United States Naval Undersea Museum facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 1995 |
|---|---|
| Location | Keyport, Washington |
| Type | Maritime museum |
The United States Naval Undersea Museum is a cool place in Keyport, Washington. It's one of ten special Navy museums run by the Naval History & Heritage Command. This museum is all about what happens deep under the ocean! It's right next to a part of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, which is where they work on undersea technology.
Contents
Discover the Undersea Museum
The Naval Undersea Museum is a fun place to learn about the ocean. It teaches you about naval history and how technology works underwater. You can also learn about marine science, which is the study of the ocean.
When Did the Museum Open?
The museum opened its doors in 1995. It was built thanks to the Naval Undersea Museum Foundation. This group started in 1980 to help raise money for the museum.
What Can You See Inside?
The museum building is very big! It has more than 20,000 square feet (about 1,858 square meters) of exhibits. This means there's lots to explore. It holds the largest collection of undersea history items in the United States.
Learning More at the Library
The museum also has a special library. It has over 6,500 books about undersea history and science. You can find out how submarines work and what the Navy does underwater. The library even has stories from World War II submarine patrols.
Amazing Undersea Collection
The museum has many cool things to see. You can learn about the ocean itself. You'll also discover how undersea weapons have changed over time. The museum shows you how U.S. submarines work. It also covers Navy diving and how they rescue things from the deep.
What Kind of Items Are There?
You can see different types of torpedoes. These are underwater weapons. There are old designs like the Whitehead and Howell. You can also see modern ones like the Mk 48 and Mk 50. The museum even has a mine from the Civil War.
Submarine Parts and More
Imagine seeing torpedo tubes from a real submarine! The museum has them from the USS Tecumseh. There's also a pretend submarine control room. It uses real equipment from the USS Greenling. You can feel like you're in a submarine!
Giant Submarine Pieces
One of the biggest things you'll see is the 55-ton sail of a nuclear submarine. This part is from the USS Sturgeon. It's huge! You can also see special deep-sea vehicles. These include the Trieste II and the Mystic.
Famous Submarine Props
The Mystic is a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). It was even used in the movie The Hunt for Red October! This shows how important these vehicles are. You can also see the actual control room equipment from the USS Greenling. It was taken right from the submarine when it stopped being used.
Main Exhibit Topics
The museum's exhibits cover several exciting topics. You can learn about the ocean environment. There are sections on torpedoes and naval mine warfare. You'll also explore the technology behind submarines. And don't forget to check out the diving equipment!
See also
- U.S. Navy Museum
- List of maritime museums in the United States
- Naval Undersea Warfare Center
