Albacore Park
Maritime museum · Portsmouth ·

Albacore Park

Maritime museum · Portsmouth ·

Explore an experimental submarine with audio tours

Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by InAweofGod'sCreation/CC BY 2.0
Albacore Park by Greg Boggis
Albacore Park by GregBoggis (Atlas Obscura User) (Used with Permission)
Albacore Park by Greg Boggis
Albacore Park by GregBoggis (Atlas Obscura User) (Used with Permission)
Albacore Park by GregBoggis (Atlas Obscura User) (Used with Permission)
Albacore Park by U.S. Navy (Public Domain)
Albacore Park by U.S. Navy (Public Domain)
Albacore Park by GregBoggis (Atlas Obscura User) (Used with Permission)
Albacore Park by Greg Boggis
Albacore Park by Greg Boggis
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null
Albacore Park by null

Information

569 Submarine Way, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Get directions

Information

Static Map

569 Submarine Way, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Get directions

+1 603 436 3680
ussalbacore.org
@albacorepark
𝕏
@albacorepark

Features

restroom
crowd family friendly
crowd lgbtq friendly
crowd trans safespace
wheelchair accessible parking lot
wheelchair accessible entrance
wheelchair accessible restroom

Last updated

Nov 6, 2025

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23 Places to Relive the Cold War

"Now an exploration museum that allows visitors to sit at its helm and haphazardly spin its knobs and dials, the U.S.S. Albacore was once the speediest sub in the sea, a Cold War vessel full of naval secrets. The U.S.S. Albacore is currently beached on solid ground in Albacore Park, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and has been since 1985. Retired since 1972, the 200 foot submarine spent the better part of two decades acting as a research sub during the Cold War race for the perfect underwater warship. Along with experiments in sonar, radar, code-breaking, and a variety of coatings for the hull, even the hull itself was an experimental tear-drop shape made of high-strength steel. It was a study in hydrodynamics and a success in maximum speed.  How fast could the Albacore go? The Navy isn’t telling, but it was found that its blimp-like shape was so stealthy and sleek it could operate at the same maximum speed as its predecessor, but with half the horsepower. While some of her operations were publicized, much of what the sub could do was kept classified. After an eventful 20 years of exciting submarine action, she was decommissioned in 1972 after repeated diesel engine failures. Standing true to her proud motto, “Praenuntius Futuri’ (Forerunner of the Future) the U.S.S. Albacore’s trial runs shaped every submarine used in today’s U.S. Navy roster.  After being decommissioned, the Albacore was welcomed back to Portsmouth, the city that built her. Her 300 tons of steel were being transported to her awaiting display location when her portly girth got stuck in the mud of Portsmouth Harbor. Without the means to move her any further, the Albacore remained there, and the Albacore Park was brought to her. Along with the free-range exploration of the inside of the sub with audio options to learn more about her (unclassified) adventures, the Albacore is surrounded by a memorial garden that serves as a tribute to the brave submariners who have lost their lives at sea." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/cold-war-tunnels-bunkers-history
InAweofGod'sCreation/CC BY 2.0
USS Albacore Museum

Ryan M.

Google
The USS Albacore is a retired US Navy submarine that is open for all to see. The Albacore was built in the 1950’s in Portsmouth, NH. At the time of its launch in 1953 it had a revolutionary design. The design, operations, and life of the crew are all explained very well on the self-guided tour of the submarine. The submarine could hold a crew of about 54. On the self-guided tour of the submarine you can see the spaces where the crew operated, ate, and slept on the submarine. As you go through the submarine there are red buttons located throughout the cabin. After hitting the button a voice will come on explaining the significance of the part of the sub you’re looking at. It’s really unique that the person talking at each station served on the submarine. Perhaps, the most interesting part of the sub tour is seeing the living quarters for the crew. As you would imagine it’s incredibly small and narrow. You will also have to duck your head down at certain points as you walk through the submarine. You will also get to see the controls of the submarine. The sonar system is interesting and again was revolutionary when first used. On top of that the diesel engine and electric batteries for operation are all visible. When you’re done on the submarine there is a small museum inside the visitor center. It has interesting naval artifacts. This is an excellent site to see in the Portsmouth area. The submarine is a well preserved piece of history. Outside the visitor center are some nice monuments dedicated to those who served. Tours are easy to do and there is a lot to learn at this site.

mk L.

Google
A must visit if you’re in town. When can you ever enter a submarine?! It’s a self-guided tour with audio recording in different sections. Pretty cool experience, I’ll leave it at that!

Jay O

Google
Really cool. You can walk through the whole thing, sit in the chairs, lay in the bunks and touch most of it. There are audio boxes throughout with a description of where you are and stories from some of the actual crew.

Shawn K.

Google
Great time and learning how life was for our Sailors. One piece of advice per park rules children under 2 may not enter the Submarine. The park guides were pleasant on explaining to us as we have a child under 2 and was very understanding to the dangers of the Sub . Great photo ops and the museum.

Everywhere T.

Google
You really need to check this place out. Heart felt moment. Tixs are 13$ i believe to go inside the submarine but we'll worth it. There is a little museum, and a gift shop. They are so nice inside. We'll worth the trip

Greg M.

Google
Little museum with access to the U.S. Navy's testing submarine the Albacore. You can see it in its 4th configuration and see the type of experiments it performed to improve the U.S. sharing force! Definitely reccomend a visit!

Grace F.

Google
It is vey nice to know how it looks like and how people can live inside it. It is a very narrow way and all doors are very small, but people can still squeeze in!

Chris L.

Google
This was a very cool place we stopped at while passing through Portsmouth. The sun is not super big but it's well worth the admission if you are into touring things like this. Highly recommended
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Hee Y.

Yelp
We arrived at 3pm on a Sunday and there were several families and couples milling about. Once you park, you enter a small building where you buy tickets and they have some informational reading material and objects. You go through the building to get to the submarine. They did a nice job of setting up audio recordings outside and inside the submarine so that you can go at your own pace and learn about each section of the sub. However, there were times where the people behind you would skip the audio so the pacing was wrong and it would get crowded. Overall, I found it educational and something the entire family could enjoy.
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Kevin I.

Yelp
Albacore Park was a sight I think everyone who is passing through should check out! My friends and I stopped by on our way to Maine and we were shocked at how much this had to offer: a gift shop, exhibits, a small memorial garden, and tours to the inside of the USS Albacore! The staff were super friendly and knowledgeable about the area, so while also helping those learn about the submarine they also have tips on what routes were best to get to their destination! If you are planning a trip that passes through here, please make a stop to check it out for yourself because the pictures do not do it justice.
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Katherine A.

Yelp
This cool submarine was built in Portsmouth and served as a research sub from 1953-1972 for the U.S. Navy. The retired sub, named Albacore, stands propped in this little park near Portsmouth for visitors to tour. The submarine has a special high strength steel hull that was designed for faster speed. Throughout the sub's life, changes were made to the propellor, engine, stern, hull and other parts to improve operation. There is a small gift shop to purchase tickets to tour inside the vessel. Tickets are fairly inexpensive. The shop was undergoing renovations during our visit. The surrounding park has nice benches to sit and observe the submarine and adjacent river. There is plenty of parking in the park, at least while we were there. Worth a visit if you like history, engineering and subs (not the kind you eat).
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Cindy P.

Yelp
I highly recommend a stop at this historic Naval museum! We've been on nearly every class of submarine, in service and out of service, and this museum was the best of all! The self guided tour with the red speaker buttons all along the way give a very detailed account of both the operations of the submarine and life aboard a submarine. Hubby served 21 years on submarines so the nostalgia alone being able to sit everywhere and touch everything was great! Super knowledgeable staff in the well laid out museum and gift shop and just an all around awesome experience!
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Alicia Z.

Yelp
Really cool little submarine. It's a great look into the life on a submariner. It's a self guided tour with audio description from people that were actually on the boat. The workers in the gift shop are friendly and knowledgeable. Great experience for all ages.
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Aryo S.

Yelp
I was staying at a hotel very close by and as I was driving around I had noticed the submarine and figured I should check it out, how often do you see one just laying around out in the open like that - it was a no brainer. I was able to park easily in the lot which has a plentiful of spaces and then walked over to the visitor center to check in and see how to proceed. The visitor center is where you should start to check out the souvenirs, museum and to purchase a ticket to see the submarine. A ticket at the time of my visit was $9. Visiting hours are from about 9:30 am - 4:30/5:30 pm M-Sun. The museum included various artifacts, pictures, models of past and current ships, and included some short historic films; some new exhibits are also being organized. After checking out the museum I went to check out the submarine. The tour of the submarine is self-guided and features an outside and inside portion with audio stations that you press to hear various information/recordings/stories. As you explore all the different areas/rooms, the audio stations provide stories and personal experiences/thoughts from the crew about daily life and situations. All the areas were accessible and featured such areas control rooms, bunkrooms, mess halls, kitchens and more. I thought this was a cool thing to check out and it was worth the visit. The USS Albacore is a decommissioned research submarine, that was designed by the U.S. Navy to test experimental features used in modern submarines; it pioneered the American version of the teardrop hull form. The Navy tested top-secret features that led to the high-speed silent operation used on modern U.S. submarines. The revolutionary design was derived from extensive hydrodynamic and wind tunnel testing, with an emphasis on underwater speed and maneuverability. It's the third vessel of the United States Navy to be named under the Albacore brand. Albacore was commissioned on December 6, 1953 and was decommissioned on December 9, 1972.
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Keegan Z.

Yelp
This is by far one of my top three museums I have ever been to, and it's a great attraction to stay entertained for a few hours if you happen to be in the area. It's not every day you get to tour a decommissioned submarine, so I planned this as part of a fun weekend road trip with some work colleagues in-between our training weeks in Boston. They had plenty of parking, and the gentleman managing the gift shop and selling tickets was pleasant to speak with. The ticket prices were quite fair and we set off to board the USS Albacore! While the submarine might be big, the internal compartments are tiny, so definitely mind your head while exploring the inside. They have covered pretty much every risky surface in soft stuff, so anyone paying attention should be safe, though make sure you keep a close eye on your kids as they explore the ship. That said, the rooms and displays inside are fantastic and do a great job portraying what everyday life on an experimental sub was like. There are a few things worth seeing outside the sub as well, with a neat-looking hydrofoil craft and some torpedoes nearby. The gift shop was well-appointed and fairly priced. I would direct your attention to the cool little state magnets and the squishy stress-relief submarines, and I definitely loaded up here on gifts for relatives and some tchotchkes for myself as well. The apparel selection is quite good too! When you consider price, ease of access, and the cool/unique factor, it is exceptionally hard to beat this "living museum". All aboard! Overall: 5.0 stars ----- Pros: - Very cool submarine self-guided tours, lots to learn and see. - Plenty of great photo ops around the grounds. - Pleasant service from the one guy running the place. - Surprisingly good gift shop considering the size of the place. Cons: - Mind your head, and those of your party members as well, on the low ceilings. Imagine having to duck down like this every day for months! Just gives you even more respect for the brave submariners.
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Tom D.

Yelp
What a cool experience walking through an old time capsule and just trying to imagine it with a full crew and under water. The self guided tour is really nice with nice informational buttons to push for more details. Great gift shop and small museum about the submarines.

Sara H.

Yelp
While the Albacore itself is pretty cool to walk through and has some nice history to listen to along the way, it's super expensive and the woman at the front desk is rude and has no interpersonal skills. She really shouldn't be working with the public.

John M.

Yelp
Employee gave me attitude and didn't believe I was under 14. My great grandfather served on the albacore and I couldn't even get in to see it! For god sake !!! Tourist rip off scam, just drive by it and go to Maine!! I don't know what smells better tuna out of a can or the use albacore . Don't recommend.
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Brian F.

Yelp
We made a pit stop here on our way up to Maine. Very cool experience for the kids and parents to check out. We learned a few things too. It's important these things stick around, receive funding or donations, and get visited regularly. No one should ever forget our veterans and active service members. Good bless America
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Dawn E.

Yelp
I was entirely disinterested in going here but it's cooler than I'd thought it would be. It's a self guided tour and you can push butters and turn wheels and crawl into bunks and take all sorts of fun pictures. The price is right and it's very close to downtown Portsmouth, which is wonderful.

Karen G.

Yelp
Nice museum. Lots of history on this submarine. There are good signs and audio throughout the sub and we learned so much. Glad we went. Also had a picnic on their grounds afterwards which was nice.

Michelle M.

Yelp
Loved this! It was a lot bigger inside than I thought. My 4YO loved all of the different areas and that he could sit in the captain's chair and press ALL the buttons. We went through the whole thing twice so he could do it again. Twice through we were there about an hour. Inside the little store there's also a small walk through area and the employees are knowledgeable about the history of the sub. They do not allow kids under 3 but if you have been here, you know why. There's a lot of climbing through places and even spots that there are openings on the bottom. Tbh I don't think I would bring someone elderly, who is unsteady either. We will definitely be going back to do it again!
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Ilan F.

Yelp
The tour that I took explained me was it's like to travel in a submarine. I looked through the periscope, to see the bridge. The periscope is in the control room, where submariners navigated and used sonar.
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Neal E.

Yelp
As I was traveling around Portsmouth, NH for work - I came across the park for the U.S.S. Albacore. I was intrigued - and so had to check it out! There is a range of public memorials outside, an interesting museum and gift shop inside, and of course, the submarine. You can actually take tours inside the sub - I did not have time during this visit. However, the museum and the rest of the place was really cool and educational. Definitely worth the time to visit when in the Portsmouth, NH area! #USSAlbacore
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Nick M.

Yelp
This place was very cool to see and stop and stretch our legs. I really appreciated the staff supporting active duty military!
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Michael R.

Yelp
Thank you for your sacrifices. People ask me how could I stay underwater for so long? I just treat it as an everyday event but if you're in the area this place will explain what we see or don't see. From the museum to the actual ship, you get an understanding of what these men went through. I'm going to break this review into two parts. The museum building and the actual USS Albacore AGSS 569. At the building, there are the usual souvenir magnets, shirts, hats, and books but there's also a small theater explaining the submarine force and its history. There's actual equipment that we older submariners all have been trained to use. In my early years in the Navy, I've used an Oxygen Breathing Apparatus and prayed I've never had to use it in a real fire. I've had to crawl on top of batteries and prayed I didn't get electrocuted and I've used a steinke hood for training and prayed I didn't use it in real life. So you know there are weekly religious services at sea on US Naval vessels. Cause I prayed a lot. This place brought back loving memories. As submariners we have a weird sense of humor and....what am I saying?!?!? You had to be nuts to volunteer for sub duty?!?!? As for the actual ship, it's a trip down memory lane. From the cramp rack that is the actual dimensions of a US NAVY coffin. To the small mess hall which doubles as a training room. Or the secretive radio room where I hid my snacks I have a much deeper appreciation for what these men went through. The boat tour is self guided with audio boxes at different sections of the ship explaining what you're seeing. And if you are claustrophobic don't bother coming down just tour the building and watch the film. Overall five stars. You get to see how people did things for God, for Nation, and for each other. Now excuse me, that movie Hunter Killer is out. M
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Bernie W.

Yelp
As a bit of a history buff, this was an interesting visit. True confessions, I remember going to a WW2 sub when I was a child so this is not my first rodeo. It was interesting to see the mess and the quarters and imagine being on duty in this sub which being more of experimental vessel to evaluate different tail configurations and propellers would have been considered a premium assignment, it is located right on the border of Maine so a nice little side trip from the south of Portland beach towns.
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Donna M.

Yelp
The USS Albacore Submarine (205' long & 1,540 tons when full), an experimental research sub that pioneered modern subs, was launched in 1953. The Servicemen on board were termed "The Astronauts of Their Time." I'm not well versed in naval history or engineering, but the 2 hours I spent in the Museum & inside the Sub blew me away. I had a million questions! The Video & Museum were excellent. A series of 5 audio stations outside the Sub, then 11 more inside, provided a lot of information. As a novice, I just could not absorb enough. The super-compact spaces had to make it difficult for the 55 men aboard to move around. Every inch of space in all directions was covered with wires or equipment of some kind. I had little idea of what I was looking at, which made the tour even more amazing. I found the Museum & Memorial totally fascinating & highly recommend this Tour.
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Matthew Joe W.

Yelp
An excellent day trip to the area resulted with capping off our day on a tour of this decommissioned Cold War era submarine. A must for any history buff. Excellent time just exploring the vessel and hearing a self guided tour with audio boxes outside and within the submarine recorded by former crew members who served on the USS Albacore. $9 per ticket was worth every penny.
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Kira M.

Yelp
This was a delightful visit! Reasonably priced, informative and oh so much fun! My son and I spent about an hour and half here, taking our time wandering through the submarine. It does get warm inside but it wasn't unbearable. The audio recordings are interesting, especially the diving procedure and the galley. There is also a little museum inside the gift shop that was very interesting as well. There is a little park and a memorial garden around the outside with plenty of seating to enjoy the outdoors.
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Private C.

Yelp
Cool place. Glad we stopped in to check out. The grounds were well kept neat and clean.
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Andres A.

Yelp
We visited this Museum with our grandson-6 years old and really enjoyed our visit. He was really excited to go into the submarine and so was I. As we walked around and inside it was very educational for us. At each location there was a recording which helped explain what we were looking at and giving us a first hand account by actual servicemen who served on the submarine. Amazing to see the technology of our Navy but even more amazing to see how these servicemen actually lived and worked on this sub. The Museum was definitely worth the visit and I think it is appropriate for all ages.
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Tracy B.

Yelp
Was driving up to Maine (Kittery) the other day and 1A was closed over the Portsmouth Navy Yard Bridge so I was taking a detour & then all of a sudden I looked over & there it was... This HUGE submarine just sitting there... Saw the sign for Museum & Gift Shop but figured What the Hell, theres a huge submarine sitting there, so I cut across 4 lanes of traffic in proper Boston fashion & pulled into the lot (which was empty) - the place was completely closed... But the Ship was completely accessible (the outside at least)... My dad was in the Navy and my son is at a stage in his life where he likes Boats & Trucks, so he was kinda Psyched to see it... Although it was VERY cold... Took several pics, Posed, looked around at all the things in the park area... Will def come back this summer to take a tour! It was kinda cool! Love stuff like this!
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Pamela S.

Yelp
I must admit that after watching "Das Boot" I've gotten a little fascinated with submarines and thought it would be fun to visit one in person. A few weeks later my friend and I were driving to Portsmouth, and she makes a couple of wrong turns. Then while being rerouted via GPS she looks to her left and we see the huge honking USS Albacore, just sitting there beckoning us! We knew we had to go back for a visit, so we did. This was an experimental sub commissioned in the early 1950s to test sub technology. For a very fair admission price, you can tour this beauty and touch pretty much everything inside including checking out the bunkers (really tough to get up on those higher bunks) to peeking through the periscope (which gives you a view of a couple of local houses whose owners probably have no idea the sub is spying on them.) The "please touch" aspect makes this a good attraction for kids that may be old enough to get a kick out of it. It is indeed very confining and the doors from one section of the sub to another are on the narrow side and seemed to only be about four and a half feet tall, so be prepared to do some stooping. Also we went on a day with low humidity and in the low 70s, and the inside of the sub was still stuffy. It's a self guided tour, so along the inside and outside of the sub are audio stations that give you an idea of what life was like for the submariners of the USS Albacore. Inside the visitor's center are tons of submarine memorabilia including a glow-in-the-dark gauge from an actual WWII German U-boat, and behind the center is a memorial park dedicated to all American submariners. A fascinating look at American naval history up-close and recommended.
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Laura L.

Yelp
We just arrived to Portsmouth and I was looking for things to do before we headed to the main area and found this submarine. This is something you could easily do in 30 minutes during the slow time. We went in the afternoon midweek and there was only one other group of people there. We didn't do the tour but simply walked around the submarine. It was pretty cool to see since I've never seen a military submarine before. They do have self guided tours for a reasonable price as well. After we walked around and took some pictures we went to check out the little store. It had some souvenirs and some reading material on the walls about the history of the submarine. It's a cool thing to check out real quick and isn't far from the downtown area.
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Gary L.

Yelp
Great place, it was good to get out and visit. Nice museum and touring the sub was very informative. Easy to get to right off the highway.
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Will P.

Yelp
A real piece of important maritime history and engineering. If a visitor from afar this is as good as it gets for a rainy day activity. Welcome aboard!!!!
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Brian R.

Yelp
I know Portsmouth, NH doesn't have many Yelp reviews, but I was shocked to see that this place wasn't even listed. I was brought here once or twice as a child and it was one of my favorite museums. The submarine itself was pretty impressive considering its age and the duties it performed. The submarine itself was built about 5-10 minutes north at Portsmouth Naval Yard in Kittery, Maine. (Don't ask why the Portsmouth Yard is in Maine.....I never figured it out.) It was commisioned in 1953 and used mostly as a research submarine. Unfortunately it only had 19 years of seatime and was decommissioned in 1972. From what I have read, it was never an actual warship during the Korean War and Vietnam War, but was used during that time for training and research exercises with other countries that the United States were allied with. I think that if you have a family you should bring the kids here. The submarine is a national landmark and worth stopping in on the way if you are on I-95 or Route 1. The admission prices are low and i'd pay to visit this once again...........then again I am prior Navy so this stuff always impresses me. ADMISSION Adults, $5.00 Children 7-17, $3.00; Children under 7, free Military, $4.00 Family, $10.00 (2 adults and 1 or 2 children under the age of 18)
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Mike M.

Yelp
Fun way to get a break from the more touristy parts of Portsmouth and learn some obscure things about US naval history. We went on a sweltering July afternoon, which I would not recommend as the sub is poorly ventilated, but fortunately we had the place to ourselves. The audio tour was fun and it was interesting to see how the seamen lived and worked on this experimental submarine. The museum attached had some cool pieces, despite being small. Worth the cost of admission.
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Heather F.

Yelp
I love it here. I used to bring all my friends here to see this sub when I was a teenager. My dad was in the Navy for 22 years, I am completely fascinated by Navy artifacts and memorabilia. Its not often you can cram yourself into an old sub and be transported back in time. It blows my mind that so many men could live on that sub at one time. If you're in Portsmouth and have some time to kill, stop by the USS Albacore, check out the sub and the little gift shop. Its a self guided tour and takes about 30-45 minutes to see everything. Admissions fees are very reasonable. Adults - $7.00 Children 7-17 - $3.00; Children under 7 - free Active duty military - free Retired military (20 years) - $4.00 Family - $14.00 (2 adults and 1 or 2 children under the age of 18
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Jenna P.

Yelp
Unique stop in Portsmouth with a very friendly staff! **Be advised this sub is open to the air only by the entrance and the exit on opposing ends, so it is very stagnant and gets HOT, HOT, HOT in the summer.** We ended up rushing through it because the stagnant heat was making us sweat too much. Other than that, the self-guided tour was just our pace ;). It's amazing the amount of technology they can jam in such a vessel! It's worth the time and the price. Great for all ages. This sub might be a little difficult to navigate for people who have difficulty fitting in tight quarters or bending down through short entrances. Enjoy!
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Alex M.

Yelp
After driving past this museum since I've been a kid with my father and always wanting to go, finally 18 years later I went with my son today. Not only is this an amazing self guided audio tour the gentleman working behind the counter Is very knowledgeable, and just all the things the see are wonderful. Well worth the hour Drive I will definitely come back with the rest of my Family.
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Don W.

Yelp
The Albacore is an awesome reminder of the cold war. It's cramped and couldn't have been enjoyable for the men who sailed in her after the first few hours. Go see it once, then go see the Nautilus in Groton, Connecticut. And when you're done and you can imagine the inside of a submarine, learn about the USS Thresher. This is very scary stuff when you think about it and it's why many people automatically thank anyone who has served. Why not five stars? I wish there was more to the museum, but maybe that would give me nightmares.
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Juan Antonio Carlos X.

Yelp
For just $5, why wouldn't you want to scrunch, hunch and stumble through an actual 50s-era submarine and marvel at how small, tight, cramped and uninviting for human life these things actually were? To some it's just an old sub in a ditch. To others, including old Navy veterans and many locals who have the Portsmouth Navy Yard in their veins, this is much more than a sub in a ditch. How much more depends on who you talk to. A roadside attraction worth stopping for. To enhance your visit, go through the official Web site and learn all about the boat's history. It is fascinating.
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Melissa J.

Yelp
This was a great place to visit. For $6 you can explore the inside of the submarine. It's crazy to see how crammed in everything is. I loved learning about the history of it. It's also pretty cool that it's dry docked as you really get a feeling for how big it is since you can see the whole thing. For such a small price you should definitely visit too.
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Jessica C.

Yelp
What a neat place! My hubby and checked the Albacore out today on a whim. When you go into the gift shop to purchase your ticket, don't forget to head around the backside to the museum. There are a lot of neat artifacts back there, along with background and history of the sub. The self guided tour sounds like it would be lame, but it's really well done. There are usually stories by veteran submariners interjected with each station's information. Cool stuff. This is definitely not a tour for those with mobility issues, as there are a lot of tight spaces and stairs. It's amazing to get a glimpse into the life of those living on a submarine. Don't just drive on by here, check it out!
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James R.

Yelp
Subs are cool. Not many you can walk through on an unguided tour. If you are in the area, worth a 30 minute stop. If you are not, don't drive here just for this.
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Upstate Y.

Yelp
I loved it. Super awesome. Going through the sub was amazing. You can actually turn and twist all the knobs you want. Periscope actually works. The entire sub has audio clips you can play to learn more about it during your self guided tour. Super tight quarters. So cool!

Cassie T.

Yelp
Educational, self-guided and self-paced tour. Good for an hour at the most. Not great for smaller kids with short attention spans. Cute little gift shop.
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Judith M.

Yelp
Not a military fan, but this gives respect for technology & men who were willing to endure discomfort & danger to try it out. Awesome.
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Robert M.

Yelp
Always a great time and worth the stop. New England is full of great submarine historical spots and activities. Take advantage. For just 5 bucks, or 10 for a family of 4, you can help to preserve history and crawl through a submarine. It will give you a whole new perspective on what these guy really went through, nit what Hollywood would have you believe. I honestly don't know how they lived like this. It is full of amazing history.

Marea W.

Yelp
Absolutely a must see. Having a chance to see this was a great experience. Lots of history in that submarine. The man in the visitors center was nice and knowledgeable. Self guided tour - can stay as long or as little as you choose to. Worth the admission, and even better if you are Active Duty.
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Cigi B.

Yelp
So much fun!!!! You can walk through the submarine and its it amazing. Highly recommend this place for some inexpensive fun.
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Caroline H.

Yelp
Nice tour. Very informative. Self guided tour.... Cramped submarine so you need to be agile. Loved the museum and video too.
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David E.

Yelp
I visited here last December. A really great tour of the first "modern" sub. Actually the only thing modern about it was its shape. This was an experimental submarine used to test new props, fin arrangements, dive techniques, etc. So don't expect weaponry. Very interesting self-guided tour. I really enjoyed the recorded recollections of various crew members. That really rounded out the tour. The biggest thing I took from this tour was its validation of my decision to join the USAF instead of the Navy :). A must visit for any military history buff. FYI they do have military/military retiree discounts.
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Chris G.

Yelp
Great visit and experience... Gives a true view into our military history and you get to experience what's like to live in a submarine #Awesome

Richard M.

Yelp
The whole experience is great starting with the museum and all of the displays of equipment and the movie that explains why this submarine was even built, and briefly touches on the struggle to get it into it's present permanent home, the tour is self guided but the audio they provide all along the way is spot on when they tell you "look on the upper right side of the hull" what they are talking about is abundantly clear. They have a memorial dedicated to all the Submariners that were lost during WWll, and the Navy veteran inside the museum was very informative and really adds to the experience.