…Looking Up

Thursday Hidden Treasure

Looking through the periscope, you can see one of our moving trucks. - Photo by Curt M Fischer

This week’s edition of Thursday Hidden Treasure is a little different. This week we are highlighting an artifact that many people remember, that has been on display for years and is very well beloved. That’s right, the periscope!

The periscope was given to the Museum in 1964 by the U.S. Navy as an “indefinite loan.” It is a Type 4 submarine periscope from the WWII era, although none of the documentation accompanying the periscope from the Navy tells us it was ever installed on an actual submarine. In fact, it is frequently called “surplus” leading me to believe that it was manufactured as a replacement, but never used. Luckily enough, the periscope still worked. Throughout the 1960s and the 1970s, kids and adults loved the periscope. MOHAI’s location on the edge of Montlake offered viewers a chance to see the Montlake Cut, the Washington Park Arboretum, Husky Stadium and on clear days the Cascade Mountains.

Unfortunately, the periscope fell onto some hard times in the late 1980s and the 1990s. Birds seemed to think the top of the periscope that protruded from the roof was a great toilet and being out in the elements was hard on the poor artifact.

The Periscope being removed for restoration in 2000. The Periscope is roughly 39 feet long. - Photo by Howard Giske

In 2000, as MOHAI was preparing for Seattle’s sesquicentennial (150th anniversary), the Museum decided it was time to repair the periscope to working order and to showcase the artifact in the new METROPOLIS 150 exhibit. The Museum contacted the Naval Submarine Base Bangor’s facilities to repair and restore the periscope. One of their main requests was for spikes to be placed on the top so that birds wouldn’t find it so attractive. They also wired a camera to the top so that people in the gallery could also witness what the viewer was seeing.

Subsequently, the periscope has renewed its popularity. Since it is located in our primary space for visiting exhibits, however, the periscope has frequently been off-display, either to permit us better use of the space, or  because it didn’t make sense with the exhibit on display. Luckily, the periscope is set to go into the fourth floor of the Armory building when MOHAI moves in next year. That floor, which will feature our Maritime Exhibit, in conjunction with the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society, will allow the periscope to be on display most of the time. It will also allow unparalleled views of Seattle from its near-geographic center.

The periscope is well-loved by all ages. - Photo by Kathleen Knies

To get it from the Montlake location to the Armory, on September 19th, the periscope will be removed and be refreshed by the Navy. Next year it will be installed in the Armory.

Thursday Hidden Treasure highlights artifacts in MOHAI’s collection that are not on everyday display.