USS Gilbert

All hands on deck! Navigate and command your own imaginary submarine in this immersive underwater adventure. The USS Gilbert features a specialized, compact capsule designed to mimic the authentic size and feel of a real submarine interior, complete with portholes revealing ocean landscapes teeming with marine life, tactical controls, and a navigation system ready for your command. 

Junior sailors take the helm at the navigation wheel to chart courses through imaginary seas. Scout the surface through a classic periscope while managing tactical operations using an old metal command column outfitted with pretend buttons, knobs, and switches. Look through underwater portholes to identify sea creatures and explore ocean ecosystems. Coordinate with your crew as you practice teamwork, communication, and the specialized vocabulary of naval life. 

Whether piloting through a coral reef, diving to explore shipwrecks, or studying marine biology through the viewing ports, the USS Gilbert offers an immersive journey into ocean exploration, naval engineering, and the importance of crew cooperation. 

    • Immersive Submarine Capsule: A specialized, compact room designed to mimic the actual size and "feel" of a submarine interior 

    • Command Column: An old metal column outfitted with a variety of pretend buttons, knobs, and switches for tactical roleplay 

    • Periscope Station: A classic viewer that allows junior sailors to scout the "surface" from their underwater headquarters 

    • Navigation Helm: A dedicated steering wheel where children can take the lead and chart a course through the deep 

    • Underwater Portholes: Visual displays that give a glimpse into a world filled with sea creatures and ocean landscapes 

    • Society: Understanding naval life and teamwork 

    • Science: Identifying marine life and underwater environments 

    • Engineering: Introduction to the concept of submersibles and naval travel 

    • STEAM Skills: Focuses on Science and Engineering 

    • Dramatic Play: Acting out missions and underwater explorations 

    • Tangible World: Manipulating the various (pretend) controls and dials 

    • Observation: Identifying different species of fish and underwater habitats 

Explore More 

This exhibit is located in Gilbert House. Also explore: Fortopia | Science Lab | Lights! Camera! Action! 

  • Six young boys smiling and posing for a photo inside a small room with a blue screen in the background.
  • Young child standing on small stairs next to an arcade game console, looking at a large screen displaying a planted aquarium with fish and aquatic plants.
  • Child looking at an aquarium display with colorful coral and small fish.
  • Two young children, a girl and a boy, playing inside a small interactive booth with a control panel, in a brightly lit room with colorful wall decorations.