Seawolf Park facts for kids
Seawolf Park is a special place in Galveston, Texas, located on Pelican Island. It's a memorial park named after the United States Navy submarine USS Seawolf (SS-197), which was sadly lost during World War II. This park is home to two amazing museum ships: the submarine USS Cavalla and the destroyer escort USS Stewart. You can also find parts from other ships here. Besides exploring history, visitors can enjoy a picnic area and go fishing.
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Park History: A Tribute to Submarines
After World War II, the United States Congress decided that each state should create a special park. These parks would honor the brave United States Navy submarines lost during the war. Texas chose a spot on Pelican Island in Galveston. This island was once a place where immigrants arrived in the state.
In 1971, the Gato-class submarine USS Cavalla (SS-244) was brought to the park site. The park was then named after the submarine USS Seawolf (SS-197). The original USS Seawolf was mistakenly sunk by U.S. Navy forces in the Pacific Ocean in 1944.
Explore the Attractions at Seawolf Park
Seawolf Park offers a truly unique experience for visitors. It brings together a submarine, a destroyer escort, and even parts of a merchant ship all in one place. You can see the "hunter" (the submarine), the "protector" (the destroyer escort), and even a "hunted" vessel.
Meet the Museum Ships
The park is home to two preserved U.S. Navy ships:
- The Gato-class submarine USS Cavalla
- The Edsall-class destroyer escort USS Stewart (DE-238)
The USS Cavalla is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. The USS Stewart is listed as a National Historic Landmark. These ships offer a glimpse into naval history.
Other Historic Ship Parts
You can also see the remains of the World War I tanker SS Selma. This was the largest concrete ship ever built! Its remains are visible northwest of the park's fishing pier.
The park also displays the conning tower from the Balao-class submarine USS Carp (SS-338). Plus, you can see the sail from the Sturgeon-class nuclear attack submarine USS Tautog (SSN-639).
Powerful Propellers and Memorial Guns
Near the ladder leading up to the USS Stewart are two large bronze propellers. These propellers are fifty-six-inch (1,400 mm) tall and each weighs over a ton! They used to power the USS Stewart with 6,000 horsepower (4,500 kW), allowing it to reach speeds of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph). They were removed so visitors could see them up close.
Behind the propellers, you'll find two 3-inch (76 mm), 50-caliber memorial guns. These guns were donated from the famous battleship USS Texas.
Fun Activities: Picnics and Fishing
Seawolf Park has a nice picnic area where families can relax and eat. Fishing is also a popular activity here. You can fish from the pier for a small fee. If you prefer, there's also free access to the shoreline on either side of the park.
Anglers can catch many types of fish in the park area. Some common catches include sand seatrout, speckled trout, gafftopsail catfish, drum, and flounder.
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