The U.S. Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, with a submarine sail out front

U.S. Naval Undersea Museum

Photo: Alex S via Google Maps

The U.S. Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, on the Kitsap Peninsula, is one of ten official Navy museums run under the Naval History and Heritage Command. Its whole focus is the Navy beneath the surface: submarines, torpedoes, diving and salvage, and the science of the deep ocean.

The museum sits on Naval Base Kitsap land, next to a branch of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, but you do not need base access to visit. Huge outdoor artifacts greet you before you reach the door, and the 18,000 square foot exhibit hall inside holds what the museum calls the nation’s most comprehensive collection of U.S. Navy undersea artifacts. It is an easy detour between Poulsbo and Bremerton.

What You’ll See

  • Giants on the lawn. Outdoor displays include the 55 ton sail of the nuclear fast attack submarine USS Sturgeon, the deep diving bathyscaphe Trieste II, and the deep submergence rescue vehicle Mystic, which appeared in the film The Hunt for Red October.
  • A submarine control room. You can step inside a control room, and the museum’s collection includes the control room of USS Greenling with its original Cold War equipment.
  • Undersea weapons. Torpedoes are one of the museum’s specialty collections, alongside mines and missiles.
  • Diving, salvage and undersea vehicles. Gear and craft that show how the Navy works, rescues and explores in the deep, plus the story of how Navy trained dolphins help protect sailors.
  • A family learning area. An interactive space geared to younger visitors.

The Story Behind It

The Secretary of the Navy established the museum in 1979, and the Naval Undersea Museum Foundation formed the following year to support it. A preview center opened in 1991, and the full museum was operating by 1994. The USS Sturgeon sail arrived in August 1995 and has been a landmark out front ever since.

The museum’s exhibits interpret the ocean environment, the development of undersea weapons technology, U.S. submarines and Navy diving and salvage. Behind the galleries is a research library of more than 6,500 volumes, along with World War II submarine war patrol records and oral histories.

Tips for Your Visit

  • No base pass needed. The museum says that although it sits on Naval Base Kitsap land, visiting does not require base access.
  • The museum and its parking areas are wheelchair accessible, with ramps, an elevator and two wheelchairs available to use during your visit.
  • Parking is on site.
  • For a meal, the museum points visitors to waterfront dining at the Keyport marina, with more restaurants and lodging in nearby Poulsbo and Bremerton.
  • Make it a Navy history day: the Undersea Museum and the Puget Sound Navy Museum in Bremerton together form Navy Museums Northwest.

Plan Your Visit

Address: 1 Garnett Way, Keyport, WA 98345
Phone: 360.396.4148
Website: navalunderseamuseum.org
Hours and admission: Check the museum website for current days, hours, and admission before you visit.
Directions: View on Google Maps