The warm, summer days have made for even hotter temperatures when touring the USS Razorback.

Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum Maintenance Director Jim Gates says, “As you can imagine, this black submarine soaks up heat.”

Below deck, it was even hotter; that’s before the museum installed a new system to help keep it cool this summer.

Gates explains, “It’s a geo thermal system where it’s a heat pump installed under the superstructure and then down in the river suspended about 10 feet deep, there are two heat exchanged panels that swap heat or cooling with the river water.”

With the help of the river and the four, three-ton units, tourists will feel the difference.

Gates describes it, “Amazing. Humidity alone-humidity runs around 40 percent below decks, whereas last year, it was running 90 percent range.”

Here, the Arkansas River proves to be a benefit, but its flooded status has hindered the museum from being open. Because river levels are eight feet above normal, and the sub’s electrical box is mounted two feet above that, all power to the sub has been shut down. (See link below the pictures.)

Gates continues, “It’s a temporary thing and we’re at the mercy of the weather and the corps of engineers and they have to do their best for flood control.”

All events scheduled at the USS Razorback are canceled until further notice.

Officials say the temporary setback and upgrades are needed to help make your visit to the museum a cool and safe one this summer.

Now, temps below deck on the sub run around 78 degrees.

Maritime museum workers have begun tracking their cooling bills to see how much of a cost-savings benefit the system has been.

Only two of the geo thermal units are in right now. Museum officials are raising money to help pay for the other two.