USS Albacore Museum
USS Albacore Museum
4.5
Speciality Museums • History Museums
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9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
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About
The USS Albacore is a research submarine, designed by the U.S. Navy to test experimental features used in modern submarines. The Navy tested top-secret features that led to the high-speed silent operation used on modern U.S. submarines. Today, Albacore has been preserved and is opened to the public Every visitor can go inside and explore this remarkable submarine. You will be able to look through the periscope, explore the control room, engineering spaces, and bunkrooms, and hear crew members tell of things that happened when they were at sea. Tours through Albacore are self-guided. As you walk through the ship, a series of audio stations highlight Albacore's unique features. Recordings by former crew members tell about daily life and some hair-raising incidents aboard the sub. The Visitor Center is your starting point for the tour. The Gift Shop offers souvenirs of your visit. The Memorial Garden preserves the memory of those who have served on Albacore and other U.S. submarines.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

4.5
616 reviews
Excellent
382
Very good
196
Average
30
Poor
5
Terrible
3

Joni P
Atlanta, GA44 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
About 50 men would go on missions for up to two months long in this cramped submarine over the course of the 20 years it was in service. You have to see how tight the ship was inside to appreciate how it took dedicated people to sacrifice and serve of a submarine.
In addition to touring the submarine, there's a small museum inside to see. More info was needed about " the infamous night of April 20, 1963"... This just left us hanging as there was no further info about what happened that night. We only found out about another submarine's fatal explosion that night by asking the staff.
Very interesting!
Written October 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

AC97
North Dakota5,231 contributions
Aug 2020
Excellent trip! We arrived at approximately 1 pm and made our way inside to buy our tickets. There were several docents positioned outside that provided useful information about the submarine and its history. There were also several informational plaques located throughout the outside museum and inside the submarine that contained buttons with the actual voices of crew members that worked on the submarine. These voices gave us detailed information about what we were seeing and how life was like on the submarine. We actually got to go inside of the submarine, and we saw the bunks that the crew members slept on, the kitchen, the dining area, the bathrooms and showers, the control room and the engineering aspect. I gained a lot of knowledge doing this tour and thought it was pretty neat that we got to step inside of an actual submarine. The self guided tour was very detailed and I left without having any additional questions.

TIP: I recommend spending 1 hour here if you truly want to see everything.
Written April 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Eosphotog
Amherst, NH109 contributions
Aug 2022
We drove past this on the way to a habor cruise and just had to stop by. The boat is in excellent condition and is rich in history. Truely unique, the USS Albacore is a test submarine, and experimented with several technologies with the successes put into service. Having visited many museum ships, the Albacore does NOT show its age (perhaps due to not being on the water?), and as a result really gives a good idea of what conditions were like when it was in service.
Written August 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

NittanyLi0nFan
State College, PA104 contributions
Oct 2022
This museum is a very easy way to learn a vast amount about the research that was done via boats like the Albacore to make our modern day submarine fleet the best it can be. This is a very good stop for families with pre-teen through young adult kids who have an interest in technology related topics. So much education in a very short time.
Written December 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

ellen06804
Danbury, CT172 contributions
Sep 2022
There are two parts to this visit. Part one is the little visitor center/museum with a small area of exhibits. It is quite interesting. The second part is the submarine which is very very amazing to see and the exhibit is well-planned with push-button audio explanations as you go on your self-guided tour. Kids will love it. Highly recommend.
Written September 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

angeleyes27
Brigantine, NJ4,965 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
This place has a touching memorial garden to all those who lost their lives on submarines and a small museum and gift shop. The highlight is touring the submarine. Several spots especially entry doors are very narrow and you have to duck to pass through. It is amazing to see how tight a fit the bunks were. There are several recordings throughout the exhibit to educate you on the submarine
Written June 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

CK2000
New York City, NY277 contributions
Aug 2021
We visited the USS Albacore as it was on our way to our ultimate destination. The museum is a self-guided audio tour with various speakers which are activated with the push of a button. The tour provided very interesting information about the ship. As we walked through the ship, we got a distinct feel for living and working in such limited quarters. It was nice to be able to walk through the entire submarine and visit all of the rooms. Overall a very educational tour. But beware for those who are claustrophobic.
Written September 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Bsypek
10 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
This is a great sight to see while in portsmouth. The museum is set up and well organized for the corona virus pandemic. Groups are well spaced out with markings on the exterior walkway as well as several hand sanitation stations located along the route. Masks are also needed to enter. Volunteers are located throughout to provide information and guidance.. My 3 children really loved it! Lots to see and touch. Its incredible how these submariners lived in the cramped conditions that they did. They are truly heroes!
Written August 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Sunnydaze
4 contributions
Feb 2020
Wonderful snapshot of history and the US military specifically the Navy. The guide in the gift shop was wonderful, the movie was very informational and going inside the submarine was really interesting. If you "geek out" over history like I do this is a must. PS not for the claustrophobic 😲
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

lkis229
Southington, CT560 contributions
Apr 2022
This was not something I was really interested in but my husband loves everything nautical so we recently went. Surprisingly I did enjoy it. The tour is self guided with buttons you push at each area to listen to people who served on board and explanations of what you are seeing. There is a small museum as well to go through and a memorial garden that was interesting. If you don't like small spaces this might not be the best idea but I would recommend it otherwise.
Written April 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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USS Albacore Museum (Portsmouth) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about USS Albacore Museum

USS Albacore Museum is open:
  • Mon - Wed 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Thu - Sun 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM


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