U-505 (IX C U-Boat)
Also known as: Can Do Junior
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Why it's listed
U-505 is a German Type IX C submarine, built at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as hull 295 and commissioned in August 1941. At about 76 meters long, she was designed for long-range commerce raiding and is the only surviving example of 156 boats of her class. She made several war patrols from Lorient, France, sinking Allied ships. In 1944 the U.S. Navy damaged, boarded and captured her off Cape Blanco in French West Africa, the first foreign warship taken on the high seas by the Navy since 1815. She was brought to the United States, where she provided intelligence about German equipment and codes, and later toured East and Gulf coast ports for a War Bond drive. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago obtained her, and in 1954 she was dedicated as a memorial to the 55,000 Americans lost at sea in World War II. Visitors now tour her interior through openings cut into the hull.
Significance in brief: U-505 was captured on the high seas off French West Africa by the U.S. Navy, the first foreign warship so captured since 1815. She yielded valuable intelligence on German equipment and codes. She is also one of only two surviving operational German U-boats not on the ocean bottom, and she was dedicated in 1954 as a memorial to Americans lost at sea in World War II.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89001231, listed June 29, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jackson Park, Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | June 29, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001231 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1940-1947 |
| Architect / builder | Deutsches Werft Shipyard, Hamburg, Germany |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Engineering, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 29, 1989 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | On permanent exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, open to the public for self-guided tours; the hull sits on a concrete foundation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.86650, -87.61577 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89001231.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q698787
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.