USS Cod, hull number SS-224, is a World War II fleet submarine that now sits in Cleveland's North Coast Harbor as a museum ship and a National Historic Landmark. She lies on North Marginal Road between East Ninth Street and Burke Lakefront Airport, about 1,000 feet east of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the memorial's own site notes free parking in the lot along the fence. Visits are self-guided, and what makes the boat special is that she is unaltered from her wartime configuration, so you go below by the original hatchways and climb vertical ladders. Inside you see interior spaces including the crew's mess and the torpedo room, and the Mark IV Torpedo Data Computer, which the memorial says is in full operation. On deck and around the boat are a Mark 14 steam torpedo, the last functional Hanson Torpedo Truck and a five-blade bronze propeller. It is a tight, cold, authentic space, and nothing like a cleaned-up museum gallery.
Season and hours
The memorial is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and the last visitors go below at 4:30pm. Its published season runs from April 1 to November 30, and in winter, from December 1 to May 1, it is open most non-holiday days only as weather and staff permit, so call the ticket booth on 440-832-9722 before making a special trip.
Ice on deck closes access to the submarine, which can happen in cold snaps. On Saturday 28 November 2026 the memorial plans a Santa on a Submarine event from noon to 2pm, when families with children are admitted free.
Admission and access
Tickets are paid at the gate, with adult, senior, veteran and student rates, and free entry for preschoolers and for military in uniform, so you do not need to book ahead. Check the memorial's site for current prices, since the memorial says admission fees and donations are its only funding.
The boat is not suitable for everyone: the site advises caution for small children, older adults and people with limited mobility, because the hatches are narrow and the ladders are vertical. If anyone in your party has knee, back or balance problems, they may prefer to see the deck and the exhibits outside and skip the descent.
How to use it
Give the visit about an hour, which is enough to go below, see the control spaces and the torpedo room, and look through the type 8A search periscope, which gives a view of the Port of Cleveland. It makes a natural pair with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center, since all three sit within a short walk of one another on the harbor, and the whole cluster can be done in a single lakefront day. Visit on a still, dry day if you can, wear shoes with grip and keep your bags small, because the passages are tight.
Picnic tables on the site are open to the public if you want to eat outside in good weather. Because the memorial is run on admission fees and donations alone, a visit also helps keep a rare piece of naval history afloat, and the volunteers and staff are usually glad to answer questions about how the boat worked. If you are traveling with children, read them a little about submarine life beforehand, because the boat makes much more sense when you know how many sailors shared these tiny spaces.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided tour below decks of a World War II fleet submarine, entering through original hatches and climbing vertical ladders.
Best time
A dry, still day between April and November, and mid-morning when the lakefront is quiet.
How long
About an hour.
Tips
Wear shoes with grip, travel light, call ahead in winter, and skip the descent if anyone has mobility problems.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History and military-museum fans and curious older children.
- Families
- Exciting for children who can handle ladders and tight spaces, with a free-entry Santa event on 28 November 2026.
- Couples
- Better as a quick curiosity on the harbor walk than as a romantic stop.
- Pair with
- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center, both a short walk away.
- Time needed
- About an hour.
Good questions
When is the USS Cod open?+
It is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with the last visitors going below at 4:30pm. The published season is April 1 to November 30, and winter opening depends on weather and staff.
Where is the USS Cod in Cleveland?+
She is docked at North Coast Harbor on North Marginal Road, about 1,000 feet east of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There is free parking in the lot along the fence.
Is the submarine suitable for children?+
Older children usually enjoy it, but the site advises caution for small children, older adults and people with limited mobility. You enter through original hatches and climb vertical ladders.
Can you book USS Cod tickets in advance?+
Tickets are paid at the gate, so there is no need to book ahead. Admission has adult, senior, veteran and student rates.
What can you see inside the USS Cod?+
You can see spaces including the crew's mess and the torpedo room and the Mark IV Torpedo Data Computer, which the memorial says is in full operation.
