9/9/26 Update: Recent work includes restoration preparation on both radar antenna mounts, where decades of corrosion and even animal nests were uncovered behind the steel plating. Crews continue critical steel repairs near the stern torpedo shutter doors, sea chest repairs, scupper restoration, and safety tank preservation work throughout the submarine.

Behind the scenes, every detail matters. Large blanks installed on the submarine’s bottom are being permanently marked for future identification, while USS Silversides crew are carefully documenting and measuring scorecard layouts to preserve her historic accuracy.

One fascinating look below decks shows Normal Fuel Oil Tank #7 after all remaining fuel was removed and the tank thoroughly cleaned, giving a rare glimpse inside spaces few ever get to see.

Each repair brings Silversides one step closer to returning home. Thank you for following along and supporting this historic restoration! See picture captions for more details

 

9/2/26 Update: These images show USS Silversides before steel repair work started in dry dock. Careful documentation of the submarine’s condition helps guide restoration efforts and highlights the importance of the work being done to preserve this historic vessel. These are all “before” or “as found” photos. They are showing the condition of the fwd free flooding areas, which suffered because they are hidden by the torpedo doors. No one had seen the condition of the steel behind the doors since 1954 during her last drydock, so the condition was largely unknown. Although in better shape than anticipated, it still required a lot of metal replacement.

Every repaired section brings Silversides one step closer to returning home.

 

8/28/26 Update: Several items are being preserved for display in the museum while the submarine is in dry dock, including a pair of Silversides propeller nuts. Both nuts were still screwed on to each propeller shaft. Surprisingly, both nuts came off with no fight. Look for these to be on display in a future museum exhibit! Additional work took place on the sail structure, including repairs to the guard rail cap to ensure long-term integrity and safety

 

8/19/26 Update: Projects in dry dock are progressing fast for Silversides. Crews from many different departments have been working hard to complete the long list of items needed to complete Silversides historic docking. Some examples: Steel fitters have been working hard on replacing wasted steel in free flooding areas both forward and aft. Crews have been busy in ballast tanks carefully cleaning and vacuuming out decades of dirt, silt and debris that has accumulated in each tank. This will allow us to inspect every tank to decide what further action is needed to preserve them. Additionally, welders have been busy all over the vessel with repairs on both new and old steel. Lots going on with a lot more to come!

 

8/17/26 Update: The aft flood valve in main ballast tank “2D” was stamped as a valve for the USS Trigger, which was a sister submarine built adjacent to the USS Silversides. The valve has been removed and saved to be shown on display at the museum after the dry dock project is completed.

 

Pictures show the USS Trigger flood valve partially open, the valve marked “SAVE” for preservation and future display, the flood valve after removal as it is prepared for a museum exhibit, and components of the flood valve actuation mechanism associated with the removed valve. These images document the discovery, removal, and preservation of this unique artifact that links USS Silversides to her sister submarine, USS Trigger.

 

8/11/26 Update: More than 70 years later, reminders of USS Silversides’ past are still being uncovered.

“One of the best parts [of this process] is finding small tidbits from the guys who last worked on USS Silversides during drydock in 1954. One example is the ring of bolts that used to hold her sonar dome. In the ’54 docking the workers removed the sonar dome but left the bolts screwed into the mount.” – Vessel Curator, Scott, on site in Wisconsin just this one bolt was loose enough to remove by hand. No telling how long it’s been loose for!

7/17/26 Update: A few members of the on board volunteer crew arrived back in Muskegon late Wednesday night, big thanks to the Lake Express Ferry. Not only is the Lake Express Ferry sponsoring all the museum’s ferry needs for the duration of dry dock, they also gave our crew a special tour of the bridge.

7/14/26 Update: USS Silversides Submarine successfully departed Muskegon, Michigan, sailed smoothly through the night, and arrived safely in Sturgeon Bay on the morning of Tuesday, July 14th, 2026 after a 16 hour trip. With clear weather and lake conditions in both Muskegon and Sturegon Bay, and the tow vessels ready to go, Silversides began her towed journey just after 5:30pm on Monday, July 13th, 2026. She was towed by Basic Towing, Inc. tugs Nickelena, who shares a common engine lineage with Silversides, both built by Fairbanks Morse, and Erika Kobasic, a 1939 Coast Guard cutter who served during WWII. Comments from aboard the vessels include “Tows like a dream” from Silversides, “fast and secure” from Nickelena, and “an uneventful crossing” from Erika Kobasic.

Silversides supporters arrived throughout the day to watch the preparations and send off, some settling in at 10am. The parking lot and pier were packed, and a flotilla formed along the channel, giving our legendary and beloved submarine the send off celebration she deserves. Tiki Boiz was on site, enduring the heat to provide much needed sustenance for our community was we waited for Silversides to get underway. She pulled away from her port for the first time since 2001 to shouts and cheers from the crowd and farewells from the families of the skilled crew on board, including 3 museum crew members and 3 museum volunteers, responsible for monitoring each compartment and gauges for the entirety of the journey. Volunteers from Muskegon Lights partnered in hosting this event, assisting from down the pier at the lighthouse.

USS Silversides will now be in the capable hands of Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, where she will undergo essential maintenance and preservation. She is scheduled to return in October, 2026. This complex, multi-phase project is being led by Valkor Energy Services, serving as the Project and Construction Management Team.

Silversides’ Send Off was made possible through the support of DTE Energy, the Muskegon Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office, and the many organizations and volunteers previously recognized. We also extend our sincere thanks to our generous donors, Museum Board members, the City of Muskegon, the USS Silversides Submarine Museum crew, and our dedicated volunteers whose commitment and support helped make this historic event a success.