The Cavalla
The Cavalla is berthed in Seawolf Park, Galveston, Texas as a memorial to the lost submarine USS Seawolf. The Cavalla was a Gato class fleet sub, designed and built in the summer of 1943 by the Electric Boat Company and launched on November 14, 1943. She was commissioned on Feb. 29, 1944, the first "leap year" boat built by E.B. On June 19, 1944, on her maiden patrol, she sank the 30,000 ton aircraft carrier Shokaku (veteran of Pearl Harbor and Battle of Coral Sea). This earned her the Presidential Unit Citation.

After the war, the Cavalla was decommissioned in 1946. She was brought back to service in 1951 and assigned to the Submarine Squadron 10 in New London, Conn. To meet the Soviet threat, she underwent conversion in 1952 to a new class of American sub--the SSK (hunter/killer).

On January 21, 1971, the U.S. Navy transferred possession of Cavalla to the Texas Submarine Veterans of WWII. The Cavalla was then delivered to her permanent berth in Seawolf Park, Galveston, Texas.

Gulf coast locals usually refer to the Cavalla as the "Seawolf", mistaking the name of the memorial park for that of the submarine on exhibit there. Next to her is the USS Stewart DE-238.

Cavalla is currently enjoying a renaissance; volunteer efforts are at a ten year high, the local press has covered her history and renovation, and efforts are underway to bring her back to the proud state her crews maintained.

The USS Stewart
The Park Board of Trustees of the City of Galveston and the Cavalla Historical Foundation proudly announce that the USS Stewart (DE-238) has officially been sited in the National Register of Historic Places by the Texas Historic Commission.

One of only two surviving destroyer escorts in the United States, the USS Stewart is berthed at Seawolf Park alongside the historic submarine, USS Cavalla, on Pelican Island.

Built at Brown Shipbuilding Company in Houston, Texas in 1942, and commissioned May 31, 1943, the 307 foot destroyer escort USS Stewart, is the second ship named for Rear Admiral Charles Stewart, commander of the USS Constitution from 1813 to 1815. Stewart began her service as a school ship, training student officers prior to escorting President Roosevelt in the presidential yacht down the Potomac River to rendezvous with USS Iowa in the Chesapeake Bay for his mission to Casablanca and Tehran. She commenced North Atlantic convoy operations in 1944, making 30 crossings with occasional enemy submarine and aircraft encounters. Stewart was moved to the Pacific theater in 1945, to conduct training exercises out of Pearl Harbor until the end of the war.

Decommissioned in late 1945, she was formally donated to Seawolf Park in 1972, where participants of the Save Our Ship Program, a dedicated group of talented volunteers and veterans, have been restoring and maintaining her. The group meets the second week of each month to work on the ship, including acting as tour guides. Approximately 600 Navy veterans nationwide have a special interest in Stewart and are dedicated to keeping her valiant service memory alive.

Admission
Parking Fee:
Cars: $5
Buses: $10
School Buses: $5
Group Rates Available

Naval Display (Cavalla/Stewart):
Adults: $5
Kids (Under 11): $2

Fishing:
Adults (12 - 64): $5
Kids (5 - 11): $2
Kids (4 and under): Free
Seniors (65+): $2.50

HAVE A COMPLAINT REGARDING THIS PARK? Fill out our online complaint form here.

Galveston.com Visitor Ratings & Reviews RATE AND REVIEW BY CLICKING HERE

Rating Rated by Date Review Sherry 8/17/2008 11:07:00 AM It was really cool to see what's inside the battleship and submarine. I think it was worth the money. The park wasn't dirty when we went. I've only seen one other battleship so I don't have much to compare. We had a lot of fun imagining the men working in the ship and submarine. I've always been proud of our military men. To see what some have lived in to protect us is amazing. We also did some fishing, but didn't catch anything in the two hours we were there. The fish knew how to get the shrimp off the hook. At the same time, we're not fishermen. I can't say we really knew what we were doing. Jim 7/16/2008 11:31:00 AM Park seemed dirty and not very well kept. Got there right when they opened, expected the place would be clean and ready for the days business????????? Not very impressed. The sub was fun to see and was in pretty good condition. No information, history, or pictures were offered to learn more about it. Not as much of the ship was accessable as we thought there would be. What was unfortunately was not in very good condition as compaired to other old Navy ships we have toured. There was no information, history, displays, or pics offerd of it eigther. We left there without a History Lesson, which to me is the main purpose of the display, and it was kind of a let down. Over all its something to do and we did have some fun. Blake 7/7/2008 11:28:00 AM I went with my wife and our two year old on our last day in Galveston, really as we were driving out of town. I had always wanted to see Seawolf Park, and it was worth it. We toured the Cavalla and the Stewart. Great experiences. You just get to wander around the vessels and see what it was like. After exploring, we went to the playground where my daughter played on the equipment. Other kids were playing and it was great. Lots of fishermen were around on the rocks and the pier, so it must be great fishing too. Not much of a fisherman, so I can't comment on that part. As an added bonus, we were able to spot some dolphins off the end of the pier. Wonderful morning, well spent. Hal 7/4/2008 4:22:00 PM $5.00 to park is fine, but charging the wade fisherman $5.00? For what? Walking across the grass and outside the park to wade the flats? Insane. Steve Smythers 6/28/2008 10:56:00 AM My family toured both the USS Cavalla and the USS Stewart. Awesome experience. The walk through tour of the Cavalla is really incredable. It is hard to believe how men lived and fought abourd these incredable machines. What a history lesson. My boys will never forget this experience. The tour of the USS Stewart is also good, but you do not get to see below decks. Would love to see them open up the Stewart for a more indepth tour. Aaron 6/23/2008 8:12:00 AM My family and I tried to have a picnic but were unable to do so because we couldnt find a table that was not covered in bird poop. For a park that charges for entry and for every little thing you would like to do, one would think your maintenance personnel could get off their john deere gators long enough each day to clean the picnic tables. Richard 6/9/2008 11:23:00 AM I recently went out to seawolf park and do alittle fishing. I produced my Military ID (my wife serves in the Texas Guard), and they let me right in! Being only a $5 charge for adults with a non-military ID, I wasn't going to cry and wail if they wouldn't accept it. I hate it when crybabies think they deserve a discount because their spouse VOLUNTARILY joined the military. Its kinda like a non-handicapped driver using a handicap placard to park in a handicap zone. Get over it lady. By the way, SEAWOLF PARK IS GREAT!!!! Military Wife 6/7/2008 4:58:00 PM I recently went out to seawolf park to get out of the house and do a little fishing. When I was told that, because my husband was not with me I was not allowed to use my military ID Card to get in. So as military spouses all over who husbands and wives are over sea are away from them are all ready being punished. I ask this question would it really hurt them to let a military wife in just like every other place does including Stewart Beach and East Beach which are control by the park board as well. I will not every be going back and I am appalued that they have such lack of disrespect towards are millitary and their spouses. Neta 6/2/2008 10:10:00 PM We enjoyed touring both the Cavalla and Stewart and got a behind the scenes tour of the Stewart, just like one of the other reviewers. Both vessles are labors of love and you have to take your hat off to all the volunteers who have spent countless hours in getting them to the way they look today. We saw both a couple of years ago - the Cavalla was in very good shape at the time but we were amazed at how the Stewart had come along. Just fantastic to get to go through them. Aimee 5/13/2008 11:01:00 AM Wonderful experience! I toured both the Cavalla and the USS Stewart, both of which have been wonderful restored. I was luckly enough to get a behind the scences tour on the Stewart. I was able to see the areas closed off to the public, and the restoration that has been done is amazing. It's sad that these areas aren't open to the general public, but I guess there have been problems with things being removed. I was told that anything you notice missing from the Cavalla is a result of someone stealing it. Which is very sad considering the effort that has gone into restoring these vessels. If you're interested in history or naval ships, you should def. check out Seawolf Park. Stephen D Howard 5/9/2008 7:51:00 PM best place to fish at night with my lights and generator. the staff are excellant and very nice.

Hours of Operation
Open year-round dawn to dusk.

Note: Hours may be seasonal and subject to change.

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