Muskogee's War Memorial Park to relocate, first step in moving USS Batfish to permanent site

MUSKOGEE’S WAR MEMORIAL PARK RELOCATES AFTER 52 YEARS, MARKS FIRST STEP TOWARD MOVING USS BATFISH TO PERMANENT SITE

Muskogee, OK (July 1, 2025) - After 52 years at its original location, Muskogee's War Memorial Park and Museum will relocate to a temporary location at Port Muskogee's Three Forks Harbor on July 1, 2025. 

This move marks the first phase of the long-anticipated relocation of the USS Batfish to its permanent home at the Oklahoma War Memorial and Museum. In the meantime, the museum exhibits will be temporarily housed inside the Robinson Gallery and Event Center—located directly adjacent to the Batfish’s future site at Three Forks Harbor.

Legislature approves $4M to help relocate USS Batfish

After five years of languishing following the 2019 Arkansas River flood, the USS Batfish finally has some good news: 

Top: April 2019 - middle: May 2019 - Bottom: June 2019

OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE APPROVES $4 MILLION TO RELOCATE USS BATFISH

Oklahoma City, OK (May 29, 2025) - One of America’s most decorated World War II submarines—and a beloved Oklahoma landmark—is one step closer to safe harbor. On May 22, the Oklahoma Legislature approved HB2794, allocating $4 million in FY26 funding to the USS Batfish. The state appropriation will be used to relocate the historic military vessel to its future home at Three Forks Harbor.

Folds of Honor lends support in effort to save USS Batfish

Almost six years later, the USS Batfish submarine at Muskogee's War Memorial Park continues to languish in limbo, with desperately needed repairs and a monumental move needed due to Corps of Engineers efforts to stem future river flooding at the Port of Muskogee. 

Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell and local legislators have been helping lead an effort to secure much-needed funding for the Batfish. Recently, the CEO and founder of the Folds of Honor Foundation lent his support to the campaign. You can sent an email of your own to legislators by going to this link. OklahomaWarMemorial.com has more details and renderings of the proposed new location and museum for the USS Batfish and associated military history artifacts, including a 45-foot section of the mast from the USS Oklahoma (sunk at Pearl Harbor with a loss of life second only to the USS Arizona).

Efforts underway to save USS Batfish with proposed Oklahoma War Memorial & Museum

Count me in. The USS Batfish is a hero of WWII, and an Oklahoma treasure, and deserves saving. A big thanks to Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell for his years of support for securing the Batfish for generations to come.

EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO SAVE THE USS BATFISH WITH PROPOSED OKLAHOMA WAR MEMORIAL & MUSEUM

Muskogee, OK (March 10, 2025) - The USS Batfish, a legendary World War II submarine and beloved Oklahoma landmark is at risk of being lost forever if not relocated to a new site. After devastating floodwaters in 2019 displaced the vessel from its foundation, the submarine suffered damage and was forced to permanently close to the public. With critical flood mitigation efforts underway and necessary controlled access measures required at the entrance to the current site, relocating the Batfish to a permanent home at Port Muskogee’s Three Forks Harbor is essential to its preservation.

Oklahoma leaders mourn passing of former U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe

Oklahoma political icon James Mountain Inhofe passed away at the age of 89 on Tuesday following a stroke. The longest serving U.S. Senator in Oklahoma history, Inhofe had a storied political career that began in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1966, and included stints in the Oklahoma Senate, as Tulsa Mayor, then the U.S. House of Representatives before winning a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1994.

I didn't realize this, but Inhofe played a key role in getting the USS Batfish submarine to Oklahoma (originally intended for Tulsa, it found a home instead in Muskogee.

Below are statements from various elected officials:

USS Batfish submarine in Muskogee moving downstream to Three Forks Harbor

One of Muskogee's overlooked treasures is the USS Batfish (SS-310) submarine, a vessel which operated with great success in the Pacific Theater of WWII, at one point sinking three Japanese submarines in a 76-hour period.

During the historic flooding of May 2019, the Batfish came loose and began to float for the first time since she was moved to Muskogee in 1973. Her ballast tanks were filled in order to ground her and stabilize her position during the flooding. As a result, the venerable warship was moved significantly out of position, and the entire grounds were severely damaged and undermined by the floodwaters.

Top: April 2019
Middle: May 2019
Bottom: June 2019

Victor Lezama, the director of the War Memorial Park which houses the Batfish, posted this update the other day, confirming rumors that plans are in the beginning stages to move the Batfish downstream a mile or so to the Three Forks Harbor:

World of Warships joins effort to raise funds for USS Batfish

World of Warships, a 'free-to-play naval warfare-themed massively multiplayer online game', is joining the effort to repair the USS Batfish submarine in Muskogee.

Here's the release from the gaming site:

Save USS Batfish - Fundraising for the Muskogee War Memorial Park

A titan of submarine history needs your help!

Commissioned in August of 1943, USS Batfish is the only Allied submarine to ever sink three enemy submarines in a single patrol. This Balao-class submarine sunk a total of six ships over the course of her career. She received six battle stars for her service during World War II.

Her transformation into a museum ship would begin in 1971. The Oklahoma Maritime Advisory Board acquired the sub and began the long process of transporting up the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers to Batfish's final resting place in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

On May 22, 2019, the Muskogee War Memorial Park experienced the second highest flood in Muskogee history. The USS Batfish was at the center of the disaster! Knocked around and corroded by the flood surge, the legendary submarine is in dire need of repair and stabilization.


How You Can Help

• Purchase the exclusive USS Batfish Patch bundle below. 100% of bundle sales go to the Muskogee War Memorial Park's Batfish preservation efforts
• Donate directly via the USS Batfish GoFundMe

LtGov Pinnell coming to Muskogee for trivia night fundraiser for USS Batfish repairs

As a result of the record flooding in May, the USS Batfish submarine located at Muskogee's War Memorial Park was severely damaged, breaking loose of her moorings and had to be secured to prevent it from slipping downstream. The damage is estimated to cost at least a half million dollars, possibly more.

Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell is gallantly pitching in on the effort to raise funds to restore and repair the Batfish, an Oklahoma treasure that deserves the attention.

From the Friends of the Muskogee War Memorial Park:

Please join us for Save the Batfish: Trivia Night W/ LT. Gov Matt Pinnell at the Muskogee Civic Center!

The USS Batfish was severely damaged in the record-level flooding of May and the Friends of the Muskogee War Memorial Park have banded together with local businesses and Oklahoma's Lieutenant Governor - Matt Pinnell to test our minds at trivia and raise money for good cause!

November 22, 2019
Happy Hour: 5:00 pm
Trivia: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Muskogee Civic Center 425 Boston Street
Cash Bar • Snacks • 50/50 • Dessert Auction & More!

Individual tickets are $40 and a table of 8 may be purchased for $300

Sponsorships are available!

Enlisted ($500)
•Receive table of 8 for Save the USS Batfish Trivia
•Logo on all advertisements
•5 mulligans for trivia gameplay

Officer ($750)
•Exclusive Meet and Greet with Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell (Before Event)
•Logo displayed during trivia intermissions
•8 USS Batfish T-shirts for your crew!
•Receive table of 8 for Save the USS Batfish Trivia
•Logo on all advertisements
•5 mulligans for trivia gameplay

Admiral (Two Available) $1500
•Exclusive Meet and Greet with Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell (Before Event)
•Logo displayed on all trivia slides during event
•Logo sign placed at entry to USS Batfish for calendar year
•Logo displayed during trivia intermissions
•8 USS Batfish T-shirts for your crew!
•Receive table of 8 for Save the USS Batfish Trivia
•Logo on all advertisements
•5 mulligans for trivia gameplay


For more information please contact brent@warmemorialpark.org | 918.682.6294 or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/ussbatfish.

*tickets, sponsorships, and donations are eligible for a tax write off.

As a trivia nut, this sounds like a great event, and if I wasn't already going to be headed out of town I'd try to make it!