H.L. Hunley Submarine

The Hunley Museum

Uncover the Mystery

Description

One of the Civil War's most fascinating mysteries is the story of the H.L. Hunley. The Hunley has the distinction of being the first submarine to sink an enemy vessel in combat, a feat that would not be repeated until World War I. However, the story of the Hunley is mired in tragedy. After being constructed, two consecutive crews testing the Hunley drowned in the submarine. It was the third crew that enabled the Hunley to make its infamous mission. It was on February 17th, 1864, that the H.L. Hunley came across the Housatonic, a Union ship, floating about three miles from the Charleston Harbor. The crew on the Hunley fired upon the Housatonic and successfully sunk the vessel within minutes. After the confrontation, the Hunley headed back to port in Charleston. Then, after signaling Confederate soldiers stationed on nearby Sullivan's Island, it vanished. For 137 years many believed that the submarine was lost forever; however, in 1995 adventurer Clive Cussler and his team found the submarine buried in sand at the bottom of the ocean near the Charleston Harbor. The Hunley has since been raised and is currently being studied by scientists attempting to discern its final moments. Fortunately for the rest of us fascinated by the mystery of Hunley, visitors can now see the craft at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, where tours of the H.L. Hunley are available on the weekends.