WWII Submarine USS Silversides Enters Dry Dock for First Major Preservation in Over 50 Years

The decorated WWII submarine USS Silversides (SS-236) arrived at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, on July 15, 2026, after a carefully planned tow across Lake Michigan from her home at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum in Muskegon, Michigan. The vessel is undergoing a three-month, roughly $3.5 million preservation project — her first dry-dock work in more than 50 years — including hull cleaning, structural inspections, and application of protective coatings to ensure long-term stability. The project is supported by a $750,000 grant through the National Park Service's Save America's Treasures program. Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding vice president Jeffrey Frank said the yard was 'honored to support the preservation of this historic submarine.' Silversides, credited with sinking 23 Japanese ships during 14 WWII war patrols, is expected to return to Muskegon by mid-October 2026; the museum building remains open to visitors throughout the project.