A couple of weeks ago I visited the U.S.S. Nautilus (designation SSN-571) in Groton, CT. The Nautilus bears the distinction of being the first nuclear-powered submarine put in operation by the United States Navy. It was operational from 1954-1980, during which time, notably, it completed a “submerged transit” of the North Pole (1958) and participated in the blockade of Cuba (October 1962). The Nautilus broke a number of submarine records, largely rendered the anti-sub countermeasures of WWII obsolete, and represented a critical stage in the development of warfare during the Cold War. Feel free to read more about it here, here, and here. On to the pictures!
See the full 157-picture tour via google drive here.
the bridge
crew mess
A3 oxygen breathing apparatus
battery banks
battery banks diagnostic equipment
kitchen
officer bunk
pinups everywhere
radio room
radio room 2
reactor room pressure gauge (probably pretty important)
opposite torpedo room
deck
galtonsbox.com 
What would have been more intense, being aboard for the voyage under the polar ice cap or for the blockade of Cuba? I guess I’d have to go with the blockade of Cuba, seeing as the fate of the world hung in the balance.
Fate of Cuba, definitely, though the North Pole traverse would have been more immediately (if less existentially) terrifying 🙂