A Real World War II Submarine You Can Actually Walk Through

The USS Cod Submarine Memorial sits on the north shore of Cleveland along North Marginal Road, right on the edge of Lake Erie, and it is one of the few fully intact World War II submarines left in the United States. Unlike museum ships that have been cut open, modified, or rebuilt for accessibility, the Cod remains almost entirely in its original wartime configuration. That means tight hatches, steep ladders, and genuine claustrophobia, all of which make it one of the most viscerally honest military memorials you can visit anywhere in the Great Lakes region.

The submarine is docked just west of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and within easy walking distance of the Great Lakes Science Center, so it fits naturally into a full day along Cleveland's lakefront. But it deserves its own time. Give it at least ninety minutes.

Why the USS Cod Submarine Memorial Stands Apart

Most preserved warships have been altered significantly to meet modern safety codes or to accommodate visitors. The Cod has not. The Navy designated it a National Historic Landmark in 1986, in part because of how original it remains. You enter through the same hatches the crew used. You climb the same ladders. The torpedo tubes, the periscopes, the engine room, the cramped bunks stacked three high, all of it is there, and none of it has been widened or softened for comfort.

During the war, the Cod completed seven war patrols in the Pacific and was credited with sinking more than two dozen enemy vessels. It also performed a rare at-sea rescue of the crew of a Dutch submarine in 1945, transferring 56 men from a sinking vessel using a rubber raft in rough open water. That rescue is considered the only international submarine-to-submarine rescue in US Navy history.

That story alone is worth knowing before you board.

Quick Facts

• Type: National Historic Landmark submarine, open for self-guided tours
• Location: 1201 N Marginal Rd, Cleveland, OH 44114, on the Lake Erie waterfront
• Operated by: a nonprofit volunteer organization, not a government agency
• Launched: 1943, at the Electric Boat Company shipyard in Groton, Connecticut
• Length: 311 feet
• Crew capacity during service: approximately 80 men
• Seasonal operation: typically open spring through fall, closed in winter
• Admission: general admission, with reduced rates for children and veterans
• Parking: available on-site or nearby along North Marginal Road
• Not wheelchair accessible due to the original hatch-and-ladder layout

Getting There

The Cod sits along North Marginal Road on Cleveland's lakefront, a stretch of shoreline that also holds the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center, and FirstEnergy Stadium. If you're coming from downtown Cleveland, it's roughly a 10-minute walk from the Gateway district depending on your pace, or a very short drive or rideshare. Street parking exists along North Marginal Road, and there's typically on-site parking available during operating season.

Public transit can get you close. The RTA's Red Line stops at Tower City, and from there the lakefront is walkable, though it's not a short stroll. A rideshare or bike is faster if you don't have a car.

The Layout and Experience

Your visit is self-guided, which gives you the freedom to linger in whatever compartment holds your attention. Volunteers are stationed throughout the boat and tend to be genuinely knowledgeable, often former Navy or with deep personal connections to submarine history. If you have questions, ask them. The answers are usually better than anything on the placards.

You board from the deck, then descend into the forward torpedo room. This is where the scale of submarine life hits you first. The torpedoes are still there. The bunks are still there. Everything is steel and machinery and almost no wasted space. From the forward room you work your way aft through the officer quarters, the control room with its working periscopes, the galley, the engine room, and finally the aft torpedo room. Each compartment connects through a round watertight hatch that you step through and then descend a near-vertical ladder.

The control room is the highlight for most visitors. The periscopes are operational, and on a good day you can look through them toward Lake Erie. The depth gauges, the helm, the dive controls, all of it is original equipment. It is a strange feeling to stand at those controls knowing they were used in actual combat.

Plan for at least 90 minutes if you want to do it properly. Two hours is not excessive.

History and Background

The Cod was commissioned in 1943 and spent its wartime service in the Pacific, operating primarily in the waters around the Philippines and the South China Sea. After the war it served as a training vessel before being decommissioned in 1954. Cleveland-area veterans worked to save it from scrapping, and it has been open to the public as a memorial since 1976.

The 1945 rescue of the Dutch submarine O-19 crew remains the most documented moment in the Cod's history. The Dutch vessel had run aground on a reef in the South China Sea and could not be freed. The Cod's crew transferred all 56 Dutch sailors across using a rubber raft, then destroyed the O-19 to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The operation took hours and carried serious risk. A bronze plaque on board commemorates the event, and the Dutch government has formally recognized it.

Best Time to Visit

The Cod is open seasonally, typically from late spring through early fall. Summer weekends bring more visitors, especially families, and the boat can feel genuinely crowded in the forward torpedo room when a school group is ahead of you. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter and give you more time with the volunteers without feeling rushed.

The exterior deck offers a good view of Lake Erie and the Cleveland skyline, and on a clear day that view alone is worth a few minutes. Avoid arriving right at closing time. The compartments take longer to move through than they look like they will from the outside.

Photography Tips

The interior is dark and the spaces are tight, so a phone with a strong low-light camera will serve you better than a bulky DSLR. Wide-angle lenses help in the torpedo rooms. The control room, with its cluster of gauges and the overhead periscope housing, tends to produce the most striking shots. Natural light comes through the open hatches near the bow, which creates some usable contrast if you time it right.

On the exterior, the full profile of the submarine with the Cleveland skyline or the Lake Erie horizon behind it makes for a strong wide shot. Morning light hits the port side well depending on the time of year.

Combining with Nearby Attractions

The lakefront cluster here is genuinely convenient. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is within a few minutes' walk east along the shore. The Great Lakes Science Center is essentially next door and shares some of the same waterfront plaza. If you have kids, the Science Center and the Cod together make a full morning.

FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Cleveland Browns, is visible from the deck of the Cod. Burke Lakefront Airport borders the area to the east. If you're interested in military history more broadly, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Western Reserve Historical Society are both a short drive south into the city proper, though neither focuses specifically on naval history.

Practical Tips

• Wear closed-toe shoes with grip. The ladders and deck plating are unforgiving in sandals or dress shoes.
• If you have concerns about tight spaces, know that the hatches require you to step through a roughly 24-inch opening and then descend a steep ladder. There is no way around this on a self-guided tour.
• Children need to be old enough and coordinated enough to manage the hatches independently. The staff can advise on-site.
• The boat is not air-conditioned. On a hot July afternoon, the engine room in particular gets warm.
• Cash and cards are typically both accepted, but confirm when you arrive.
• The nonprofit relies on admission fees and donations to maintain the vessel. A gift shop is on-site.
• Photography is generally allowed throughout the interior.

FAQ

Is the USS Cod accessible for visitors with mobility limitations?

No. Because the submarine has been preserved in its original configuration, entry requires climbing through round watertight hatches and descending steep vertical ladders. There are no ramps or elevators. The exterior deck is accessible, but the interior is not.

How long does a visit typically take?

Most visitors spend between 90 minutes and two hours moving through the full length of the boat. If you spend time talking with the volunteers or linger in the control room, it can run longer.

Is it suitable for young children?

Older children who are comfortable with tight spaces and ladders generally do well. Very young children may struggle with the hatch openings and the physical demands of moving through the boat. The staff at the entrance can help you assess based on your child's age and size.

When is the USS Cod open?

It operates seasonally, typically late spring through early fall. Hours vary, and the site closes for the winter months. Check directly with the memorial before visiting, as hours can shift depending on staffing and events.

Is there parking on-site?

Yes, parking is generally available along North Marginal Road and in the area surrounding the lakefront attractions. Availability is better on weekdays than on summer weekends when the nearby Rock and Roll Hall of Fame draws large crowds.