Galveston Naval Museum — Attraction in Galveston

Beneath the Texas sky, where the Gulf whispers against the shores of Galveston, we found ourselves drawn to history’s embrace, a day unplanned yet steeped in meaning. Seawolf Park, a solitary sentinel on Pelican Island, cradled the remnants of valor: the USS Cavalla and the USS Stewart. Here, amidst salt-laden breezes, we stood in reverence for those who once breathed life into these steel guardians of liberty.

The USS Cavalla, a Gato-class fleet submarine, carried the weight of the Pacific's turbulent tides during World War II. Born in the summer of 1943, her sleek form slipped into the water that November, destined to rewrite history. She would earn her name, "The Avenger of Pearl Harbor," as the only submarine to sink one of the carriers responsible for the attack on that fateful December morning. The men who served aboard her, cramped into tight quarters with hearts steeled by purpose, lived as shadows in the depths, silent hunters in a vast ocean battlefield.

We wandered through her hallowed corridors, imagining the camaraderie and courage it must have taken to endure weeks submerged in silence, always under the threat of depth charges from above. The bunk spaces spoke of shared sacrifice, the control room of relentless precision, and the galley of meals served with humor and hope amid the constant hum of the engines. As we moved through this vessel, we felt the weight of their vigilance, their unity, and their dreams for a world at peace.

Beside her stood the USS Stewart, a destroyer escort and steadfast companion in battle. Together, these ships have become more than mere artifacts, they are storytellers, whispering the triumphs and tragedies of our Greatest Generation.

We paused to reflect on the mission of the Galveston Naval Museum: to preserve, remember, and educate. And yet, as much as these vessels spoke of resilience, the scars of time and neglect could not be ignored. Corrosion had begun its quiet conquest, creeping over the exteriors that should stand as pristine memorials. For the $10 parking fee and $6 entry, we had hoped to see more care, more reverence given to these National Register landmarks. Maintenance, the simplest gesture of gratitude, seemed overdue.

The day, however, was not without its lighter moments. As we made our way to the picnic tables, overlooking the vast waters of Galveston Bay, nature offered her own tribute. Pods of dolphins danced through the waves, their sleek bodies rising and falling in playful arcs. They fed, they frolicked, and they seemed to acknowledge our presence as if to say, "We remember too." Cameras in hand, I captured their movements, a fleeting display of grace that contrasted so starkly with the steel giants nearby.

Snowy egrets, with their unmistakable yellow feet, waded along the shoreline. Cormorants perched like sentinels, while grackles filled the air with their calls. These simple scenes of life intertwined with the echoes of history, reminding us that even in the shadow of sacrifice, the world moves forward, vibrant and full of promise.

The wind off the Gulf carried a chill, but it also carried the voices of the past. We listened, we learned, and we left with a renewed appreciation for the men who lived and died in service to an ideal — freedom. And as we departed, I couldn’t help but feel that these vessels, and the stories they hold, deserve better—a dignity that matches the courage of those who once called them home.

Thomas Corrao Stray Compass Life

#straycompasslife #straycompassphotography #straycompasstravels #straycompassjournal #galvestonnavalmuseum #USSCavalla #USSSeawolf #navalhistory #freedom...

okay so i’m a 12 year old girl so this is from a kids point of view. (getting in) getting in was really quick for a spring break weekday, there were only a few cars in front of us. parking is $10 per car (tickets) the tickets were a bit expensive i believe it was $15 per adult and a 12 year old was counted as an adult. $10 for kids under 12 and for elders. for our family (3 adults and 1 kid) it costed $52 without parking (submarine) inside the submarine there was this really nice and funny old man who was a worker and he told us all about the submarine that we were in ( i learned more about that than school thought me) the submarine was really tight in some of the spots and some spots to get through were really small but my dad fit. i didn’t really like the submarine because i’m a little claustrophobic so i was a little scared. the submarine had a lot of really cool rooms some were open and some were blocked off. (ship) we went into the ship and we were a little bit lost on where to start so it was a little hard usually there are arrows pointing in what directions your supposed to go to but they didn’t really help. the ship was a lot more open than the submarine and i personally liked it more than the submarine even though i’m not really into this type of stuff. (overall) overall i enjoyed it it was really a beautiful day and the ocean was really pretty it was too cold to swim sadly. (kids activities) the kids activity was really entertaining to me and my 10 year old brother it had four questions about the boats and you get a really cool prise at the end! (conclusion) i hope you find the same joy i did in the Galveston...

The museum was amazing and we loved how they had a discount for vets! We learned so much about the ships history and spent hours reading every sign, would highly recommend to anyone looking for something to do in Galveston. The reason for my 2 star rating is because on our way out we stopped at the gift shop and I joking put a hat on my head for not even 2 second and was told that I have to buy it “ because of the sign” . We both looked around and didn’t see a sign. She pointed in front of us and be looked again and didn’t see anything. After just spending a so long looking at every tiny sign around the museum , I was surprised we didn’t see anything. She then pointed to a tiny label from a label maker in the most atrocious font near the hat prices. We were going to buy the patch of the submarine we loved so much but after having to pay 10+ dollars for a hat we didn’t even want it just soured the whole trip so we put it back. I’m not upset by the policy and I can even understand the policy, but a policy is only effective if the customer is able to be aware of it, they need to make a larger sign so people see that when they come in. It’s extremely frustrating and looking back on it we should’ve just walked out of not even bought that hat, but I’d loved the museum so much that despite the customer service at the end that we just paid an left. As long as your aware before u go into the gift shop, then you guys should have a great time. I’m not sure I would be coming back just from that experience...