are lots of cool exhibits to explore and you'll learn the history of modern submarining and how submarines operate, including a small theater where you can watch two different short films related to submarining history. The best part, in my opinion, was boarding the USS Nautilus, which was the world's first nuclear-powered submarine built right in Groton. You can actually go down into the submarine itself (which is in the water) and learn about what life was like living on a sub. Keep in mind that you will be walking through some confined spaces and will have to walk through hatchway doors that are fairly small. But it is definitely the highlight of the museum! On the way out, stop by the gift shop and pick up some submariner swag. Overall a very cool (and very free) spot to visit, especially with kids!
We took my 4 1/2 year old here today because he's been interested in submarines lately. The museum is free. We were greeted by Bob, who gave a great introduction and answered our questions since we had never been here before. The exhibits were well done and the highlight was touring the Nautilus submarine outside. We toured the Nautilus twice since my son loved it so much. There's plenty to see and we spent about 2 hours there.
Dear Yelp, Stopped here on our way to Mystic. What a great museum! We enjoyed the self guided tour of the USS Nautilus. Everyone was more than willing to answer questions. Free to enter, donations appreciated. Love, Nicole read more
There is amazing history here and great displays and memories. There is also a submarine that you can go on and tour amazing time if you like history definitely somewhere you would want to stop. Thanks for listening. read more
One of the few freebies you'll find in and around Mystic CT! However, Donations are suggested. You get to see the insides of naval ships without banging your shins or head on the bulkheads. There is a replica of the Turtle, from the Revolution. Imagine being in a large keg practically blind and deaf. Slowly moving forward to ram a mine into a ship and get away safely. You can be as immersive as you wish. There are people who can answer questions. Without sounding like every other review, I'll stop here. Go visit and see for yourself. read more
2 months ago
A great fun little place. The musuem itself only takes about 30-45 minutes to do if you skip the movie, but there's a lot of information in such a small space. Best of all, its free. A great time just looking and browsing and there's a couple interactive things too. Historians, scholars, really just about anyone can enjoy this spot. Plenty of parking, and located near the Navy Subase. A great way to spend a morning. read more
I visited the Submarine Force Library and Museum with my husband and some friends when we were visiting Connecticut over the Fourth of July weekend a week or so ago. It is the only submarine museum managed exclusively by the Naval History & Heritage Command division of the Navy and is therefore a repository of many historical artifacts. The main attraction of the museum is probably the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine and the first submarine to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole (in 1958). The submarine was launched in 1954 by Mamie Eisenhower. It was decommissioned in 1980 and has preserved at the museum since 1986 (she underwent preservation in 2002). You can walk onto the USS Nautilus and explore it in a self-guided tour. The museum building houses a permanent collection and permanent exhibits that include some of the museum's 33,000 artifacts. It has a replica of David Bushnell's Turtle (built in 1775 and considered the first submarine used in combat), midget submarines used in WWII, working periscopes, a submarine control room, and more. I was able to find the submarine my grandfather served on in WWII on their wall listing US Navy submarines. The museum was really great. Definitely worthwhile if you're in Groton/Mystic - even if you think you're not interested in submarines or naval history. I think the museum and its artifacts will win you over. And it's free to visit to boot. read more
This was a quick stop to a wonderful museum. You could spend 15 minutes here or two hours. Very interesting items on display. The tour from inside the submarine was informative and very interesting to see the close quarters. Be mindful that it is very difficult to go through if you are over a certain height. I would not recommend for anybody that has problems with stairs as some of the stairs are very steep. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the Groton, Connecticut area. read more
1 year ago
It's FREE Go and see what its like to be a submarine sailor and live in a can, maybe you can appreciate what you have. Excellent tour. read more
1 year ago
Wow! This museum which is well maintained is FREE in admission! So much learning if you are interested in submarines. Gift shop inside . See images for reference. read more
This museum is dedicated to the US Navy submarine fleet and chronicles the history of the "silent service" since the invention of the submarine and Bushnell's Turtle to the current SSBN class of Ohio submarines. Adjacent to the indoor museum is the OG itself, the USS Nautilus (the world's first nuclear powered sub. Most of the museums displays are on the ground floor with some others on the second floor accessed by stairs or elevator. The history of submarines and how they developed is quite interesting and the story told here keeps your attention. Included is a 20 minute continuous loop video showing the development of US ballistic missile development from the 1950's to present. In a theater they show a 43 minute movie every hour on the hour about the US Navy's history of subs from inception thru the end of WW II. Both are very good movies that I recommend you take time for to watch. Outside on the river is the Nautilus about a 50 yard walk from the museum. I have been on many WW II boats but never something like this. The walk thru begins at the bow and descends two levels and proceeds to about amidships and then circles back to the bow ascending back to the deck. This boat is of course much larger and consists of two touring levels which is unique. When Nautilus was commissioned it changed the game of naval warfare. It represented the future and became an instant legend. If the crew didn't need food, nuclear subs could stay submerged for years because they are so self sufficient. Finally this museum has its own free parking lot and admission is free too. Amazing! read more
2 years ago
I stopped here with my partner when we were just looking for something to do to kill time. My partner was interested in going here because it has the USS Nautilus, which was featured in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea among other movies. The exhibits were all interesting and educational, and we enjoyed looking at some of the memorabilia. Some areas were only accessible by stairs, and access to the Nautilus itself was closed off. The bathrooms were clean and the gift shop had some cool stuff in it. The people were all pretty friendly and knowledgeable. read more
I found this place on Yelp and it was on my way so decided to stop by. First it's on a side of a base and I thought that was pretty cool. There was a small parking lot right next to the water. The admission is free so you can't beat free. It's a pretty cool museum it has a lot to look at. They have real pieces of what a submarine looks like so you get a better idea of what things are. Then you actually get to go into a submarine and walk all inside. Definitely such a great experience and I learned a lot. My favorite part was seeing the Purple Heart that was so cool. If you pass by the area you definitely have to stop here. read more
1 year ago
6 months ago
I visited the Submarine Force Museum recently, which is the first time I've been since I was a little kid... But it was just as cool as I remembered! First off, the museum is completely FREE, so you can't really go wrong in making the trip. There is a large parking lot that is also free. The museum is located right next to the Submarine Force Base New London, but keep in mind that the base itself is not open to the public, only the museum. Once inside, there are lots of cool exhibits to explore and you'll learn the history of modern submarining and how submarines operate, including a small theater where you can watch two different short films related to submarining history. The best part, in my opinion, was boarding the USS Nautilus, which was the world's first nuclear-powered submarine built right in Groton. You can actually go down into the submarine itself (which is in the water) and learn about what life was like living on a sub. Keep in mind that you will be walking through some confined spaces and will have to walk through hatchway doors that are fairly small. But it is definitely the highlight of the museum! On the way out, stop by the gift shop and pick up some submariner swag. Overall a very cool (and very free) spot to visit, especially with kids! read more
We took my 4 1/2 year old here today because he's been interested in submarines lately. The museum is free. We were greeted by Bob, who gave a great introduction and answered our questions since we had never been here before. The exhibits were well done and the highlight was touring the Nautilus submarine outside. We toured the Nautilus twice since my son loved it so much. There's plenty to see and we spent about 2 hours there. read more
This is a great museum with a beautiful and scenic location right on the Thames River. The inside of the museum is housed on two levels. It's not that large, but there is plenty to read and learn if you are a submarine buff. The museum has free admission and free parking. One of the best things is probably the submarine self-guided tour. You're provided with a headset, which walks you through the submarine providing facts and tidbits about the submarine, its operations and crew. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
3 years ago
awesome experience! i cant believe this place is free! so much to learn and see here. going inside the nautilus was such a fun and unexpected activity. recommended a visit to a coworker while him and his kids are on vacation in mystic. read more
If you're a fan of Tom Clancy's cold war era novels and you know what boomers and hunter-killers** are, then you need to visit the Submarine Force Museum. You'll learn about the technology behind "Hunt For Red October" and "Red Storm Rising" for real and about the special kind of sailors that willingly submerge themselves underwater inside a tube of steel. Just remember that submarines are called boats, not ships (Don't ask me why, it's a long story, so hit up Google for some FYI). Connecticut has always been a patron of the Silent Service. Whether constructing nuclear boats at nearby General Dynamics Electric Boat or based at the USN Submarine Base, subs have been a part of the state since before WWI. So it is fitting that the museum was placed here in Groton, right on the eastern bank of the Thames River between the base and the shipyard. If you're lucky, you might even spy a USN submarine heading out to sea for a months long patrol. The history of the submarine is as long as the history of the USA. From the wooden Turtle of the 1770's, to the Hunley of the Civil War era, to the modern day leviathans of the Ohio class missile subs, their history and artifacts are chronicled and stored here. Many underwater launched missiles, torpedoes, mines, depth charges and anything else that can be shot out of a sub are on display. They even have a full-sized Polaris ballistic missile on display, split into its booster stages and multiple warhead bus. Moored outside on the river, is the treasure of their displays, the USS Nautilus, first nuclear powered submarine and first to travel under the North Pole ice cap. The self-guided tour through the Nautilus transports you back to the 50's, when she was built. So if you're roadtripping during the summer, this is a great stop just off of I-95 on your way to Mystic, Providence, Cape Cod or Maine. And this doesn't cost you a single penny to stimulate your brain cells. Fun Fact: President Jimmy Carter is an ex-USN submariner and the 3rd (& final) boat of the Seawolf class (built at Electric Boat) was named in his honor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Jimmy_Carter_%28SSN-23%29 **Boomer - SSBN, Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine Hunter-Killer - SSN, Nuclear Attack Submarine read more
7 years ago
Sooo cool! Great experience inside the USS Nautilus... gives you a real experience on how military life was inside the sub. Not a lot of room to do anything... everything was small including the sleeping quarters. The exhibits inside the museum were interactive, fun and educational. The best part is this museum is free! Had a scary experience on our way to the USS Nautilus in CT... entered the Naval Submarine Base New London by mistake and I took a picture of the name of the base and we were told to drive in and was asked for our ID's :( ... after 5 min we were cleared and the military officer made me erase the pics that I took (I took ONE pic of the name of the base and it didn't even turn out good). The USS Nautilus and Museum was next door. I'm just a tourist here who loves taking pictures, how was I supposed to know :-/ Review #0051 read more
Submarine Force Museum [SFM]. (5 stars). "We all live in a yellow submarine... Yellow submarine, yellow submarine." - The Beatles (Yellow Submarine) In this case it's the ORANGE SUBMARINE!! Meet NR-1 aka the ORANGE SUBMARINE. For some, it may look familiar as it was used in many research missions to include the Brittannic (sister ship to the Titanic). NR-1 was also used to search for parts after the Challenger Space Shuttle disintegrated shortly after lift off. This little submarine has such an amazing history!! So does the USS Nautilus (SSN-571). The USS Nautilus was the first operational nuclear submarine used by the US Navy! It was Rickover's baby!! I was honored to go and visit this museum with one of my closest friends who knew Admiral Hyman G. Rickover personally as he worked for him. This tour just brought this SUB GEEK to tears. Such an amazing group of people I have the honor of working besides. The submarine force is extremely small. I have been honored to call many who served and who serve now great friends and have been invited into this very tight-knit family. #SilentService It was so interesting to see where our nuclear powered submarines started from and some of the casualties (lost at sea) we suffered as a community. The museum is very up to date as they already have some displays about the newer class submarines. For those who will never get the privilege to go aboard an active sub, this is the next best thing. There are many displays and an actual control room setup in the museum. But for me, the best part is walking on board the USS Nautilus. Yes, you can actually tour the submarine (well at least the forward compartments). You are given an audio walkie-talkie that will give you some explanations of what you are looking at. The audio tour is estimated to take about 35-45 minutes long but it didn't take us that long. Note: Unfortunately, the submarine is not wheelchair accessible and if you are claustrophobic you may just want to "stay on land". However, if you really want to see what it is like to work in such tight quarters and see how small the racks are where these brave men (and now women) must sleep, I highly recommend doing so. Politics aside, whether people believe in war or not, this tour reminds me that there are many of our military folks out there patrolling the world 365 days a year so we as Americans can be safe and can enjoy the lives we live. Coming here with my friend who I thought was the smartest NUC I know was the best part. He learned a few tidbits as well and we both "geeked out" at the entire experience. Such a humbling and wicked awesome experience. I never got to meet Admiral Rickover but he must have had a huge impact on my friend because my friend plans to be buried next to Admiral Rickover when the time comes. NUCS... LOL. The tour is FREE and you DO NOT NEED any Military ID or CAC to enter. Taking photos throughout the entire museum and on the Nautilus is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED. LOL totally opposite from how I have been trained. There is a museum store where you can purchase souvenirs. The museum is sustained in great part due to private donations. Free parking is available and on-site. read more
This is not really my area of interest, but it's a museum with very good presentation and free admission. You can go on the submarine Nautilus which is maybe a little treacherous for older adults or larger individuals (steep stairs and difficult hatches to step through), but neat to see. The mannequins in the displays are kind of creepy! The setting is pretty. Since there is no admission fee and parking is free, you could blow through in 30-45 minutes and not feel bad. A military enthusiast could easily spend 1-2 hours. read more
7 years ago
If your looking for an educational experience, this is it! As soon as we parked the car, "wow" ... just "wow!" Visiting the museum was fun and gave hands on experiences with an opportunity to use periscopes and put you at the controls of a submarine. The exterior of the museum has many different submarines on display. Finally, The Nautilus, is docked in the water at the museum and you are able to tour the submarine! It's an amazing educational experience! ... also, they have a fantastic gift shop! read more
6 years ago
The correct name for this listing should be "Submarine Force Library and Museum". This could be very quickly and easily verified by checking the official web site [https://www.ussnautilus.org] or the Wikipedia listing [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_Force_Library_and_Museum] if anyone at Yelp ever bothered to confirm such things. I don't understand how a business like Yelp that depends on providing reliable information can ever hope to survive without fact checking their listing. It won't take much for Google Local to wipe Yelp right off the map whenever they're ready to make that move. read more
17 years ago
The first should never be forgotten The city of Groton is called the submarine capital of the world. Dozens of subs were build here at the Electric Boat company and the city is the home of the huge sub and training base. It made sense that Groton should also be the final resting place of the the Nautilus, the world's first nuclear powered submarine. The museum is divided into three basic parts. The first is an outside exhibit with actually examples of old subs, guns and missiles. The next part are exhibits in a huge, cool looking building that has all kinds of displays, movies, torpedoes, missiles and lots of information and memorials to subs and submariners of the past. Fascinating stuff, they really did all great job in explaining what exactly the subs do and how they go about doing it. Actually navy guys are stationed in the building ready to answer stupid questions. They are friendly and surprisingly open about their jobs although if you try and get to specific and nosey they just smile and say "I can't tell you that". The next stop is the actually submarine. The Nautilus was commissioned way back in 1954 and immediately set numerous records and made it intuitively obvious to the most causal observer that nuclear was the way to go in subs. Even though it's much bigger than the WW II subs I have been in, it's still pretty damn small and claustrophobic. Hard to imagine people spend more than three months under the ocean in these things. The whole sub is open to poke around except for the reactor part. You get to see the bunks, captains quarters, communications, weapons control, mess areas and even the itty, bitty heads. Just make sure you get ready to duck. Lots of small hatches and low ceiling to navigate. A great place to visit to learn about what these stealthy predators of the ocean actually do. Even my wife, who has no interest in military things loved the museum. There is no admission charge but there is a gift shop where you can get crummy t-shirts and submarine type trinkets. There have been lots of submarines built by lots of different countries since 1954. But thanks to this museum the very first revolutionary nuclear submarine will never be forgotten. read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
This is a free attraction. so if you are bored with nothing to do on a rainy afternoon, I highly recommend it. oR any other time for that matter. Aside from that, if you are in any way interested in submarines, this is the place to go. The highlight is a tour of the USS Nautilus, the world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine. There are many other exhibits that detail submarine history and battle tactics. My 3 year old son got kick out of the exhibits and driving the simulator. There is also a nice, reasonably priced gift shop. There are also several outdoors exhibits. Suggested ages: 3-adult. The tour of the Nautilus involves several narrow and cramped spaces, those with trouble in those settings may want to ask for details. Did I mention this is free? read more
14 years ago
It was Labor Day weekend and I am glad I got here early and did not make the wrong turn into the main gate as May A. did! They opened at 9:00 A.M. And I noticed a bag piper warming up in the parking lot and then a lot of submarine veterans showing up. I later gathered that a memorial service complete with 21 gun salute was being held next to the Nautilus. I was surprised when I went into the Museum that it is staffed by full time active duty Navy personnel. It is a 27,000 square foot facility and has the official responsibility as the official repository for both the records and history of the United States Submarine Force from it's humble beginnings in the colonial days with Bushnell's 'Turtle' to todays nuclear powered modern Navy global force. Hanging in front of the museum are two rings suspended to show the cross section of the H-1 Holland which was the US Navy's first submarine to the present day Ohio submarine. They also have some interesting out door displays of the screws from the Nautilus tot he sail from the USS George Washington and a Polaris missile the USS George Washington carried in the background. There are three mini submarines in the front of the museum with the captured Japanese one lacking any type of placard or description of what it is. Inside there is a mock up of the first crude submarine the 'turtle,' various torpedo's, a Polaris missile, as displays from WWI showing the development of the US Submarine Force over the many years. I found the tour of the Nautilus very informative as you are given a wand audio and complete a U-turn by going down the stairs into the torpedo room, the enlisted and officers wardrooms. There you will find a framed copy of the Jules Vern's 20,000 Leagues under the sea presented to the ship on behalf of the French government on the accomplishment of the first nuclear submarine in 1955. I can only imagine how submarines have improved since then. The nearby naval base is the home to the Atlantic's "fast attack" submarines with the Nautilus and many others being built down the river at General Dynamics Electric Boat facility. I completed my tour of the Nautilus before the memorial service got underway and touring the whole facility can be done in about two hours. As I departed the parking lot was close to full. It is open Wednesday's through Monday 9:00 A.M. To 5:00 P.M. And closed on Tuesday's. read more
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More info about Submarine Force Library and Museum
1 Crystal Lake Rd
Groton, CT 06340
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(860) 448-0893
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http://www.ussnautilus.org/
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