The Fin Project.

Submarine Relics: The Fin Project

Unveiled in 1998, "The Fin Project" is made out of 22 diving-plane fins from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, salvaged from decommissioned 1960s Navy nuclear submarines. The pieces are mounted upright into the ground of a park, like the fins of a pod of Puget Sound Orca whales or a school of Washington state salmon.

A well-worn dedication plaque from artist John T. Young states that the purpose of The Fin Project was to promote peace, turning weapons into art, and recycling. Back in 1998 a plaque on each fin identified the sub that it came from, but some or all of those those plaques may be missing now.

The Fin Project proved so popular (and decommissioned nuclear submarines so plentiful) that Young built a second version in Florida, even though that state has no Orcas or salmon.

Submarine Relics: The Fin Project

Address:: 6505 NE 65th St., Seattle, WA
Directions:: Drive east on NE 65th St. until it ends at Magnuson Park. At the stop sign continue straight onto Lake Shore Dive NE, and follow until it ends at a parking lot. From this point the road is blocked and pedestrian-only, but you'll see the fins just to the right of it.
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

More on Submarine Relics: The Fin Project

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