Groton ― The Navy announced the Historic Ship Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum will host a ceremony for the 65th anniversary of Nautilus “completing “Operation Sunshine,” the first submerged transit under the North Pole.“

The ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Nautilus Pier at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4.

“On August 1, 1958, Nautilus submerged in the Barrow Sea Valley, pioneering under ice navigation and operations and transiting beneath the geographic North Pole on August 3,” the news release states. “After running submerged an additional 96 hours, Nautilus surfaced off Greenland on August 7.”

Nautilus’ commanding officer, Cmdr. William R. Anderson, and the crew were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the release states.

Several crew members are slated to attend the event.

The Nautilus was launched in 1954 as the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine. It is the only nuclear-powered U.S. naval vessel available to the public for general visitation, the release states.

The Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum are located at 1 Crystal Lake Road, Groton.