Visiting the Hunley, Charleston SC

The mystery of the disappearance of the legendary Civil War submarine, H.L. Hunley, has fascinated my husband for years. It vanished in 1864, and was not found until 1995. So, we just had to visit the Hunley in Charleston, SC; and learn more about the legends surrounding it!

Disclaimer: We were guests of the Friends of the Hunley, and they kindly provided some of the photos for this article. As always, all opinions are my own.

Consider staying at the Renaissance Historic District while you’re in Charleston

History

The legend of the gold coin and Lt. George E Dixon

George E. Dixon was a soldier in the Confederate Army. On his way out of Mobile, he was given a gold coin as a good luck charm by a young girl. During a battle in Shiloh, Tennessee, in 1862, Dixon was shot. Legend has it that the bullet struck the gold coin, that was in Dixon’s trouser pocket, and saved his life. It became one of the greatest oral legends in the history of the war.

Fast forward to 1864 when Dixon commanded the H.L. Hunley

On February 17th, 1864, the H.L. Hunley became the first successful combat submarine in world history with the sinking of the USS Housatonic.  After completing her mission, she mysteriously vanished and remained lost at sea for over a century!  For decades, adventurers searched for the legendary submarine.

The Hunley

For over 100 years, the Hunley, Dixon, and the legend of the gold coin were lost at sea.  However, in 1995 the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA) finally found the Hunley off the coast of Charleston!  A ground breaking effort began to retrieve the fragile submarine from the sea.  On August 8th, 2000, the Hunley was recovered safely and delivered to the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.

Conservation

The Hunley was excavated and proved to be a time capsule. It held a wide array of artifacts that teach us about life during the American Civil War.  During the excavation of the Hunley, a $20 gold piece (minted in 1860) was discovered next to the remains of Lt. Dixon.  

It was deeply indented from the impact of the bullet and inscribed with the following words: Shiloh April 6, 1862 My life preserver G.E.D. Maria Jacobson.  Thus proving the legend to be true!

We have visited twice since the Hunley was lifted. Once in 2003, and again with Payton more recently. It has been fascinating to see the stages of restoration. Over the years researchers and scientists have made great progress in restoring the Hunley and the artifacts that have been found inside.

In the years since they lifted the H.L.Hunley, they have painstakingly removed the sediment that had concreted itself to the hull over the century it was underwater. They have also had to acclimatise the vessel to being out of the sea – using chemical baths that draw out the salt from the iron.

Visiting the H.L. Hunley

The Hunley is only open to the public for tours on the weekends.  Please make note of this if you plan to visit.  Visitors are not allowed during the week, because of the conservation work being done (except for groups and tours that are prearranged with the facility). Find the ticket pricing, information, and directions here.

The visits are a combination of self-guided in the exhibition center, and docent-led to actually see the Hunley.  There is so much information here concerning the history, the discovery, the retrieval, and the restoration.

There are also videos to watch and replicas that you may climb inside. I expected a full size submarine, not this 40ft, 4’3″ tall vessel! The tallest man on board was 6’1″ and here is Payton, just under 5ft unable to stand up inside the replica.  Can you believe that there were 8 men inside the Hunley on the night it vanished?

The guided part of the tour is full of interesting information and presented in a fascinating, easy to follow manner.  There is a gift shop on location as well with souvenirs, books, clothing, and more!  If you are unable to visit, check out their online store.  

Pick up a book to read the in-depth history or a gold coin replica keepsake, but support the Friends of the Hunley and their efforts to preserve this amazing piece of history!

If your kids love history, check out the Frontier Museum in Staunton, Virginia!

Visiting the Hunley in Charleston SC

As a homeschooling family, we love the opportunity to learn and teach Payton about the history of our country. If you’re ever in Charleston, I recommend a visit to the Hunley, as well as Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.

Do you think you know what happened to the Hunley on that cold night in February in 1864?  I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas!  Leave a comment with your vote of what happened when the Hunley vanished for over 100 years!

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