Muskegon Rising Podcast

When the USS Silversides left Muskegon for major preservation work, no one expected the refit to uncover a remarkable connection to another World War II submarine. During the war, the Silversides and USS Trigger were once docked side by side for repairs. When the Silversides needed a flood valve to get back into action, one was taken from the Trigger and installed aboard her. The Trigger was later lost in the war. More than 80 years later, that borrowed piece of equipment remains part of the Silversides—and its story is being rediscovered as the submarine undergoes extensive preservation work. In this episode of Muskegon Rising, host Aaron Maike talks with USS Silversides Museum Executive Director Veronica Campbell about what crews are finding during the submarine's refit, why decades in the fresh water of Lake Michigan helped preserve this national treasure, and what visitors can expect when she returns to Muskegon. But this story is about more than preserving a submarine. The museum is looking toward the future—expanding educational opportunities, connecting young people with engineering, advanced manufacturing and skilled trades, developing more immersive exhibits, and finding new ways for Muskegon families to experience history firsthand. The Silversides represents an extraordinary piece of American history. Its next chapter may be just as important: using that history to educate, inspire and connect another generation. Discover why preserving the Silversides matters to Muskegon—and why some of its most fascinating stories are still being uncovered.