nautilus tour groton ct

The Submarine Force Museum

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The Submarine Force Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum

Visitors can board the Nautilus , the first nuclear-powered submarine and experience first hand what it was like to be a member of the crew. The museum documents the development of submarines, from David Bushnell's Turtle , constructed in 1776 to the Navy's moder submarines. There are working periscopes, mini-subs, a 71-seat theater, gift shop and a picnic area that has seating for up to 50 people. It is the Navy's official submarine museum. Admission and park are free, and there is bus and RV parking. Reservations required for groups of 25 or more.

Tour time: 1-1.5 hours

Other amenities: Dining Nearby, Parking, Self-guided tours

Other Amenities

• ADA Compliant
• Bus Parking
• Guided Group Tours

1 Crystal Lake Rd. Groton , CT 06349 United States

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• Submarine Force Museum and USS Nautilus

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Visit the only submarine museum operated by the US Navy and see some of the world's finest submarine artifacts. Climb aboard the USS Nautilus, the first submarine that could stay underwater for very long periods of time, in service from 1954-1980.

Admission and parking are FREE.

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Submarine force museum / uss nautilus.

The Submarine Force Museum is home to the Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear powered vessel. Nautilus was launched on January 21, 1954, with First Lady Mamie Eisenhower breaking the traditional bottle of champagne across its bow as she slid down the ways into the Thames River. It was also the first ship to go to the North Pole and first submarine to journey “20,000 leagues under the sea.” Visitors can explore the spaces where the crew of this historic vessel worked, ate, slept, and entertained themselves on their long voyages far beneath the ocean’s waves.

Operated by the United States Navy, the Submarine Force Museum boasts the finest collection of submarine artifacts in the world.  Visitors can peruse thousands of artifacts, documents and photographs spanning the history of submersibles. The museum traces the development of the “Silent Service” from David Bushnell’s Turtle, used in the Revolutionary War, to the Ohio and Virginia class submarines utilized by our military today.

The building was originally established in 1955 as a “Submarine Library” by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation and served as an archival and research center.  In April 1964, the entire collection was donated to the Navy and relocated to the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton. The 6,000-volume reference and research library is a world-renowned collection relative to the history of US submarines and is open to anyone looking for information on submarines or submarine history.

Address: 1 Crystal Lake Rd, Groton, CT, 06340 Distance from Groton Water Taxi Landing: 2.6 Miles (by car) Phone Number: (860) 694-3174 Summer Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 9am – 5pm; Tuesday – Closed Winter Hours  (November 1 – April 30): 9am – 4pm CLOSED TUESDAYS, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Closed for 10 days in April and November for upkeep. Admission: Free

Thames River Heritage Park Foundation P.O. Box 851 New London, CT 06320 Administration (860) 444-44 01 / Email

Water Taxi Operation (860) 333-6706

Historic USS Nautilus Reopens to the Public After Preservation Project

The world’s first nuclear powered submarine reopened for public tours friday after a $36m preservation project., by siobhan mcgirl • published september 9, 2022 • updated on september 9, 2022 at 7:28 pm.

The USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear powered submarine, reopened for public tours Friday after a $36 million preservation project.

Located at the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, the Nautilus is the only nuclear powered naval vessel available to the public for general visitation. To celebrate the historic ship's return to public display, a large crowd gathered for a ceremony Friday afternoon.

Vice Admiral William Houston said that the Nautilus, which served the Navy for more than 25 years, has left a legacy that drives the force today.

"It has really epitomized our undersea advantage as a nation," said Vice Adm. Houston.

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Joseph Franks, a Nautilus veteran from Preston, attended the ceremony. He served on the Nautilus from 1970 to 1974.

“It’s a little heart-moving, just the fact that I was part of history," Franks said. “To be on the first one, at the time I didn’t realize what it meant, but I learned fairly soon.”

The Nautilus was decommissioned in 1980 and named a national historic landmark in 1982. The preservation has ensured the historic ship will be able to be active at the museum for the next 30 years, according to the Navy New London Public Affairs Office.

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Uss nautilus – submarine force museum.

1 Crystal Lake Rd Groton, CT 06340

(800) 343-0079

The United States Navy Submarine Force Library and Museum, located on the Thames River near Groton, Connecticut, united States, is the only submarine museum managed exclusively by the Navy History & Heritage command division of the U.S. Navy, which makes it a repository for many special submarine items of national significance, including USS Nautilus (SSN-571).

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Information about USS Nautilus (SSN-571)

• Awarded: August 2, 1951
• Keel laid: June 14, 1952
• Launched: January 21, 1954
• Commissioned: September 30, 1954
• Decommissioned: March 3, 1980
• Builder: Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation, Groton, CT.
• Propulsion system: One nuclear reactor
• Propellers: Two
• Length: 324 feet (98.75 meters)
• Beam: 27.8 feet (8.47 meters)
• Draft: 22 feet (6.7 meters)
• Displacement: Surfaced: approx. 3,530 tons; Submerged: approx. 4,090 tons
• Speed: Surfaced: approx. 22 knots; Submerged: approx. +20 knots
• Armament: Six 533 mm torpedo tubes
• Crew: 13 Officers, 105 Enlisted

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USS Nautilus launching ceremonies on January 21st 1954 at Groton, Connecticut

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Tuesday, july 11, 2017, uss nautilus: submarine tour and museum - groton, connecticut.

• In July of 1951, Congress authorized constructio n of the world's first nuclear powered submarine, the Nautilus.   Read all about  Nuclear Marine Propulsion here.
• Electric Boat Company, one of the nation’s leading constructors of submarines, built the submarine in Groton, 3 miles south of where she is presently moored.  I t took nearly 18 months of construction to complete the Nautilus.
• The Nautilus was commissioned in September of 1954 
• The  U.S.S. Nautilus was not only the first nuclear submarine, but was the first submarine to reach the North Pole (dubbed operation Sunshine). 
• In response to the nuclear ICBM threat posed by Sputnik, President Eisenhower ordered the U.S. Navy to attempt a submarine transit of the North Pole to gain credibility for the soon-to-come  SLBM  weapons system.
• It sailed from Alaska under the Polar ice cap, passed under the North Pole, and surfaced near Greenland in August 1958.
• The Nautilus was in se rvice for 26 years; from 1954 to 1980.
• The submarine carried 11 officers and 105 enlisted men and could dive to 700 feet.  It could also  travel speeds in excess of 20 knots.
• The Nautilus is 319 feet long– a little longer than a football field and weighs 3,400 tons on the surface.
• The Nautilus was the first true submarine and could stay underwater for very long periods of time. Whereas World War II submarines would remain submerged for 12-48 hours. Nautilus could remain underwater for two weeks or more.
• It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1982 and Connecticut’s State Ship in 1985.

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USS Nautilus (SSN 571) Photo Tour

The photos below were taken by me on August 22, 2010, during a visit to the USS NAUTILUS museum at Groton, CT. The museum is operated by the Navy and admission is free. Visitors can go on a self-guided audio tour that includes the front half of the submarine. Unfortunately, the areas aft of the sail are not open to the public. The reason for it is that the nuclear plant is still classified.

Scavenger Hunts

For individuals or groups that would like to add some fun or enhance their  museum  visit while still taking things at their own pace the museum offers various scavenger hunts and self-guided tours. Inquire at the information desk or download and print from:

We now have an Augmented Reality Experience. Use the QR code to make the exhibit come to life and tour the USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571) from the Nautilus room. For more information email [email protected] our Director of Education

Youth Activities Packet

Youth scavenger hunt, youth scavenger hunt key, scout scavenger hunt, scout scavenger hunt key.