USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park

ggflier
ggflier
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Pearl Harbor/USS Bowfin

  • April 26, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by creekland from East Berlin, Pennsylvania
Pearl Harbor/USS Bowfin

The USS Bowfin is a submarine from WWII, nicknamed the "Pearl Harbor Avenger" since it sank 44 enemy ships. As a note, the USS Bowfin and USS Missouri are NOT National Park run (even though they are in the same location), so there are entry fees for these. They are run by preservation groups, so the money you spend goes into preserving these wonderful monuments to history.

Anyway, you can tour it (self-guided) separately for $10, or you can get a combo pass for a self-guided tours of the Bowfin and the USS Missouri for $26 ($16 for kids). We opted for both. We also opted for the headsets that explained the tour, which are HIGHLY recommended, as there are no signs explaining the same things, so you learn almost nothing without them.

BIG NOTE: Kids under 4 are NOT allowed on the submarine. Otherwise, the last tour leaves at 4:30pm and the place closes at 5pm.

If you get to Pearl Harbor early enough, you DO have time to do all three vessels (Arizona, Bowfin, and Missouri), and it's worth it to do all three. The symbolism is really neat: where WWII started, a vessel that did a bit of the fighting, and where it ended. It's a good history lesson.

To get to the sub, go RIGHT (as you're looking at the water) from the parking lot at Pearl Harbor. You'll see it, no shuttle necessary. Pay for your tour (or a museum visit) and go aboard. You can see crew quarters, fore and aft torpedo rooms, the periscope, engineering, mess deck, and other compartments. Allow about an hour, more if you spend a bit of time in the museum. It wasn't crowded at all when we were there—it might depend on the day—but probably most folks just want to see the Arizona Memorial. Why come all that way and NOT see other important WWII crafts? They are REAL, not imitations.

From journal Hawaii Vacation - Next Stop - Busy Oahu

USS Bowfin Submarine

  • July 16, 2005
  • Rated 4 of 5 by dina4 from los angeles, California
It's impossible to imagine that sailors stayed in this submarine for 2 months at a time. A tour of the Bowfin is fascinating! You get to climb below board and see the the cramped quarters, torpedos, and control panels of a real WWII submarine. It was called the "Pearl Harbor Avenger", and it is a truly interesting experience for ALL ages (although you have to be 4 or older to be admitted).

Some tips:

1. The audio guide is wonderful. It's narrated by someone who actually sailed on the Bowfin during WWII.

2. If you're claustrophobic, you may want to pass on this adventure. The walking spaces are very narrow, and there can be a lot of people in front of you and behind you.

3. Visit the adjacent submarine museum. It's definitely worth a 15-minute walk-through.

From journal A Week in Kailua, Oahu

USS Bowfin Submarine

  • May 5, 2004
  • Rated 3 of 5 by ggflier from Los Angeles, California
USS Bowfin Submarine

Near the Arizona Memorial visitor center, lies this submarine used during World War II. It is credited with sinking 16 vessels. The park offers a submarine tour, a museum featuring an exhibition of the history of submarines and related artifacts, and a mini-theatre. There is a waterfront memorial honoring submariners lost in World War II.

Operating hours are daily from 8am–5pm and adult admission is $8. There is a walkman headphone audio tour to guide you through the tight quarters of the Submarine. Take advantage of it, as there are lots of interesting facts and info that is offered throughout the tour. It was really pretty amazing to see things like the tiny sleeping and eating quarters for the submariners, the machinery, and hear about the daily regimen these men had to follow.

From journal A Week in Waikiki

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