Submarine USS Growler — Local services in New York

This was my second time touring through Growler. I was struck this time by how good a history lesson she can be for those that have come of age since the Cold War ended (I lived through it and it is fascinating trying to make sense of it for my 15-year-old daughter). This is especially so of the pre-exhibit before entering the actual submarine, with its propaganda posters, maps and artifacts (some of these captured in my photos). I think it incredibly important for younger adults to get a sense of how close we came to destroying civilization—and by we I mean humans on both sides of the atomic/nuclear standoff. Growler herself was a tiny interim step in maintaining a standoff, one that led to far larger vessels with nuclear engines and carrying numerous intercontinental ballistic missiles that can be launched from under the ocean. Growler, with her unreliable engines, fairly primitive (compared to later ICBMs and cruise missiles) main weapon and that she and her crew had to take up station just offshore of a remote part of the Soviet Union all make a fascinating, if brief chapter in the evolution of...

The USS Growler Submarine and Museum is awesome; I highly recommend it for everyone- elementary school age and up. Older folks who have mobility issues may not be able to board the sub because, as you can imagine, it’s tight & cramped. Also, you have to go through bulkheads and down steep stairs. It’s a real testament of how hard it must have been to live and work on the sub as a Navy sailor for 6-9 months at a time.

Do not skip the Growler Museum! It gives guests an excellent perspective of the sailor’s daily life on sub and the Growler’s important role of keeping the USSR in-check during the Cold War in the 1960’s.

Mr. Bill Peters served as a Torpedo-man on the USS Growler back in the day and now, many years later, he works on the Museum staff to keep the USS Growler in tip top condition and answers all kinds of questions below decks. He’s super proud of his ship and always makes time to give former Growler Sailors (usually in their 80’s) the VIP treatment while touring the sub.

I’ve been to the Museum and sub couple of times and learn something new each visit. I hope you enjoy it as...

Queueing is provided with virtually no shade, and timing estimates are grossly underestimated (we queued well past the 1 hour wait and waited 1.5 hours!). I've been inside before and am beginning to wonder whether it is worth it. Bear in mind that only 25 are allowed inside at one time, making queueing even more frustrating. Staff (Daniel, who thinks the small awning at the end of the queue is adequate) don't care or have any empathy about queue conditions when mentioned. Turns out it must have taken 10 minutes (max) to get through the sub in batches of 25, so God only knows why this was such a truly slow and painful experience. Please don't be sorry after the event when you should know the tourist customer is alway right PS queue in the canteen is appalling and there's only 3...