As the first vessel in the world to be powered by a nuclear reactor, the Nautilus could travel much farther and faster than traditional, diesel-based submarines with nuclear-powered state-of-the-art air and water purification plants on board, the sub could go for months without replenishing supplies or even surfacing for air. Only a year and a half later, the revolutionary sub was ready to begin its first trials in the water. In the summer of 1952, then-President Harry Truman had traveled to the Groton submarine shipyard to lay the keel of the Nautilus. At 10:57a.m., the USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear submarine, slid off a dry dock at General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, officially launching the United States Navy into the nuclear era.įirst Lady Mamie Eisenhower christens the USS Nautilus moments before the submarine was officially launched into the Thames River. It was neat.On January 21, 1954, hundreds of spectators, including General Dynamics employees, military brass, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, and scores of reporters gathered along the banks of the ThamesRiver to witness a momentous occasion. The periscopes were one of Trevor’s favorites because they actually had 3 periscopes, in a room, that actually worked! They ran from the room, through the roof of the building and you could see 360 degrees around through them. The museum didn’t just tell the stories of the history of submarines, you also were able to see some of the oldest that were in use back in the Revolutionary War, check out the controls used to steer a submarine as well as some periscopes. This was 86 years, to the day, since the beginning of the US Submarine Force. Fun fact, the USS Nautilus Memorial, Submarine Force Library and Museum opened on April 11, 1986. It describes a timeline all the way to the USS Ohio, the largest submarine built in the west in 1981. The first one was the USS Holland, purchased in 1900 from John P. This museum tells the entire story of submarines within the US Navy. Once we concluded the tour, we disembarked the USS Nautilus and headed back into the museum. There is also a huge ring to show the difference between the first submarine ever purchased by the US Navy, the USS Holland, and the largest one ever built, the USS Ohio. The museum has smaller submarines and submarine sections located out front. Which was awesome because after we explored, this was actually a museum worth paying for. The parking and the admission to the museum are both free. When we arrived, there was plenty of parking. It is located at on the bank of the Thames River at 1 Crystal Lake Rd, Groton, CT right next to the Naval Submarine Base New London.
So, we loaded up and headed in that direction. The day was cold, rainy and windy a perfect day for a trip to a museum. Mama Nomad looked up submarines in Groton and came across the Groton Submarine Force Museum. We drove through Groton before and saw the sign that said, “Submarine Capital of the World.” As many of you know, that is enough to pique our interests and want to explore further. The Nomads were able to board the Nautilus and take a tour! More on that in a bit. In addition, it is home to the USS Nautilus, the very first nuclear powered submarine. This is where the Groton Submarine Force Museum is located. Want to hear something really cool? About 10 days ago, we traveled to Groton, Connecticut.
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