• VISIT
    • Weekend Visit
    • School Visit
    • Group Visit
    • Directions
  • HISTORY
    • Overview
    • Timeline
    • The Civil War
    • Naval Innovation
    • The Hunley is Born
    • The Hunley’s Sinkings
    • History is Made
    • The Search and Recovery
    • The Burial
  • SCIENCE
    • Overview
    • Timeline
    • Excavation
    • Artifacts
    • Facial Reconstructions
    • Conservation
  • THE MYSTERY
    • Overview
    • Evidence
    • Theories
  • NEWS
    • Press Releases
    • Research
  • ABOUT US
    • Contact
    • Volunteer
  • SHOP
  • DONATE
    • Donate
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
  • BUY TICKETS
The Friends of The HunleyThe Friends of The Hunley
  • VISIT
    • Weekend Visit
    • School Visit
    • Group Visit
    • Directions
  • HISTORY
    • Overview
    • Timeline
    • The Civil War
    • Naval Innovation
    • The Hunley is Born
    • The Hunley’s Sinkings
    • History is Made
    • The Search and Recovery
    • The Burial
  • SCIENCE
    • Overview
    • Timeline
    • Excavation
    • Artifacts
    • Facial Reconstructions
    • Conservation
  • THE MYSTERY
    • Overview
    • Evidence
    • Theories
  • NEWS
    • Press Releases
    • Research
  • ABOUT US
    • Contact
    • Volunteer
  • SHOP
  • DONATE
    • Donate
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
  • BUY TICKETS

Welcome to the Hunley Plan Your Visit Hours Open on Saturday 10AM - 5PM & Sunday 10AM - 3PM
DONATE
VISIT THE STORE
MEMBERSHIP

Our Annual Oyster Roast is back!

All-you-can-eat BBQ, Oysters, and traditional sides * Live Music * Raffle

We are excited to announce our annual Oyster Roast is back for its 18th year! Join us and make sure this is our best year yet! This popular event offers a great time, good music and food, with all proceeds supporting maritime historic preservation and education. We hope you can join us and, please, spread the word to your families, neighbors and friends!

Buy Tickets NOW!

Feel what it was like to be a crew member!

Our guests have voted us a top-rated Charleston activity on Tripadvisor! A visit to the Hunley is the perfect destination for fun and educational activities for families.  Here are just a few of the things you’ll see as you take a voyage of discovery with us …

    • The real Hunley in her 75,000-gallon tank
    • Artifacts found during excavation
    • The legendary gold coin that saved the Captain’s life
    • Facial reconstructions of the crew
    • Climb inside a Hunley model and enjoy interactive exhibits for all ages

Here’s what our visitors are saying…

  • Our trip was AMAZING! The presentation of the exhibit is spectacular and the staff and volunteers were amazing and incredibly knowledgeable. I recommend this to anyone, historians and non-historians!

    D61NRlaurene
  • Amazing technology for the time and the bonus is the story of Queenie Bennett. Be sure to ask the guides for additional information.

    Wheat711411
  • The Hunley exhibit far exceeded my expectations. First, the staff are all incredibly friendly and eager to share their expertise and knowledge. And the highlight, the conserved wreckage of the Hunley herself is an incredible time capsule into the past. Highly, highly recommended.

    Andy P.
  • Very educational and informative. Lots of information regarding the recovery and conservation efforts.

    Thd23

Visit the Hunley Store

Looking for gifts for history buffs or want to get something new and unique for yourself? Shop here for a wide selection of clothing, jewelry, books, collectibles and much more! All proceeds support our efforts to save the Hunley!

Shop the Hunley Store NOW!

Dive Deeper into the Mystery

News

Learn more here about the fascinating discoveries emerging from the Hunley project. These articles will take you through the science of the past, today and tomorrow…

Gold Pocket Watch May Help Solve a Timeless Maritime Mystery

May 26, 2022Read More

Artifacts Belonging to Doomed 19th Century Submarine Captain Conserved

November 23, 2021Read More

Hunley Launches New Visitor Experience & Fully Reopens After Closing Due to the Coronavirus

June 17, 2021Read More

A Grateful World Says Goodbye to Clive Cussler

October 5, 2020Read More

Golden Treasures from the Past

October 5, 2020Read More
Browse More News Articles

Videos

Click here to visit our YouTube channel to get even more details. We have hours of content documenting our recovery and restoration journey.

Visit our YouTube Channel

Facebook

Click here to join us on Facebook. Get up-to-the-minute news on current events and our continuing restoration progress from the Hunley team.

Friends of the Hunley

Friends of the Hunley
Friends of the Hunley1 month ago
Happy Hunley Raising Day! The Hunley became the world’s first successful combat submarine in 1864 and then mysteriously vanished. She remained lost at sea for over a century until she was found in 1995 by an expedition funded by Clive Cussler. On this day in 2000, the world watched as the legendary submarine was raised from the depths of the ocean floor. Since then, scientists have been working to preserve the submarine and unlock the many secrets she holds.

The raising was a remarkable moment in history and a state-of-the art engineering feat. This short video shows how it was done and offers a peak at the artifacts found inside...
Friends of the Hunley
Happy Hunley Raising Day! The Hunley became the world’s first successful combat submarine in 1864 and then mysteriously vanished. She remained lost at sea ...
Friends of the Hunley
Friends of the Hunley3 months ago
We hope you have a joyful and safe 4th of July with your family and friends. If you’re in Charleston, come see us for a tour this weekend! We are open Saturday from 10am - 5pm and Sunday from 10am – 3pm.
Friends of the Hunley
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Friends of the Hunley
Friends of the Hunley3 months ago
The Hunley team’s thoughts and prayers are with those onboard the missing OceanGate Expeditions submersible. We hope for a successful and safe search and rescue mission.
Friends of the Hunley
A U.S. Coast Guard official said personnel were "currently undergoing a search and rescue operation" off the coast of Newfoundland, where the Titanic sank in 1912.
Friends of the Hunley
Friends of the Hunley4 months ago
Join us this Memorial Day Weekend to explore the development of submarines! Visitor hours are Saturday 10 - 5 and Sunday 10 - 3! Learn more at www.Hunley.org
Join Us On Facebook

Become a Member

WE NEED YOU TO HELP SAVE THE HUNLEY!

The Hunley became the world’s first successful combat submarine in 1864 and then mysteriously vanished.  She was located in 1995 by New York Times best selling author Clive Cussler and was raised from the ocean floor in 2000.  The Hunley was not only an important relic in Naval history but was also a time capsule holding a wide array of fascinating artifacts from the 19th century.  We are working to save the Hunley, the artifacts found within and build a submarine naval museum where our nation’s story under the waves can be told for generations to come.

Standard Membership packages include: Annual subscription to The Blue Light Magazine, Discounted Tour Tickets, 10% Off Merchandise, Entrance to Annual Behind-the-Scenes Members-Only Tours, 1 Car Decal, and 1 Member Hat.

SELECT YOUR MEMBERSHIP LEVEL

Will You Help Save the Hunley?

In 1995 Clive Cussler located the legendary submarine just off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. In 2000, the Hunley was successfully raised and in 2001 an international team of scientists began the process of carefully excavating her contents at a high-tech laboratory facility in North Charleston. To complete this historic journey, we must depend on donations from those who care about history. Will you help?

Want to memorialize someone? If you wish for your donation to serve as a renewal of an existing membership or as a memorial, please send an email to membership@hunley.org letting us know how you’d like to apply your donation.

DONATE NOW!

Contact Info

  • Friends of the Hunley
  • 1250 Supply St, Charleston, SC 29405
  • 843-743-4865
  • info@hunley.org

Hunley Project Updates

  • Gold Pocket Watch May Help Solve a Timeless Maritime Mystery
  • Artifacts Belonging to Doomed 19th Century Submarine Captain Conserved
  • Hunley Launches New Visitor Experience & Fully Reopens After Closing Due to the Coronavirus
  • A Grateful World Says Goodbye to Clive Cussler
  • Golden Treasures from the Past

Friends of the Hunley • P.O. Box 21600, Charleston, SC 29413 • 1250 Supply Street, North Charleston, SC 29405 • Copyright © 2023 Friends of the Hunley.