Charleston, South Carolina: Confederate Submarine Replica

A full-size replica of the H.L. Hunley, the first successful combat submarine, which sank on its first and only mission in 1864. This replica was built in the 1970s.

Charleston Museum

Address:: 28 John St., Charleston, SC
Directions:: Downtown. The submarine is outdoors, next to the Charleston Museum, on the north side of John St., just east of its intersection with Meeting St.
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

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Civil War submarine Hunley.

Confederate Submarine

This is a full-size replica of the H.L. Hunley, the first successful combat submarine. This replica was built in the 1970s, based on estimates of the sub's design, and is actually 17 inches taller than the real Hunley, which wasn't raised from its watery grave until 2000.

The Hunley was not a good boat to work on. It sank three times: twice in testing, and for the last time, on its first and only day of service on February 17, 1864. Apparently, attaching a giant explosive to the front of the submarine was a design flaw.

This replica sits in front of the Charleston Museum, which is the oldest museum in America and has the only skeleton of the largest bird: Pelagornis sandersi (wing span of up to 24 feet).

[John Francis, 07/23/2018]

The museum opened in 1773, burned in 1778, then re-opened in 1824. Also in its collection: the wooden hand of Confederate Col. Gaillard, whose real hand was blown off during the Civil War.