When we were planning our trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the U-505 tour of the only German submarine in the United States wasn’t originally on my, um…sonar. The money we had saved for our visit was earmarked for the Lego exhibit. But then I discovered that they have a special school rate for tours and exhibits, which they kindly extend to homeschoolers. So we ended up getting tickets not only for Brick by Brick, but for the U-505 tour, as well, for a little less than I was planning on spending on the Lego exhibit alone!

The tour, which lasts about a half and hour, is very well narrated, and includes many sound effects and light changes, which really make you feel like you’re in the middle of a battle. It was really interesting to see and smell the history of the boat, and being on board really makes you understand just how cramped the quarters were.

For those who don’t have time for the tour, or don’t want to pay for the tickets, there is still plenty to learn about the U-505 in the surrounding exhibit:

I’m so glad we were able to find a way to go on this tour…we all learned a lot, and it really made us feel like we were experiencing the history of the boat and the time period!