Glomar Explorer
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
In a covert CIA plan named the Jennifer Project, this ship was built at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Chester, in the early 1970s and played a key role in US Cold War espionage. Its mission was to obtain intelligence by recovering a sunken Soviet submarine, three miles deep in the Pacific Ocean. Portions of the sub were raised by the ship's huge claw in the summer of 1974; six Soviet submariners were recovered and given a burial at sea.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
At the height of the Cold War, the CIA hatched one of its boldest intelligence gambits: recovering a Soviet submarine from three miles down in the Pacific. The cover story was billionaire Howard Hughes mining the seabed for manganese, but the true purpose was espionage, and the Glomar Explorer—built at the Sun Shipbuilding yard in Chester—was the improbable machine to do it. In 1974 its giant claw lifted portions of the wreck, and the recovered Soviet sailors were given a burial at sea.
Why it matters
The mission gave rise to the famous 'we can neither confirm nor deny' response and stands as one of the most audacious feats of Cold War espionage and American marine engineering.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- Merchants' Exchange Building0.3 mi away · 143 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Independence Living History Center0.3 mi away
- Museum of the American Revolution0.3 mi away · 101 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Powel House0.4 mi away · 244 South 3rd Street
- Larry Becker Contemporary Art0.4 mi away · 43 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Science History Institute0.4 mi away · 315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Attractions
- USS Olympia0.2 mi away · South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
- USS Becuna0.2 mi away · South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
- City Tavern0.2 mi away · 138 South 2nd Street
- First Bank of the United States0.4 mi away · 120 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Carpenters' Hall0.4 mi away · 320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Elfreth's Alley0.5 mi away
Food & drink
- Olivier Cafe0.4 mi away · 50 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
- FRIEDA0.4 mi away · 320 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- National Mechanics0.4 mi away · 22 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia
- Menagerie Coffee0.4 mi away · 18 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
- PrimoHoagies0.4 mi away · 304 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Buddakan0.4 mi away · 325 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Places to stay
- Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landingnearby · 201 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
- Philadelphia Marriott Old City0.2 mi away · 1 Dock Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Thomas Bond House0.2 mi away · 129 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia
- Penn's View Hotel0.3 mi away · 14 North Front Street, Philadelphia
- Apple Hostels0.3 mi away · 33 Bank Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Apple Hostels Philadelphia0.3 mi away · 32 South Bank Street, Philadelphia, PA
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Related events
- · Project Azorian / Jennifer Project
Themes & tags
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