FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2002
Contact: Frank Lennon
(401) 831-8696
John Martin
(401) 521-3600
1000th VISITOR BOARDS RUSSIAN SUBMARINE AT COLLIER POINT PARK
Six-year-old Ken Carlson of North Providence
"Dives Into History" as Juliett 484 ends 1st week of operations
PROVIDENCE, RI - Every child who steps aboard Juliett 484 is in for a great experience. But Ken Carlson of Johnston, RI, discovered that his visit to the Russian cruise missile submarine moored at Collier Point Park, Providence, was a special one.
When Carlson stepped up to the ticket office Sunday, August 11, he became Juliett's 1000th official paid visitor. A small milestone, admittedly, but one reached in remarkable time - less than a week after the attraction opened.
Carlson, 6, will enter the 3rd grade this fall at Brown Avenue School in Johnston. Glenn Carlson, Ken's dad, says his son can't stop talking about the submarine. "He wants to know if he can come back and take her for a little spin," he joked.
But Glenn Carlson was quite serious when he asked about how long Ken and others will have to wait to board the USS Saratoga. He said that seeing Juliett 484 was a tremendous experience, but that having the Russian sub and her former Cold War adversary, the Saratoga, moored side by side is a "fantastic" concept.
"When the carrier opens," he said, "we'll wait until the end of the first week, and maybe Ken will be the 1000th visitor to come aboard Saratoga."
The USS Saratoga Foundation's acquisition of Juliett 484 is part of a continuing effort to convert the supercarrier USS Saratoga into a floating museum, education center and family attraction on Narragansett Bay. The Saratoga is moored at the U.S. Navy facility in Middletown. The long-term vision is to display the two ships - Cold War adversaries that were both decommissioned in 1994 - side by side as a Cold War museum and monument to lasting peace between Russia and the United States.
"We think it is great that Ken Carlson, a 6-year-old accompanied by his father, is our 1000th visitor," said Saratoga Foundation President Frank Lennon. "We hope that it was an experience that enhanced their lives and opened new doors to understanding the Cold War. Family fun and education is really what we are about, and it thrills us to stand here on beautiful Narragansett Bay and watch our dream becoming a reality. I hope Ken comes back in September with his classmates and that they can help spread the word Rhode Island is now home to this amazing vessel."
The submarine is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. She also is available for special events and private parties. Ticket prices are $5 for children; $6 for uniformed military personnel and senior citizens; $8 for all other adults. Major credit cards are accepted; no reservations are required. For safety purposes, guests must wear appropriate footwear: high heels, flip-flops and open-toed shoes are not allowed. Visitors must demonstrate their ability to pass through a mock submarine hatch near the ticketing area. This vessel is not suitable for infants and toddlers. Based on Coast Guard and insurance input, we do not allow children under six inside the submarine. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
The submarine museum is located in beautiful Collier Point Park, an urban oasis near the center of downtown Providence. The park entrance is on Allens Avenue, immediately south of the city's newest electrical generating plant.
Click on any image below to view at larger size
DIRECTIONS:
From Providence City Hall:
Go south on Dorrance Street; stay straight to go onto Dyer Street; turn slight left onto Eddy St. After 0.4 miles, bear left at fork onto Allens Avenue. After about 0.4 miles, the road divides around an island at a construction site. Make a U-turn at the traffic light at the end of the island to head north on Allens Avenue. The entrance to Collier Point Park will be on your right.
From Points North:
From I-95 South, take the Eddy St. exit - Exit 19 - towards Allens Avenue. Keep left at the fork in the ramp, passing under the overpass. Turn left at the light onto Allens Avenue; Collier Point Park is approximately 0.1 miles on the right hand side.
From Points South:
From I-95 North, take the Thurbers Avenue exit - Exit 18 - towards Allens Avenue. Keep right at the fork in the ramp, merging onto Thurbers Avenue. Turn left onto Allens Avenue. Collier Point Park is approximately 0.8 miles up on the right hand side.
From anywhere in the United States:
Parking
Limited parking is available. On weekends and holidays you may be directed to our overflow parking lot at Heritage Harbor Museum, about a third of a mile north of Collier Point Park. Shuttle service will be available.
Public Transportation
Public transportation is convenient. RIPTA's Route # 3 will stop at the Collier Point Park entrance during our regular hours. From the park gate, the sub ticket office is located just a short walk toward the waterfront.
| 
 "Click here to view at full size.")
 "Click here to view at full size.")
 "Click here to view at full size.")
![[------------]](images/sep3.gif){kind=small}