Inside the Intrepid Museum in New York City, visitors can climb through the USS Growler—once a Cold War nuclear-missile submarine—and see how a crew of 90 operated in tight spaces built for deterrence.
He had to duck before he could even get started.
At New York City’s Intrepid Museum, the line to enter the USS Growler kept moving, but the submarine itself demanded patience—small, enclosed spaces and a self-guided route inside the hull. When the tour began in May 2024, the wait was about 15 minutes.
For many visitors. the appeal is simple: the Intrepid Museum is the only place in the US where members of the public can go inside a submarine that carried nuclear missiles. The submarine floats in the Hudson River alongside the museum’s USS Intrepid, a 900-foot-long World War II-era aircraft carrier.
USS Growler Intrepid Museum nuclear missiles Cold War submarine US Navy deterrent strategy Virginia-class delays Regulus II Hudson River
So it’s still radioactive or what?
That sounds insane cramped. Like I can’t even imagine being a “crew of 90” in those spaces. The fact it’s open to the public is kinda wild.
Wait so the USS Growler is a nuclear missile sub but they let people crawl around in it like it’s a school field trip? I heard somewhere they might still have parts of the system on display, so does that mean it’s safe for kids or am I missing something?
I went past Intrepid once and I swear the line is always long. 15 minutes doesn’t sound bad but the tunnel vibe?? Also “deterrence strategy” like okay but what about all the actual history, like were they carrying nuclear missiles the whole time or did they just test stuff? Seems like every Cold War thing gets oversimplified.