[May 15, 2009] Spring City submerged in history Tweet May 15, 2009 (Chattanooga Times Free Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A traveling exhibit devoted to the first submarine in the world to successfully sink an enemy ship stops in Spring City, Tenn., today for a three-day visit. The "H.L. Hunley Mobile Exhibit" is sponsored by Lee Booker, the town of Spring City and the Spring City Historical Museum and Depot Foundation. The H.L. Hunley was almost 40 feet long. It was built in Mobile, Ala., and shipped by rail to Charleston, S.C., in August 1863. Booker said he became fascinated by the Hunley's history while stationed in Charleston, S.C., with the U.S. Navy. "The reason my company has secured the traveling exhibit is to show people that part of American history, to let people who never have a chance to go to Charleston see the submarine," he said. In addition to being on view for three days outside the Spring City Library and Museum Annex, the Hunley will be featured in the Tennessee Strawberry Festival parade in Dayton on Saturday afternoon. In keeping with the theme of Civil War history, a unit of Confederate re-enactors will set up camp outside the annex. Visitors to the Hunley also may view a second historical exhibit at the annex. "We also have 'Hoofbeats Across the Heartland,' a traveling exhibit from the Tennessee State Museum," said Booker. "Admission to it is $5. If You Go What: "H.L. Hunley Mobile Exhibit." When: Noon-8 p.m. today, 2:30-8 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Where: Spring City, Tenn., Library and Museum Annex, West Rhea Avenue. Admission: Free. Web site: www.springcitytennessee.com. About the Hunley H.L. Hunley, a submarine of the Confederate States of America, was the first submarine to sink an enemy warship, the Union's USS Housatonic. The Confederates surfaced long enough for the crew to signal their successful mission to soldiers on shore before the Hunley and all hands on board vanished at sea. More than 136 years later, in August 2000, the wreck was recovered. In April 2004, the DNA-identified remains of the eight Hunley crewmen were interred in Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery with full military honors. Source: Various Internet sites To see more of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesfreepress.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]