Sixty-three years ago this month, in July of 1951, the United States Congress authorized the construction of a revolutionary new vessel: the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine. The contract was awarded the following month, to General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, CT, but it wasn’t until December that the boat’s name was announced—she would be the fourth vessel in Navy history to be known as NAUTILUS. Today, that submarine spends her days at our pier; the crews of modern-day subs, her direct descendants, salute her when they return from deployments. If you’re in the area, stop by and take a tour of this groundbreaking boat, Historic Ship NAUTILUS (SSN-571)!
