A steel hull that survived depth charges in the Pacific now sits quietly on the edge of Muskegon Lake, and you can walk through nearly every inch of it. The USS Silversides Submarine Museum centers on SS-236, a Gato-class submarine credited with sinking 23 enemy vessels during World War II, making her one of the most effective boats to serve in the Pacific Theater. She’s now a designated National Historic Landmark, and she’s called Muskegon home since 1987.
What makes this place stick with people isn’t just the war record, though that’s plenty impressive on its own. It’s the chance to physically squeeze through the same hatches, bunks, and control rooms that a crew of young sailors lived in for weeks at a time underwater. Paired with a two-story museum building full of artifacts and stories, it adds up to one of the more hands-on WWII history stops in the Midwest.
Highlights Worth Your Time
The submarine tour itself is the main event, and it’s genuinely eye-opening for anyone who hasn’t spent time in a WWII-era vessel. You move through the torpedo rooms, the galley, the engine spaces, and the tiny berthing areas, getting a real sense of how little personal space sailors had while patrolling enemy waters for months on end. The claustrophobic layout isn’t a design flourish for tourists; it’s exactly how the boat operated in 1942.
Inside the museum building, exhibits trace the broader story of submarine warfare, life aboard Great Lakes naval vessels, and the local sailors who served. Displays include uniforms, equipment, and archival material that give context to what you just walked through on the sub itself. It’s a solid complement rather than filler, and it rounds out the visit for people who want more than just a walk-through.
One of the most talked-about offerings is the overnight program, where groups can actually sleep in the original bunks aboard the vessel, the same tight racks WWII crew members used between shifts. It’s run as an organized overnight adventure rather than a casual add-on, and it’s the kind of experience you don’t find at most museums, submarine-themed or otherwise.
Right now there’s a notable twist to the story: the Silversides is away from Muskegon for the first time in decades, undergoing a roughly $3.5 million preservation project at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. It’s the boat’s first significant dry dock work in more than 50 years, partly funded through a Save America’s Treasures grant from the National Park Service, and it’s aimed at keeping her hull and structure stable for decades to come.
Atmosphere & Setting
The setting itself is part of the draw. The museum sits right along the Muskegon Lake channel, with open water views and a working waterfront feel that fits a naval history stop. It’s an outdoor-and-indoor combination: you’ll walk the open-air deck and climb down narrow interior ladders on the sub, then head into the climate-controlled museum building for the exhibit galleries.
Inside the submarine, the atmosphere is authentically cramped and metallic, all narrow passageways, low overheads, and dim lighting exactly as a WWII crew would have experienced it. There’s no attempt to modernize or soften that feeling, which is precisely what makes it memorable. The museum building, by contrast, is more open and traditionally laid out, giving your eyes and legs a break after ducking through submarine corridors.
Other Considerations
Can I actually tour the submarine right now? Not at the moment. As of this writing, the Silversides is in Wisconsin undergoing dry dock preservation work and is expected to return to Muskegon in October 2026. The museum building, exhibits, and programming continue to operate normally in the meantime, so it’s still worth a visit, just double-check the sub’s return status before planning a trip specifically to board her.
What does admission cost? Combination tickets covering the submarine, cutter, and museum run $17.50 for adults, $15 for seniors and veterans, and $13 for kids ages 5 to 17. Children under 5 get in free, and active-duty military are admitted free as well.
What are the hours? Summer months (June through August) the museum is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm. Spring and fall hours run Sunday through Thursday 10am to 4pm and Friday/Saturday 10am to 5:30pm, while winter hours are more limited, with the museum closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Is this a good stop for families? Yes, though keep in mind the submarine’s interior involves ladders, low clearances, and narrow passageways that aren’t ideal for very young kids, strollers, or anyone with mobility concerns. The museum building itself is far more accessible and works well for all ages.
USS Silversides Submarine Museum
📍 1346 Bluff St, Muskegon, MI 49441
Website: https://silversidesmuseum.org/
