USS Silversides Submarine Museum (+43.230,-86.332)
As my family members would quickly tell you, I am drawn irresistibly to historic markers or anything that has historical significance. But, until this April, I never had seen a treasure that is located less than an hour’s drive from my home. This treasure is a museum dedicated to the USS Silversides, a WWII sub floating in the channel between Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake. I’ve been to Pere Marquette Park countless times, but never drove the half mile to go into the museum. Do not make this mistake!
The museum gives a nice history of WWII and how submarines were used in the war. The exhibits are extremely interesting to Baby Boomers who grew up hearing the stories and movies (such as “Run Silent, Run Deep”).
Along the pier are two ships: the USS Silversides and the USCGC McLane (a 1920’s era Coast Guard cutter that is directly in front of the sub). With your museum admission, you can also tour both of these ships. The sub is a slight challenge to knees, with a lot of bending to get through the waterproof chambers. But this makes your experience more realistic. The cutter is easier, although there are ladders to get between decks; at least you have windows to look out.
References: https://silversidesmuseum.org/
For a history of the Silversides, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Silversides_(SS-236)
