Turtle Submarine Exhibit Highlights Connecticut’s Revolutionary Maritime History

Connecticut‘s Unsinkable Secret: The Revolutionary Turtle Submarine and a Legacy of Underwater Innovation

Step back in time and discover a pivotal moment in American history, born right here in Connecticut. This blog post digs into the wild story of the Turtle, the world’s first combat submersible, dreamed up and built by a Connecticut native.

We’ll peek at its clever design, its gutsy (though, let’s be honest, unsuccessful) mission during the Revolutionary War, and the way that spark of creativity still shapes Connecticut’s identity as a maritime trailblazer. The Connecticut River Museum brings all of this to life with a special exhibit.

Find Your Ideal Getaway in Connecticut
Explore top-rated stays with no booking fees and instant confirmation. Your dream trip starts here!
Start Exploring Now

The Dawn of Underwater Warfare: David Bushnell’s Acorn of Innovation

Way before the sleek submarines at Naval Submarine Base New London, a humble farmer from Old Saybrook had a wild idea. David Bushnell, shaped by his Yale education, started tinkering with a submersible that looked oddly like an acorn and ran purely on human muscle.

Bushnell wanted a vessel that could sneak up on the British navy during the Revolutionary War. His experiments with underwater explosives at Yale set the stage for a whole new era of underwater invention.

The Connecticut River Museum Exhibit: A Journey Through Time

If you love history, technology, or just quirky stories, the Connecticut River Museum in Essex has something you shouldn’t miss. Their exhibit, “The Famous Water Machine of Connecticut,” takes you deep into the world of the Turtle.

You’ll find two beautifully built replica Turtles there. One’s even interactive—a walk-in model where you can get a sense of how cramped and inventive this little sub really was.

The exhibit traces Bushnell’s journey and the team effort behind his invention. From his first experiments to the tense nighttime raid on the HMS Eagle in New York Harbor, you get a real feel for the drama and creativity of the era.

It’s a great spot for families looking for something both educational and fun. Maybe make a day of it and check out Chester or Deep River while you’re in the area.

The Ingenious Design and Daring Mission

Bushnell didn’t work alone. He had help from some pretty talented folks who made the Turtle possible.

His brother, Ezra Bushnell, helped build the vessel’s unique shell. Clockmaker Isaac Doolittle of New Haven came up with the tricky timing mechanism for the explosive, while blacksmith Phineas Pratt from Colchester added his expertise. Ezra Lee took on the risky job of piloting the Turtle.

The Turtle was basically a one-person sub. The pilot let water into ballast tanks to sink and used a hand-cranked propeller to move forward. To rise, there was a second, vertical propeller.

Its weapon? An egg-shaped bomb packed with 150 pounds of gunpowder, meant to latch onto an enemy ship’s hull. The plan was bold, aiming to shake up British control of the seas.

In September 1776, General Washington watched as the Turtle set out on its historic mission. Ezra Lee piloted the sub through the dark waters of New York Harbor, trying to attack the HMS Eagle.

Lee struggled to drill through the ship’s copper hull and couldn’t attach the explosive. He still managed to set off the charge and escape, but the Eagle stayed afloat. Even though the mission didn’t succeed, it showed off the guts and creativity of America’s early inventors.

A Connecticut Maritime Legacy

The story of the Turtle isn’t just a quirky historical footnote. It’s tangled right into Connecticut’s identity, for better or worse.

The exhibit draws a clear line from Bushnell’s wild, pedal-powered invention to the state’s modern submarine industry. Connecticut keeps pushing underwater tech, from those early days to the nuclear subs coming out of Electric Boat in Groton.

This legacy stretches from the Revolutionary War all the way to today. Honestly, it cements Connecticut as a real maritime powerhouse—though maybe that sounds a bit grand, but it’s hard to argue with the history.

If you’re even a little curious, check it out before the exhibit wraps up on July 12th. You probably won’t regret it.

Here is the source article for this story: Turtle submarine exhibit explores Connecticut history

Discover Your Perfect Stay in Connecticut
Find available hotels and vacation homes instantly. No fees, best rates guaranteed!
Check Availability Now