Boatanchor Travel Guide

So, you're planning a trip, and you'd like to know if there are any boatanchor- or technology-related sites where you're going? Over the past few years, I've made a number of business trips with one of my colleagues at Velio Communications. Whenever possible, we try to find an excuse to visit a surplus store, a WWII ship, or some other techologically interesting site, just to make the business travel more bearable.

Check out some of the sites we've visited at Sightseeing for Geeks .

Some other places to visit:

Bay Area

National Radio Historical Society Check out the KPH project, the Victory Ship radio room, and various other sites, all in the San Francisco Bay area.
S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien If you're in San Francisco, a visit to the only operational Liberty Ship in existence is a must! If you ask the docents very nicely, they might agree to show you the amazing radio room in the ship. But, best of all, you can actually take a cruise on the ship; they'll even let you spend the entire cruise in the engine room! Oh, man...
USS Pampanito AND, right next door to the Jeremiah O'Brien is a terrific tour of a WWII Submarine!
Point Reyes National Seashore Not only are there great 'normal' recreational activities there, but you can visit one of America's most interesting lighthouses. And, you'll drive right by the KPH Maritime Radio site on the way. If you have a day to kill in the Bay area, you cannot do better than spend it at Point Reyes!

Central US

USS Cobia (WWII Submarine) The Cobia is located at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, a "must-see" for any boatanchor enthusiast. Among other things, a local amateur radio group has restored to operation the sub's SJ-1 radar system, the oldest operating radar system in the world!
Chicago Museum of Science and Industry Hey, they have a German U-Boat, they've got a coal mine, they've got trains... What more did you need to know. GO there!!
US Air Force Museum Simply the best military aircraft museum in the world. A must-see if you're in Dayton, Ohio.
Fair Radio And, while we're on the subject of Ohio Geek Travel, you should not miss a visit to the legendary Fair Radio in Lima, Ohio. Where else can you see (many) palette loads of R-390A's..? They've moved recently, so check their website for directions.
USS Cod In Cleveland, right next door to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (another good place to visit, but not technology related), you'll find the USS Cod Submarine Memorial. A great tour! The local RAS seems to have the radio room somewhat operational...
William G. Mather And, right next door to the Cod, is the Great Lakes Steamship William G. Mather. Another terrific tour! You don't even have to move your car :)

East Coast

USS North Carolina I've taken this tour dozens of times and never get tired of it! If you're in Wilmington, NC, you'd be crazy not to visit BB-55. Allow about 4 hours to see the film, do the tour, and do some serious gawking in Radio Central, the Plotting Room, the 16" gun turret, and so forth...
Patriot's Point So, the wife has dragged you off for a "romantic" weekend in Charleston, SC..? That's all well and good, but just to keep that essential balance in your relationship, you really should drap HER along to visit Partriot's Point. Where else can you take not one, but FOUR excellent naval tours: the USS Yorktown (CV-10), which contains the National Memorial to Carrier Aviation, the USS Clamagore (SS-343), a late deisel WWII boat, the USS Laffey (DD-724), a WWII destroyer with an absolutely incredible war story, and the USCGC Ingham (WHEC=35), a Coast Guard vessel with a remarkably distinguished military career. And, there's also a recreation of a Vietnam Advanced Tactical Support Base of the "Brown Water Navy". Yep, Patriot's Point is a feast. Allow most of a day to do it properly.