Galveston Naval Museum
100 Seawolf Park Blvd., Galveston, TX (Directions) | Phone: (409)770-3196
About
Visit the Galveston Naval Museum and immerse yourself in its National Heritage. Take your time exploring these historic WWII vessels on a self-guided tour or with one of the museum’s tour guides. Capture the experience as a predator patrolling underwater in the Pacific or as the protector of Allied forces in the North Atlantic. Gain a unique memory of being on the USS Cavalla, a World War II submarine that sank a Japanese aircraft carrier involved in the Pearl Harbor attacks, or the USS Stewart, the only Edsall-class destroyer escort preserved in the United States.
You can experience the history, mystery, and sacrifices of the crews standing watch on these WWII fighting vessels.
Hours
- Monday: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
- Tuesday: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
- Wednesday: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
- Thursday: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
- Friday: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
- Saturday: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
- Sunday: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
Admission
- Adult: $13
- Senior 65+: $10
- Veteran (with valid ID): $7
- Active Military (with valid ID): Free
- Child (5-11): $8
- Groups (15 or more with advanced reservation): $6
Parking
- $6 per car. Seawolf Park staff can provide rates for other vehicle types. Free parking for Veterans with disabilities and City of Galveston Residents.
General
- Group Sleepover Visits
- Spring and Summer Camps
- Birthday Parties / Day Camps
- Military & Special Ceremonies
History
In 1971, USS Cavalla (SS-244) was transferred from the US Navy to the US Submarine Veterans of World War II, Texas (SubVets) and towed to its current berth at Seawolf Park. Seawolf Park was named for the submarine and crew of the USS Seawolf (SS-197) which was lost at sea during WWII. Three years later, the USS Stewart (DE-238) joined USS Cavalla to create a unique pair of warfighting vessels – Predator and Protector. Since 1998, the Cavalla Historical Foundation assumed oversight of the Galveston Naval Museum, formerly the American Undersea Warfare Center and its mission to restore, maintain and operate USS Cavalla, USS Stewart, the sail of the USS Tautog (SSN-639) and the conning tower of the USS Carp (SS-338). The American Undersea Warfare Center became known as the Galveston Naval Museum in 2018.
The USS Cavalla is best know as the “Avenger of Pearl Harbor” sinking the Japanese Aircraft Carrier, Shokaku, a veteran of the Pearl Harbor attack. This action earned the Cavalla the prestigious Presidential Unit Citation.
The Cavalla has been in Galveston for almost 50 years, serving as a museum ship on Seawolf Park since 1971. Long after her military service to her country, she continues to serve as an educational site for the young and young at heart to remember and learn about WWII and American Naval History.
The USS Stewart began her service operating out of Miami as a “school ship” training student officers.
She escorted President Roosevelt in the presidential yacht down the Potomac River to rendezvous with USS Iowa in the Chesapeake Bay for his mission to Casablanca and Tehran. In 1944, she commenced North Atlantic convoy operations.
Coming Up
Reviews
Hailey
okay so i’m a 12 year old girl so this is from a kids point of view. (getting in) getting in was really quick for a spring break weekday, there were only a few cars in front of us. parking is $10 per car (tickets) the tickets were a bit expensive i believe it was $15 per adult and a 12 year old was counted as an adult. $10 for kids under 12 and for elders. for our family (3 adults and 1 kid) it costed $52 without parking (submarine) inside the submarine there was this really nice and funny old man who was a worker and he told us all about the submarine that we were in ( i learned more about that than school thought me) the submarine was really tight in some of the spots and some spots to get through were really small but my dad fit. i didn’t really like the submarine because i’m a little claustrophobic so i was a little scared. the submarine had a lot of really cool rooms some were open and some were blocked off. (ship) we went into the ship and we were a little bit lost on where to start so it was a little hard usually there are arrows pointing in what directions your supposed to go to but they didn’t really help. the ship was a lot more open than the submarine and i personally liked it more than the submarine even though i’m not really into this type of stuff. (overall) overall i enjoyed it it was really a beautiful day and the ocean was really pretty it was too cold to swim sadly. (kids activities) the kids activity was really entertaining to me and my 10 year old brother it had four questions about the boats and you get a really cool prise at the end! (conclusion) i hope you find the same joy i did in the Galveston Naval Museum
NaDonna
It was amazing! Docents were awesome, pleasant and well informed. An intended 30 minute visit turned into a 3.5 hr visit. Encouraging EVERYONE to come visit!!!! Awesome park close by for children to play and enjoy a picnic lunch
Jeremy N
Very neat museum. The self guided tours are very fun and awesome to walk through a submarine. Highly recommend checking out this piece of history if you are in the area.
Lorena Brown
Great spot to visit to absorb the bygone era of WW2 and observing the current modern ships all in the same marina area. The ship USS Stewart and the sub USS Cavalla are great examples of raw engineering feats and grit in a time of incredible angst in the world. Walking through each ship gives a small sense of what courage it took to be a part of those crews. My respect has climbed even further for these brave people of our country.
Tom Corrao
Beneath the Texas sky, where the Gulf whispers against the shores of Galveston, we found ourselves drawn to history’s embrace, a day unplanned yet steeped in meaning. Seawolf Park, a solitary sentinel on Pelican Island, cradled the remnants of valor: the USS Cavalla and the USS Stewart. Here, amidst salt-laden breezes, we stood in reverence for those who once breathed life into these steel guardians of liberty. The USS Cavalla, a Gato-class fleet submarine, carried the weight of the Pacific's turbulent tides during World War II. Born in the summer of 1943, her sleek form slipped into the water that November, destined to rewrite history. She would earn her name, "The Avenger of Pearl Harbor," as the only submarine to sink one of the carriers responsible for the attack on that fateful December morning. The men who served aboard her, cramped into tight quarters with hearts steeled by purpose, lived as shadows in the depths, silent hunters in a vast ocean battlefield. We wandered through her hallowed corridors, imagining the camaraderie and courage it must have taken to endure weeks submerged in silence, always under the threat of depth charges from above. The bunk spaces spoke of shared sacrifice, the control room of relentless precision, and the galley of meals served with humor and hope amid the constant hum of the engines. As we moved through this vessel, we felt the weight of their vigilance, their unity, and their dreams for a world at peace. Beside her stood the USS Stewart, a destroyer escort and steadfast companion in battle. Together, these ships have become more than mere artifacts, they are storytellers, whispering the triumphs and tragedies of our Greatest Generation. We paused to reflect on the mission of the Galveston Naval Museum: to preserve, remember, and educate. And yet, as much as these vessels spoke of resilience, the scars of time and neglect could not be ignored. Corrosion had begun its quiet conquest, creeping over the exteriors that should... Read more
Amy Greene Teague
This was better than we expected! Definitely will go back! Admission was reasonable, staff was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. They are still working to improve things and are open for suggestions. We were able to walk through most of the ship and submarine.
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