Seawolf Park

Following World War II, the United States Congress decreed that each state shall create a memorial park to one of the United States Navy submarines lost during the war.{{cite web |url=https://www.mitchellhistoricproperties.com/historic-galveston-the-history-of-seawolf-park/ |title=Seawolf Park in Galveston: Submarine & Military History |publisher=Mitchell Historic Properties |access-date=October 9, 2021 }} Texas chose a site on Pelican Island in Galveston, a former location for immigration in the state.{{cite web |url=http://www.galveston.com/seawolfpark/ |title=Seawolf Park |publisher=City of Galveston |access-date=October 9, 2021 }} In 1971, the {{sclass|Gato|submarine|0}} submarine {{USS|Cavalla|SS-244}} was transferred from the United States Navy and towed to the site of the park. The park was named after the submarine {{USS|Seawolf|SS-197}} which was lost in the Pacific Ocean during World War II.{{cite web |url=https://www.galvestonnavalmuseum.com/our-story.html |title=History of the Galveston Naval Museum |publisher=Galveston Naval Museum |access-date=October 9, 2021 }}

Seawolf Park is unique in that it has a submarine, the remains of a merchant ship, and a destroyer escort designed to conduct anti-submarine warfare—the hunter, hunted, and the protector—all in one museum area. It is the home of two preserved U.S. Navy ships, the USS Cavalla and the {{sclass|Edsall|destroyer escort|0}} destroyer escort {{USS|Stewart|DE-238}}, and the remains of the World War I tanker {{SS|Selma|1919|6}}, the largest concrete ship constructed, can be seen northwest of the park's fishing pier at {{coord|29|20|40|N|94|47|10|W|}}. Also preserved at the park is the conning tower of the {{sclass|Balao|submarine|0}} submarine {{USS|Carp|SS-338}} and the sail of the {{sclass|Sturgeon|submarine|0}} nuclear attack submarine {{USS|Tautog|SSN-639}}. Cavalla is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Stewart in listed as a National Historic Landmark.{{cite web |url=https://www.hnsa.org/hnsa-ships/uss-stewart-de-238/ |title=USS Stewart (DE-238) |publisher=Historic Naval Ships Association |access-date=October 9, 2021 }}

Two bronze, {{convert|56|in|adj=on|spell=in}} ship propellers formerly attached to USS Stewart can be seen alongside the ladder going up to Stewart{{'}}s deck. Each weighs over a ton and were powered by two diesel engines giving the destroyer escort {{convert|6,000|hp|lk=on}} and a maximum speed of {{convert|21|kn|lk=in}}. The propellers were removed from the ship so they can be seen by visitors. Behind the propellers are two {{convert|3|in|adj=on}}, 50-caliber memorial guns donated from the battleship {{USS|Texas|BB-35|6}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.galvestonnavalmuseum.com/uss-stewart.html |title=Stewart |publisher=Galveston Naval Museum |access-date=October 9, 2021 }}

The park has a picnic area, and fishing is allowed on the pier for a small fee. There is also pedestrian access to the shoreline on either side of the park where anglers can fish for free. Fish that can be caught in the park area include sand seatrout, speckled trout, gafftopsail catfish, drum, and flounder, among others.{{cite web |url=https://www.visitgalveston.com/things-to-do/outdoor-activities/fishing/ |title=Fishing |publisher=City of Galveston |access-date=October 9, 2021 }}

• List of United States submarines designated as memorials
• List of maritime museums in the United States
• List of museum ships

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Seawolf Park}}

• [http://cavalla.org/ Cavalla Historical Foundation]
• [https://galvestonnavalmuseum.com/ Galveston Naval Museum at Seawolf Park]

{{Galveston, Texas}}

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Category:Maritime museums in Texas

Category:Culture of Galveston, Texas

Category:Museums in Galveston, Texas

Category:Naval museums in the United States

Category:Parks in Texas

Category:Protected areas of Galveston County, Texas