August 22, 2022
WISCONSIN VETERANS MUSEUM TO UNVEIL A PIECE OF USS WISCONSIN NUCLEAR SUBMARINE
50ft Inflatable Submarine Replica on View on the Capitol Balustrade
The Wisconsin Veterans Museum will be unveiling a piece of the new USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) submarine in a ceremony on Saturday, August 27, 2022. The U.S. Navy has named one of 12 new Columbia-class nuclear submarines as USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) in honor of our great state.
A 50ft inflatable replica of USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) will be on view on the Capitol balustrade at State Street the morning of Saturday, August 27th. This event presented by the USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) Association. The replica USS Wisconsin will be christened following the object unveiling at the museum.
USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) is the third U.S. Navy vessel to be named in honor of our state carrying on a century-plus naval tradition. SSBN 827 is a Columbia Class nuclear submarine. The Columbia Class submarine program supports the U.S. military’s primary mission to protect the homeland and functions as an essential piece of our national nuclear deterrence triad.
The vessel is one of 12 subs under construction. COLUMBIA Class subs are built under a teaming arrangement between General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division in Groton, CT and Quonset Point, CT and Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, VA. Its length will be 560ft which is approximately double the height of the Wisconsin State Capitol building. SSBN 827 is scheduled for completion in 2030.
Wisconsin has a long association with U.S. Navy tradition. The Illinois-class battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-9) sailed as the flagship of the Pacific Fleet from 1898-1903 and sailed around the world with the Great White Fleet in 1909. She was retired as a training ship in 1910.
The Wisconsin tradition continued with the Iowa-class battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64), commissioned in 1943, two years to the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, HI. The vessel saw action in World War II and the Korean War and was retired in 1991 after participating in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. She is now decommissioned and serves as a museum ship in Norfolk, VA.
WHERE: Wisconsin Veterans Museum 30 W. Mifflin Street in Madison AND Capitol Square at Main St.
WHEN:
- Date: Saturday, August 27, 2022
- Time: 8:30 am Media interviews and photographs. Call or text Jennifer Stevenson for an interview time slot at 608.224.9653. Unveiling ceremony at 9:30am; inflatable submarine christening on Capitol balustrade after the museum ceremony.
WHO:
- Vessel Sponsor Ms. Kelly Guerts
- Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Mary Kolar
- Assemblyman and former submariner Kevin Peterson
- Museum Director Christopher Kolakowski
- USS Wisconsin SSBN 827 Association
CONTACT FOR INTERVIEW APPOINTMENT:
Jennifer Stevenson
Marketing Specialist, Sr., Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Phone or text: 608.224.9653;