MUSKEGON, MI. – Before the USS Silversides submarine departs for her first full dry dock preservation in over 50 years, the community is invited to a special send-off celebration.
The preservation work will include hull cleaning to remove invasive zebra and quagga mussels, detailed structural inspection, steel repair and the application of advanced protective coatings. Officials say this will protect the vessel for another 25 to 30 years.
USS Silversides.
The send-off will provide a full overview of what the preservation project will do, along with why it’s necessary and what comes next for the historic submarine. There will also be live orchestra music, a food truck and kids’ science activities.
While submarine tours will not be available, the museum will host extended hours for attendees. Visitors can then line the channel as the submarine departs for Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
“We are at a critical crossroads for the preservation of the USS Silversides. She is one of the few remaining WWII submarines in the world, and in preserving her, we preserve the legacy of the Greatest Generation and the memory of our own hometown heroes,” said Holly Hughes, chair of the Board of Trustees of the USS Silversides Submarine Museum. “Now is an urgent time to complete the Historic Preservation Journey and secure her for another thirty years, enabling future generations to learn from and experience firsthand the bravery, intellect, and selfless commitment it took to preserve democracy in the world. Please join me in donating generously to this cause.”
The preservation project is expected to cost $3.5 million. The Save America’s Treasures Grant Program will provide $750,000, and an additional $2.5 million was secured through private and corporate donors.
The USS Silversides is expected to return to Muskegon in October.
