Portsmouth, New Hampshire - USS Albacore, Landlocked Submarine

This is a Cold War experimental sub built in 1952 and dragged out of the water in 1984, placed on way too small concrete blocks in a ditch, and turned into a museum. I never heard of the Albacore (lived in NH for 7 years and grew up in New England) until I noticed the sign on Rt. 95. Best of all, you get to go on by yourself and play with stuff. Great for kids! Got to look through periscope; sit in pilots chairs and play with controls; sit in radar and sonar man stations; etc. The sub was the first to have the cylindrical design that all subs now have.

There was information about guided tours, but we never saw anyone other the the guy behind the ticket counter/gift shop (one small display case, mostly navy patches). Apparently the only people who know about this place are foreign engineering students, who you'll have to fight to get your turn in the pilot's chairs.

There is also a monument to sub disasters, such as the USS Thresher, on the grounds. [Bob, 07/04/2004]