You could be excused for thinking of Central Arkansas as one of the last places a person could tour a submarine – but you’d be wrong! The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum lets you do just that – and so much more!
The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum (AIMM), located in North Shore Riverwalk Park, along the Arkansas River in North Little Rock, opened in 2005 with the intent of preserving and exhibiting America’s substantial maritime and naval heritage.
With four historic ships in the collection, two submarine memorials, an extensive collection highlighting the history of the Arkansas River and more, the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum can congratulate itself on having done, and continuing to do, just that!
A visit to the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum gives you the opportunity to tour the historic USS Razorback (SS-394), a World War II, Balao-class submarine built in 1943 that has the distinction of being one of the longest-serving submarines still in existence! The USS Razorback spent 53 years in active duty for both the US and Turkey – and you can tour her!
The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum also hopes to soon provide tours of the historic tugboat USS Hoga (YT-146), which not only survived but responded to the attack on Pearl Harbor! While not ready for tours just yet, the USS Hoga is an active exhibit at the museum, along with the battleship USS Arkansas (BB-33), and the missile cruiser USS Arkansas (CGN-41).
The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum offers numerous guided tours and special, temporary exhibits, such as the current “Arkies in the Second Great War†exhibit dedicated to Arkansans who served in the armed forces during World War II; the “Lifegurading†mini exhibit outlining the lifeguard duty served by submarines in World War II; and, of course, the “10 Year Anniversary†exhibit celebrating the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum’s first decade.
Other attractions include two submarine memorials: one dedicated to the USS Snook (SS-279) and another to the USS Scorpion (SSN-589). Be sure to visit the Peace Garden, too!
Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum
100 Riverfront Rd.
North Little Rock, AR
Fridays and Saturdays: 10am – 5pm
Sundays: 1pm – 5pm
aimmuseum.org
Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum Lodging
For your next Arkansas getaway, realize true comfort and value with a stay at a Central Arkansas Bed & Breakfast Inn! They’ll treat you to warm, nutritious breakfasts, comfy custom amenities, and an insider’s knowledge of the area – the kind of approach to lodging you thought was long gone. Arkansas’ bed and breakfast inns: your home away from home.