Families can dive at a chance to sleep on a WWII submarine
It's all hands below deck!
Families looking for a different kind of overnight getaway this summer may want to consider spending a night on a World War II submarine based in Manitowoc, Wis., about 170 miles north of Chicago. It's not everyone who can brag they slept in a berth below water on a real submarine floating in the Manitowoc River.
The last family overnight will be Saturday, Aug. 8. The maximum number for family overnights is 55. Other overnights are available for groups throughout the year.
"We've done this for awhile now. We've had whole family reunions come. It's possible for a large family to book on their own," said Norma Bishop, executive director of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. "We've had Scouts and any kind of group. We've had church groups, youth groups, Girl Scouts. We had a group of Japanese exchange students come, and they really enjoyed it."
The submarine itself is the USS Cobia, a GATO-class fleet submarine that is similar to the 28 subs built in Manitowoc during World War II. The Cobia was launched in 1943 and involved in six patrols during which it sank 13 Japanese vessels, including a troop transport carrying a Japanese tank battalion bound for Iwo Jima.
The sub has led a quieter life since 1970 when it was decommissioned by the Navy and brought to Manitowoc to serve as a memorial to submariners. In 1986, the Cobia was made a permanent exhibit for the Wisconsin Maritime Museum and declared a National Historic Landmark.
The sub has been restored to the way it looked in 1945 so visitors can get a glimpse into what life was like living in the cramped quarters of a submarine.
Wendy Lutzke, an educator for the museum and a certified teacher, said the overnight experience includes many hands-on activities, such as loading a torpedo, using a deck gun, activities to identify airplanes and ships that were used during the war, and fun code-breaking activities.
Overnighters also can create their own signia designs, participate in diving simulations and play interactive games led by trained staff members.
"We want to give a quality experience and have some fun, and much to their surprise they learn something as well," Bishop said.
Touring the various parts of the submarine such as the conning tower (which is only included in the overnight) and the torpedo room are often highlights for visitors.
"Anything that helps them understand what life was like onboard - standing where the torpedo men would load the torpedo or going up in the conning tower," Lutzke said.
Besides receiving a certificate that they stayed on the USS Cobia, participants can also order personalized dog tags as keepsakes for an additional cost.
Overnights begin at 7 p.m. and run until 8 a.m. the next morning. No food is allowed on the submarine.
As far as what to bring onboard, Bishop suggests the usual overnight gear such as a sleeping bag, pillow, comfortable clothes, toiletries and, if need be, the beloved teddy bear.
Overnighters sleep in the sub's original bunks with vinyl mattresses so, if you're claustrophobic, this may not be for you. Minimum age for overnight guests is 6 years old.
"The overnight experience is something you won't get anywhere else," Bishop said. "Just to say they actually slept on a submarine is huge."
In the morning, participants receive a breakfast coupon to McDonald's and the submarine ticket gains them access to the museum, which is devoted to everything maritime.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the museum has introduced the exhibit "Forty Years, Forty Objects: Selections From Our Collections."
Items that have not previously been on display include a Dutch Bible from the steamer Phoenix that sank in 1847; a lighthouse keeper's uniform; and a submariner's journal kept by John Congleton who served aboard the USS Cobia during WW II.
<p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Wisconsin Maritime Museum</b></p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc, Wis., (866) 724-2356, wisconsinmartime.org</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Hours: </b>9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day through Labor Day</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>Tickets:</b> Adults $12, kids ages 6-15 $10, ages 5 and younger admitted free. The museum offers discounted admission rates to families, senior citizens and veterans. Group rates also available. Tickets include access to the museum and the submarine.</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col"><b>USS Cobia submarine tours</b> </p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven days a week weather permitting through Labor Day</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">Overnight submarine tickets: $39 per person</p>