Children's Museums

USS Blueback Submarine

Name: USS Blueback Submarine
Address: 1945 SE Water Ave Suite 300, Portland, OR 97214, Portland, OR, US
Telephone: (503) 797-4000
Rating: 4.8

★★★★☆ 4.8 (271 reviews)

📍 1945 SE Water Ave Suite 300, Portland, OR 97214

📞 (503) 797-4000

🌐 omsi.edu/submarine

Visit Website 📍 Get Directions

🕐 Hours

Monday	Closed
Tuesday	9:30 AM–5:30 PM
Wednesday	9:30 AM–5:30 PM
Thursday	9:30 AM–5:30 PM
Friday	9:30 AM–5:30 PM
Saturday	9:30 AM–5:30 PM
Sunday	9:30 AM–5:30 PM

⭐ Want to stand out? Get featured ⭐

About USS Blueback Submarine

Former Navy sub with tours & sleepovers. Decommissioned 1959 Navy submarine at the OMSI museum, available for guided tours & group camp-ins. USS Blueback (SS-581) is a 219-foot diesel-electric submarine decommissioned in 1959, offering visitors rare hands-on access with no glass barriers to touch artifacts and explore every compartment from top to bottom. Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by 271 visitors.

Quick Facts

Venue Type: Historic Submarine
Best For: Ages 3+
Highlights: Tour 219-foot USS Blueback, periscope, torpedo, bunk beds
Tour Length: 40-50 minutes, max 12 guests
Parking: $5-$8 per vehicle

💡 Did You Know?

⭐USS Blueback (SS-581) is a 219-foot diesel-electric submarine decommissioned in 1959, offering visitors rare hands-on access with no glass barriers to touch artifacts and explore every compartment from top to bottom
⭐Advanced Tech Tours are guided by actual submarine veterans on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month, providing insider perspectives on submarine operations and naval history
⭐The attraction offers overnight sleepover experiences (camp-ins) aboard the decommissioned submarine, allowing visitors to experience sleeping quarters where submariners spent up to three months at sea
⭐Tours operate every 20 minutes with a 40-50 minute duration and are limited to 12 guests per tour, with a practice watertight door available in the OMSI Lobby to help visitors assess physical difficulty before boarding

💬 What Visitors Say

💬Practice the watertight door in the OMSI lobby before boarding the submarine to assess if you or your children can handle the physical demands, as the submarine has steep stairs and narrow passages that require self-navigation.
💡Book an Advanced Tech Tour led by a submarine veteran on the 2nd or 4th Sunday of each month for a deeper, more specialized naval history experience beyond standard tours.
💬At $8.50 per person for a 40-50 minute tour with direct hands-on access to submarine artifacts (no glass barriers), the USS Blueback offers exceptional value compared to typical museum admission prices.
🕐Arrive during off-peak hours or on weekdays to secure smaller tour groups (limited to 12 guests), allowing for more personalized interaction with knowledgeable tour guides who can answer detailed questions about submarine operations.
💡Children must be at least 36 inches tall and able to climb steep stairs and navigate through watertight doors independently—carrying children is not permitted, so ensure kids meet physical requirements before purchasing tickets.