PACIFIC FLEET SUBMARINE MUSEUM MARKS 45 YEARS OF WELCOMING VISITORS ABOARD USS BOWFIN AT PEARL HARBOR

The WWII-era USS Bowfin submarine moored at the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor

Entryway to Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor

Interior of Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor

HONOLULU, HI, UNITED STATES, April 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Forty-five years ago, a World War II submarine found a permanent home on the shores of Pearl Harbor. Today, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum proudly commemorates the 45th anniversary of USS Bowfin’s public opening—celebrating more than four decades of preserving the legacy of the U.S. Navy’s Silent Service.

Nicknamed the “Pearl Harbor Avenger,” USS Bowfin was launched on December 7, 1942—exactly one year after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Between 1943 and 1945, she completed nine war patrols in the Pacific, earning battle stars and helping turn the tide of war beneath the ocean’s surface. Bowfin was opened to the public in 1981, transforming from a warship into a living memorial.

“USS Bowfin is more than a historic submarine—it is a powerful testament to the courage, sacrifice, and ingenuity of the submariners who served aboard her and across the Silent Service,” said Andrew “Homer” Ring, Executive Director of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum. “For 45 years, over 11 million visitors from around the world have stepped through her hatches to experience history firsthand. This anniversary honors not only Bowfin’s wartime legacy, but also the veterans, volunteers, families, and supporters who have ensured her story continues to inspire.”

The submarine was donated to the Pacific Fleet Submarine Memorial Association in 1979. What began as a modest mooring at Pearl Harbor—surrounded largely by an empty dirt lot—steadily evolved into the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park. Outdoor exhibits, memorials, and interpretive displays followed, creating a place of reflection and education at one of America’s most sacred historic sites.

In 1986, USS Bowfin was designated a National Historic Landmark and construction began on a dedicated museum facility, solidifying the institution’s educational mission. A major expansion and comprehensive interior redesign completed in 2021 ushered in a new era. Today, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum features three immersive galleries tracing the evolution of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Force—from the decisive campaigns of World War II, through the high-stakes tensions of the Cold War, to the cutting-edge technology shaping undersea warfare today and into the future. The constant focus on institutional development has enable the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum to become the most visited submarine museum in the world!

Beyond preserving history, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum is deeply committed to shaping the next generation. Each year, the museum provides free field trips to more than 6,000 students from across Hawaii, ensuring that access to hands-on history and STEM-focused learning experiences is not limited by financial barriers. Through immersive tours, curriculum-aligned programs, and direct engagement with veterans and subject-matter experts, students gain insight into science, engineering, leadership, and service. Extending that commitment even further, the museum supports more than $100,000 annually in scholarships for students pursuing college degrees and trade school certifications—investing not only in remembrance, but in opportunity and workforce development for the future.

Throughout this anniversary year, the museum will host special events, educational programming, and storytelling initiatives honoring submariners past and present. The public is invited to take part in the celebration and experience a chapter of history that unfolded largely beneath the waves—but helped define the course of the 20th century.

As it marks 45 years of public service, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum extends its deepest gratitude to the veterans, volunteers, members, donors, and visitors whose steadfast support sustains its mission. Their commitment ensures that USS Bowfin remains not only a memorial, but a living classroom for future generations.

For event information, hours of operation, and tickets, visit www.Bowfin.org.

Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
Located immediately adjacent to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial (USS Arizona Memorial), the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum is home to the World War II fleet submarine, USS Bowfin. Since opening to the public in 1981, eleven million visitors have toured Bowfin and experienced what it was like to live and serve onboard a submarine during WWII.

The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum operates its museum campus to honor those gallant Sailors who manned the U.S. Submarine Force in WWII, during the Cold War, today and into the future; maintains USS Bowfin as an educational tool and as an inspiration to present and future generations; and serves as a centerpiece for public awareness and understanding of the Submarine Force including its evolution, history and future.

The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at 11 Arizona Memorial Drive at Pearl Harbor is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission to the submarine is $25.99 per adult and $14.99 per child 4-12. Military, kama‘āina (local resident) admission rates, and school group pricing is available. For more information, call (808) 423-1341 or visit www.Bowfin.org.

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Becker Communications, Inc.
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Scott Ishikawa
Becker Communications Inc.
+1 808-227-2350
scott.ishikawa@beckercommunications.com
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