Manitowoc is Submarine Country

Did you know the city of Manitowoc has a rich history underwater? The area is the unquestioned epicenter of submarine-related activities in the state of Wisconsin.

It goes back to 1940 when the US Navy awarded the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company a contract to build 10 submarines. After World War II broke out, the company was going full tilt, constructing 28 submarines for Uncle Sam, with over 7,000 people working 24/7, 365 as part of the war effort.

They were known as Freshwater Submarines since Manitowoc was the only freshwater port where subs were built at the time. Twenty-five Wisconsin-made vessels saw action in the war, sinking 132 enemy ships in the Pacific Theater.

You can see a WWII-era sub for yourself at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc. While the USS Cobia wasn’t built there, it saw action at the same time and has been restored to its original 1945 configuration.

The Cobia serves as an international memorial to submariners, is a National Historic Landmark, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. There are three types of tours available, including one where you spend the night aboard.

But the submarine fun in Manitowoc doesn’t have to stop when you turn in your guest badge at the museum.

You’ve probably worked up an appetite after all that looking and learning, so next make your way over to Maretti’s Deli for a submarine sandwich.

Okay, now that you’re nourished, it’s time to blow off some steam at the Submariner Pub, right up the road in Two Rivers. It’s operated by Navy veteran Jeff Tess, who served as a cook aboard — you guessed it — a submarine.

The pub serves as a tribute to all those who served in the military, with photos and keepsakes covering the wall. Tess holds court at the bar and the grill, with his kitchen set up like one on a submarine.

All there is left to do now is order a drink and raise it to Wisconsin’s industrial might, the hardworking men and women who built ships in Manitowoc, those who served around the globe, and a day of learning about life underwater without getting your hair wet.