Teachers Guide Page 3

Indoor Foyer

Above students heads is a replica of Jules Vernes’s Nautilus as depicted in the 1954 Walt Disney’s movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The mural is taken from an illustration in the first edition of the book published in Paris in 1870.

First Floor 

To the right of the entrance, are the bathrooms, drinking fountains, public telephones and elevator. Because of the elevator’s limited size and relatively slow speed, it is requested that its use be limited to those unable to walk up the stairs.

To the right of the main entrance, on the left of the main corridor, are three exhibit rooms. 

The first room is a ship's controls room, which houses the control that operate the ship. 

The second room is a re-created World War II submarine attack center. Here students can look through three periscopes and see NAUTILUS, the Thames River or even their bus in the parking lot. They will also hear a short tape that describes a torpedo attack by a World War II submarine. 

The third room recreates a submarine control room. Here (THE TEXT I HAD JUST ENDS..)

Groton Bow Cover and Name board: On your left as you walk down the corridor to the boat, you will notice on the upper left side the original bow cover used to launch the USS GROTON (SSN 694) and the Name board from the submarine.

Model Wall

On the right of the main hall is the model wall. Here visitors will see models of the major types of submarines from USS HOLLAND (SS 1), built in 1900, to the present Los Angeles, Ohio and Seawolf class submarines. All the models are built to the same scale, allowing the visitors to understand how submarines have changed in size and shape and function. Particularly significant are:

HOLLAND (SS 1): The U.S. Navy’s first submarine; 1900.

ALBACORE (SS 569): The first submarine to have a teardrop shaped hull. With a shape similar to whales and dolphins, it is more efficient underwater than on the surface; 1953.

NAUTILUS (SS 571): The first nuclear powered submarine; 1954.

SKIPJACK (SS 585): The first submarine to combine a nuclear propulsion plant and a teardrop shaped hull; 1959.

Main Exhibit Floor

To the right of the model wall is the main exhibit floor with a variety of exhibits. These include two (2) mini-theaters; illuminated panels; large-scale display; exhibit cases. 

Main Exhibit Floor

Mini-Theaters - Each theater seats approximately ten people and shows a continuous program.

East Theater program: "A History of Submarines;" 7 minutes.

West Theater program: A tour of the NAUTILUS; 10 minutes – particularly good for visitors with mobility limitations who cannot go aboard NAUTILUS. Followed by “Steel Boats, Iron Men;" 18 minutes –excellent short film depicting life on board a modern submarine.