USS CAVALLA (submarine)
Also known as: Ssk244; Agss244
Why it's listed
Cavalla is a Gato Class submarine that now serves as a museum at the east end of Seawolf Park in Galveston, Texas. Built by Electric Boat Company, she was laid down on 4 March 1943, launched that November and commissioned on 29 February 1944, a pace of just under a year that reflected wartime shipbuilding capacity. Her welded steel pressure hull held eight watertight compartments, including torpedo rooms, crew quarters, a control room, diesel engine rooms and a maneuvering room. During World War II she made six patrols and earned a Presidential Unit Citation for her role in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, where she torpedoed the carrier Shokaku. She later sank the destroyer Shimotsuki and two merchant ships. After being mothballed in 1946, she was recommissioned in 1951 and converted to a quieter SSK with a new bow sonar to help develop tactics against Soviet submarines during the Cold War.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Cavalla as nationally significant for her World War II service, including the sinking of the carrier Shokaku and the destroyer Shimotsuki, and a Presidential Unit Citation. She also had a second life as a converted SSK in Cold War antisubmarine development. Her construction in under a year reflects American shipbuilding capacity during the war.
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 08000477, listed May 27, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E.end of Seawolf Park, Galveston |
|---|---|
| County | Galveston County |
| Listed | May 27, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000477 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Electric Boat Company |
| Architectural style | Other: Gato Class Submarine |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a museum (Recreation and Culture: Museum). |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 29.33590, -94.77864 (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 08000477.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1398898
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.