Just inside the museum's foyer, there is a large mural taken from an illustration in the first edition of Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" published in Paris in 1870. Overhead is a replica of Jules Verne's Nautilus as depicted in the 1954 Walt Disney movie "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

Turning right from the foyer is the main hall. Along the right side of the main hall is the submarine model wall. On display are models of every major type of U.S. submarine built from USS HOLLAND (SS-1), purchased in 1900, to the present Los Angeles, Ohio, and Seawolf class submarines. The models are built to scale so it is possible to compare the difference in size, shape and design.

On the left of the main hall are two small exhibit rooms. The first exhibit room is a representation of a Sturgeon class submarine attack center. The attack center contains a ballast control panel and ship's control panel--where the ship's depth, course, and speed were controlled--and the fire control system, where other ships could be tracked and the weapons could be controlled. In the second exhibit room is a recreation of a World War II submarine attack center. The attack center has three operational periscopes through which you can see Historic Ship NAUTILUS, the Thames River and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Other displays in the main hall include submarine warfare insignia ("Dolphins") from navies around the world, submarine nameboards, and early navigation equipment.