| Year | Date | Historical Events |
| 1954 | Nov 1 | Contract awarded to the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. |
| 1963 | Nov 23 | Keel laid down by the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. |
| 1965 | May 22 | Launched. |
| 1966 | Apr 16 | Commissioned with CDR. R.M. Douglass commanding the Blue Crew and CDR. F.D. McMullen, Jr. commanding the Gold Crew.
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| | Sep 1 | James K. Polk sailed to Charleston, SC., in Sept. 1966 to load out Polaris missiles for her 1st patrol. After completion of the shakedown period, she operated in the Atlantic Ocean and completed 19 patrols from September 1966 until May 1971.
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| 1971 | Jul 1 | James K. Polk conducted her 1st overhaul at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, VA., for nuclear refueling and conversion of the weapons system to the Poseidon missile system. |
| 1972 | Dec 1 | James K. Polk completed her conversion in late 1972 and commenced a rigorous schedule of sea trials and exercises. These events culminated in the Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) of the Poseidon missile system. |
| | Dec 1 | (Cont'd.) The DASO afforded the opportunity to test the ship's system, train the crew and launch a Poseidon C-3 missile.
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| 1973 | May 1 | James K. Polk commenced Poseidon patrols in the Atlantic. She conducted her 2nd overhaul at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. after completing her 50th patrol. The ship completed overhaul in 1983 and conducted 7 more successful patrols. |
| 1986 | Jan 1 | James K. Polk returned to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME. for a 3rd overhaul after completing her 58th deterrent patrol. |
| 1988 | Nov 1 | Polk departed the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and sailed south for commencement of her Demonstration and Shakedown Operations (DASO). May 1989 marked the beginning of her final series of Poseidon strategic deterrent patrols.
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| 1991 | Aug 1 | James K. Polk completed her 66th and final patrol. She completed a 19 month shipyard conversion which removed her 16 Poseidon missiles in March 1994 and converted her hull classification symbol from SSBN-645 to SSN-645. |
| 1994 | Mar 1 | Since conversion, James K. Polk completed two extended deployments to the Mediterranean Sea with Dry Deck Shelters and participated in numerous SPECWAR and NATO exercises.
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| 1999 | Jan 9 | James K. Polk was deactivated at Norfolk, VA. |
| | Jul 8 | James K. Polk was decommissioned at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. and entered the Nuclear Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program.
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| 2001 | May 1 | The sail section (conning tower)of the James K. Polk is on display at the National Atomic Museum in Albuquerque, NM.
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