USS Silversides Museum

About the
USS Silversides Submarine Museum

Our museum comprises three facilities: the two-story museum building housing temporary and permanent exhibits; the USS Silversides Gato-class submarine; and the USCGC McLane, a prohibition-era Coast Guard cutter. Outside the museum, we offer a wide variety of ways to engage with WWII and submarine history through lectures, classes, immersive events and community fundraisers.

We welcome you to learn more about our museum before your visit.

Plan Your visit

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Museum Shop

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Group Activities

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OUR MISSION

silversides live cameraThe Mission of the USS Silversides Submarine Museum is to honor the men and women of the military, preserve military history and provide experiences that educate the public about past and present military history and technology.

OUR HISTORY

The USS Silversides Submarine Museum was originally opened as the Great Lakes Naval Memorial and Museum, but our history is closely intertwined with that of our namesake, the USS Silversides submarine.

The USS Silversides (SS-236) was commissioned on December 15, 1941, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. She embarked on her first war patrol in April, 1942, and went on to complete 14 war patrols in the Pacific during WWII. She transited the Panama Canal in September, 1945 on her way to New York, and was decommissioned in April, 1946. She then became a stationary training ship in Chicago until 1969. After retiring from service, she spent time in Chicago as a museum ship, moving to Navy Pier in 1979. In 1987, the USS Silversides was towed across Lake Michigan to become part of the Great Lakes Naval and Memorial Museum. The Silversides was later joined by the US Coast Guard Cutter McLane, and eventually a two-story museum building was added to the facility, now known as the USS Silversides Submarine Museum.

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Purchase Tickets

Combination Tickets

(Includes admission to submarine, cutter and museum)

Adults: $17.50
Senior (62+) or veteran: $15.00
Children (5-17): $13.00
Children under 5: Free
Active-duty military: Free

Museum-only ticket

All Ages: $8.50

Annual Membership

See our Membership page for more information

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