USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park - More Than Just Submarines
At the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, there are many exhibits that will keep the whole family entertained. In addition to the submarines, the museum has both outdor and indoor displays for visitors to discover.
USS Bowfin Outdoor Exhibits
1. Waterfront Memorial
The Waterfront Memorial is a tribute to the men and women who lost their lives during World War II. The memorial honors their enduring memory by telling each brave submariner's story in addition to listing them all together with their ship name or number where they perished on this epic struggle for freedom.
2. Regulus I
The Regulus I was a Cold War-era nuclear-armed turbojet cruise missile. It could be launched from submarines and surface ships and had a 500-mile range. To celebrate, the USS Barbero launched a Regulus I missile carrying 3,000 letters (SS-317). During its 22-minute flight over the Atlantic, the missile went 100 miles. They were delivered to President Eisenhower by the US Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield. It wrote “First Official Missile Mail” on each envelope with a Regulus I illustration.
3. USS Parche Conning Tower
Unfortunately, visitors to Bowfin cannot enter the conning tower, but there is a USS Parche's conning tower (SS-384) outside. Visitors are welcome to come in and see how the crew would have fit and operated in such a small space.
USS Bowfin Indoor Exhibits
1. Battleflags
Hanging from the ceiling beams in this museum are replicas of submarine battle-flags that were once displayed on each boat. They decorated it's own personal design and symbolized group of people who were proud of what they had accomplished during their wartime service.
There is no one common element holding them together besides being made by men who served proudly, knowing full well the dangers of going into these waters at such close quarters but still feeling very satisfied when they returned alive after successfully completing mission objectives.
2. Submarine bells
The five bells from WWII submarines are on display. They include the USS Narwhal (SS-167), USS Bowfin (SS-287) and SS Snook(279). Each submarine was equipped with a bell, although the bells were never carried on combat patrols with the submarines.
