• Charleston: The Charleston Museum

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    Standing beside the replica of the H. L. Hunley outside of the Charleston Museum!

    The girls have been wanting to go to the Charleston Museum ever since they saw the replica of the Hunley sitting outside in front of it.  On one of our recent trips we got a chance to explore the Charleston Museum.  The girls were very excited to check out the museum.  The Charleston Museum was America’s First Museum founded in 1773 with the purpose of preserve the culture and history of Charleston and the Lowcountry.

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    Checking out the Hunley replica before heading into the Charleston Museum.

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    Oh yes, they found a cannon!

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    Look above the girls!  That’s a huge whale skeleton hanging from the foyer of the Charleston Museum.  That whale was one that came into the Charleston Harbor many years ago.

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    Checking out the display!

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    Soaking in all the history!

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    Brina enjoyed going through the animal displays.

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    Goofy Karlie….

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    Hanging out with two Southern Belle’s!

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    Dressing up in some fun clothes!

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    The dresses are not the most perfect fit, but we had fun!

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    Brina having a grand time!

  • Travel & Vacation: H.L. Hunley Submarine in Charleston, SC

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    H.L. Hunley Submarine!

    A few years ago they found the H.L. Hunley Submarine off the coast of Charleston and have been restoring it in the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.  Last year the girls learned about the Hunley in Social Studies and wanted to go see it.  They were very excited because we got to visit the Hunley on our recent trip to Charleston.  They are still in the process of restoring the Hunley so you have to look through an observation glass to see it, but there are a lot of neat items to see and learn about!

    The H. L. Hunley is a neat piece of history because it was first submarine to sink an enemy vessel.  It sunk the U. S. S. Housatonic in 1864 during the American Civil War.  Unfortunately after it sunk the U.S.S. Houston the Hunley nor it’s crew could be found until just a few years ago.  The scientists are still working to preserve the Hunley and there are several different opinions about why the H. L. Hunley disappeared.

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    Karlie peeking out one of the hatches!

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    There were two hatchways on the Hunley – one in the front and one in the back.  They were only about 20 inches by 14 inches big (which would be about like trying to fit through a tire).  Not very big!

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    Trying to power the replica of the Hunley by turning the bars in the submarine!  Man-powered submarine!

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    They got Jake to help power the submarine!

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    Digging for the gold coin!

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    Looking at the actually H. L. Hunley while it is in the cleaning tank!

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    Another picture of the Hunley in the tank!

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    Learning about the Hunley!

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    A fun family adventure!

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    Lieutenant George Dixon’s gold coin!  George Dixon’s girlfriend gave him this gold coin during the Civil War.  At the Battle of Shiloh, George Dixon was shot, but the gold coin stopped the bullet and saved his life.  He was said to be carrying it the day he went on the H. L. Hunley and it was one of the artifacts discovered when they brought the Hunley out of the water.

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    Brina powering the submarine!

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    Brina having fun learning about the Hunley submarine!

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    Karlie all smiles and soaking in the information!

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    Fun times with the kids!