Submarine Force Library and Museum

The Submarine Force Library and Museum is a military museum in Groton, Connecticut, dedicated to submarine history and naval operations. The facility displays decommissioned submarines alongside naval artifacts and equipment positioned along the Thames River, allowing visitors to walk through vessels and examine related materials.

The museum was founded in 1955 by General Dynamics Corporation as a submarine library and transferred to the United States Navy in 1964. This transfer reflected the growing importance of submarine technology and the need to preserve and share knowledge about naval operations.

The museum shows how submarines shaped American naval strategy and defense thinking over the decades. Visitors can see the vessel types and technologies that changed how navies operate and think about underwater warfare.

The museum sits in Groton along the Thames River and provides access to outdoor and indoor exhibits throughout the warmer months. Visitors should plan extra time to explore the walkthrough submarines, which feature narrow passages and steep ladders that require careful footing.

The museum houses the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine placed into service in 1954, which fundamentally changed underwater operations. Visitors can actually walk inside this historic vessel and experience the tight quarters where the crew lived and worked.

Location: Connecticut

Inception: 1955

Website: http://ussnautilus.org

GPS coordinates: 41.38970,-72.08920

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02