About USS Nautilus
Moored beside the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, USS Nautilus is a black, cigar-shaped machine that changed naval history. Visitors can enter the preserved submarine and move through the cramped compartments where sailors lived beside the world’s first operational naval nuclear reactor.
Nautilus was launched in 1954 and soon transmitted the historic message, Underway on nuclear power. Unlike diesel-electric submarines, it could remain submerged for long periods without surfacing to recharge batteries. That capability transformed the submarine from a vessel that frequently surfaced into a true undersea ship.
In 1958, Nautilus completed Operation Sunshine and became the first vessel to travel beneath the geographic North Pole. The route crossed under Arctic ice where surfacing could be impossible, making navigation errors unusually dangerous. Its success demonstrated both nuclear endurance and the strategic possibilities of polar travel.
The self-guided route passes bunks, control spaces, torpedo areas, narrow hatches, pipes, gauges, and machinery. The surrounding museum traces submarine development from early experiments to modern fleets, including unusual rescue devices, weapons, and compact undersea technology.
Visitor info: Admission is free, but security rules and operating hours apply because the museum is on U.S. Navy property. Narrow passageways and stairs limit accessibility aboard the submarine. Check the official site before visiting.