U-505 Submarine at the Museum of Science & Industry

We went to the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago this past weekend.  We've been there many times, and have always enjoyed watching the baby chicks hatch, climbing aboard the giant tractor and combine, trying out the whispering gallery, checking out the automatic toy manufacturing exhibit, and seeing the trains in the model railroad go by.

This was the first time that we decided to tour the U-505 Submarine.  What an amazing exhibit! 

The Germans built the U-boats to look for merchant ships carrying food and war supplies during WWII.  Once the ships were spotted, the U-boat would submerge underwater and launch torpedos to sink the ships.

The sub was actually much larger than I had imagined (a city block long), but the inside of it was as narrow as can be (just 15 feet!).  The galley was as small as a tiny closet, and the bunk beds looked like they were built for little kids.  There were only 35 bunks for 59 sailors.  There was also no means to wash your hands or to take a bath for your 90 days aboard.  Whoa!

On the website, you can see a cool video of the relocation of the U-505 to its new home at the Museum of Science & Industry in 2004.  It was lowered 4 stories into its new exhibit space, and then the roof was built on top of it.  What a feat!