H. L. Hunley, submarine
The H. L. Hunley is a preserved iron attack submarine in North Charleston, South Carolina, now displayed as a museum ship. It rests in a large water tank at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center on the Cooper River, where visitors can view the small vessel up close and walk through displays of recovered artifacts.
The submarine was built during the Civil War in Alabama and transported by rail to Charleston, where it successfully attacked and sank the USS Housatonic in 1864. After the attack, it disappeared with its entire crew and remained on the ocean floor until 1995, when it was located and then raised in 2000.
The crew operated the submarine by turning a hand crank together that drove a propeller, while working in a cramped space with limited light. This human-powered system shows the physical effort and close teamwork that were necessary for every mission.
The center opens on weekends and offers guided tours through the exhibit with explanations from knowledgeable staff. A visit takes about an hour and includes interactive models that are especially suitable for families with children.
Archaeologists found a small gold coin in the wreckage that is said to have saved the captain's life during the battle. Visitors can also see facial reconstructions of the crew that show what the men might have looked like more than 150 years ago.
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