The H.L. Hunley Submarine: The Story and What Is True

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The H.L. Hunley Submarine is a story from Warren Lasch Conservation Center, North Charleston, Charleston County. It is true.

WhereWarren Lasch Conservation Center, North CharlestonCharleston County, Lowcountry
KindHistorynot a ranking
Sources2named, linked below
CheckedOct 262026

Collected 0 of 21All legends

A story with a documented core.

No. 10 of 21

The H.L. Hunley Submarine

The story people tell is almost too strange to be true: a hand-cranked Civil War submarine sank a warship, then vanished with its crew for well over a century.

What The Record Shows

It is true. The South Carolina Encyclopedia says on the night of February 17, 1864, the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley sank the USS Housatonic about four miles off Sullivan's Island, the first successful sinking of an enemy ship by a submersible. It was 40 feet long with a crew of eight, seven turning a hand crank. The Friends of the Hunley say the Hunley was raised in 2000 and is conserved at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, where it can be seen on weekend tours. The cause of its loss is still being studied.

Sources: South Carolina Encyclopedia – H.L. Hunley; The Friends of the Hunley – About Us.

A note: The crew died; treat respectfully. Tour days and ticket details come from the operator's page; do not state prices (none read). The Navy History page was not readable (did not load).

See The Place

Warren Lasch Conservation Center, 1250 Supply Street (per Friends of the Hunley): https://www.hunley.org/about-us/.

FAQ

Is the story of The H.L. Hunley Submarine true?

It is true.

Is this a legend?

It is a story with a documented core. The facts are listed on this page with their sources.

Where do these facts come from?

From the named sources listed on this page: South Carolina Encyclopedia – H.L. Hunley; The Friends of the Hunley – About Us.

Sources

Read on October 26, 2026. Stories are for fun; the facts come from these sources. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “The H.L. Hunley Submarine”, itssouthcarolina.com/things-to-do/south-carolina-legends/hl-hunley-submarine/ (updated 2026-10-26). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.