A popular destination among military personnel as well as civilians, the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum boasts vessels available for tours, a research library, theater, museum and memorials.

The crown jewel of the attraction is the USS Razorback. Although the University of Arkansas’ mascot is the Razorbacks, the Balao-class submarine was actually named after a species of whale found in the southern Pacific Ocean. The sub was quite active in World War II, sinking Japanese ships, capturing Japanese POWs and rescuing American pilots who’d been shot down, but she also participated in the Vietnam War and did surveillance of Russian ports during the Cold War.

In the ‘70s, the U.S. sold her to Turkey, where she served for 31 years before being purchased by North Little Rock. Tours show where sailors slept, the torpedo room and more on the 311-foot craft.

Lindsay Richie
Hilton Little Rock Metro Center