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Uss Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park
Rating Details »
Categories: Landmarks & Historical Buildings, Tours, Museums [Edit]
11 Arizona Memorial DrHonolulu, HI 96818
(808) 423-1341
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
8 reviews for Uss Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park
So when someone asks you if you've ever been inside a submarine do you want to be able to say yes? If so, this is the place for you to visit. You get to walk atop the sub and descend into it and walk the length of the inside from torpedo room to torpedo room.
If you don't like confined places skip this place. If you're tall (over 6 ft) and don't to spend your time bent over skip this. If you're not going to be able to maneuver through tiny door ways with big step ups and not a lot of head room you'll want to skip this.
If you do end up inside expect to find examples of everything about sub life from bunking to kitchen to bathrooms to ammo. You get to see the control room and engines and such.
I skipped the museum so I can't be sure how great it is but going on the sub alone was a pretty neat experience. And now when someone asks when the last time was that I was on a submarine, I can say "oh August '09."
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Interesting to see, but if you are heavy/tall/ and/or awful in small quarters, skip this.
I was okay for the 20 minutes we were in there but when I think of sailors on there for months I just can't imagine!!!
This one the audio tour is free.
Also, you can get a souvenier pic for $10 at the end printed on newspaper with the headlines from Dec 7, 1941 and ads from the same time.
We did the whole package for $37 so I am not sure what the specific price for this one is.
The most moving part is the 'tombstones' they have erected for each lost submarine. Very moving. Watch your head in the submarine! It was amazing the could feed the whole crew from a closet sized kitchen.
Located in Pearl Harbor along with the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri. Each are considered a different attraction. The USS Arizona is considered to be a National Park, so it's free, but to check out this submarine, it'll run you $10 - or $24 if you combine it with a stop on the USS Missouri.
The $10 includes a self-guided tour with the option of an audio headset.
I enjoy history and I suppose I also enjoy tours of military vessels from time to time, so all in all, this was pretty cool.
Tip #1: Don't bring a bag (any bag) as all bags (big or small) must be checked for $3.
Tip #2: If you're staying in Waikiki, spend the money for a cab to Pearl Harbor. While the bus is only $2, it's a horrific one hour trip each way on the #20 or #42, as the bus stops probably 150 freaking times.
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The Bowfin is so cool!
The Museum explains the history of submarines and they audio tour helps make it all a little more interesting (the kids tour is great). You then get to go on the sub - which is pristine-ly preserved! The audio tour has old crew members on it and lots of cool sounds. Also, the Bowfin has this periscope thing on land that LOST films on!!!
The food is cheap (under $5) and good as well as some cool souvenirs. Definitely head over before or after the Arizona Memorial!
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Want to see some really awesome homoerotic Navy recruitment posters? THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO! My favorite is the buff shirtless man giving a come hither stare over his shoulder with a sign telling you that you can learn to drive a $7,000,000 machine!
Anyway, even if you don't have the fascination with old Navy posters that I do, this place is great. You get to go through the submarine, and there are two options of audio tour (included with the price of going into the submarine & museum): kids, and adult. I listened to bits of both, and both had interesting interviews with folks.
If you are visiting, or have friends who are visiting, feel like being a tourist for a day, or want to see the spectacular homage to sexuality in Navy propoganda...
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After touring this floating museum you will have a new respect for the men of the Navy Submarine Service. The extremely cramped working and living conditions are very daunting. It is truly amazing that these vessels patrolled the seas for months at a time with absolutely no creature comforts.
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Took the audio tour of the USS Bowfin and learned all about life on the submarine. I started out on the "adult" tour, but that got pretty dry so I switched to the "kids" tour. That was definitely more interesting, maybe because it was a lot shorter. I was a bit claustrophobic so I was glad to get out of there when the tour was over.
Then I went into the museum. At first, I tried to read and look at all the exhibits. There were tons of pictures, models, and other submarine paraphernalia. I was quickly overwhelmed so I decided to just skim the rest of it. It was all pretty interesting. I walked away feeling quite patriotic.
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