Climb aboard a World War II
fleet submarine.
USS Bowfin completed nine successful war patrols in the Pacific between 1943 and 1945. Today she is moored at Pearl Harbor as a National Historic Landmark – open to the public, and waiting for you to step inside.
What you’ll experience
What you’ll experience aboard.
A historic submarine, three museum galleries, the Waterfront Memorial, and outdoor exhibits – all on a 2.5-acre site at Pearl Harbor.
01 – The Submarine
USS Bowfin (SS-287).
A Balao-class fleet attack submarine, christened on December 7, 1942 – exactly one year after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Bowfin completed nine successful war patrols in the Pacific between 1943 and 1945, helping to make famous the term “Silent Service.”
- War patrols 9
- Crew complement 80 men
- Christened Dec 7, 1942
- Commissioning 1 May 1943
- First War PatrolAug – Oct 1943
02 – Aboard the Boat
See how the Silent Service lived and fought.
Climb aboard to see how confining and demanding the life of the undersea warrior was. Walk through the forward and aft torpedo rooms, the galley, the wardroom, and the control room – restored to her 1945 configuration.
03 – The Museum
Three galleries. Over 4,000 artifacts.
Reopened in 2021 following a $20 million renovation, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum tells the story of the U.S. Submarine Force from World War II to the present. Models, weapon systems, photography, battle flags, recruiting posters, and a dissected Poseidon missile.
04 – Waterfront Memorial
Honoring 52 boats. More than 3,600 men.
The Waterfront Memorial is dedicated to the 52 submarines and more than 3,600 officers and crewmen lost during World War II – telling the story of each lost submarine and listing the names of her crew.
05 – App
Your tour is in the app.
The full visitor experience – narrated tour, maps, exhibit detail – lives in the Pacific Fleet Sumbarine Museum app. Free to download, included with admission.
Premium Experience
The Captain’s Tour.
A private tour led by a former U.S. Navy submarine commanding officer. Limited availability daily.
Visiting Pearl Harbor
One of four Pearl Harbor Historic Sites.
The USS Bowfin sits inside the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, adjacent to the Visitor Center. Schools and visitors often combine a Bowfin tour with the USS Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri Memorial, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
The two-day Passport to Pearl Harbor includes one general admission to each of the four sites – visit in whichever order best suits your schedule.
Our mission
The best classroom in Pearl Harbor.
A child may forget a chapter in a textbook, but they rarely forget the moment they step aboard a real World War II submarine. USS Bowfin gives Hawai’i’s students an opportunity to experience history where it happened – to see, touch, and understand the sacrifices made in defense of freedom. Your donation keeps these educational visits free for schools and helps preserve this historic vessel for generations to come.
“One of fewer than 20 surviving WWII fleet submarines – the only one moored at Pearl Harbor.”
– Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association