Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Slovenia mushroom foraging
Slovenia • 6 days, 5 nights
Forest to Table in Alpine Slovenia
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Gombe mountains seen from Lake Tanganyika.
Gombe National Park
The Oswego Furnace and Salamanders
Graffiti on the exterior walls and the conveyor belt
Kiel’s Old Waste Incineration Plant
National Military Museum of Egypt
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The rocky Revere Beach coast in Revere, Massachusetts, just outside Boston.
Which Places With Bad Raps Are Actually Worth Visiting?
about 4 hours ago
A dugong displays the telltale “smile.”
Saving the Sea Cows of Vanuatu
about 4 hours ago
The first photo of the “woolly devil” made a stir among botanists when Deb Manley uploaded it to iNaturalist in March 2024.
How the Woolly Devil, Member of a New Plant Genus, Was Discovered on a Hike in Big Bend
1 day ago
You don’t need to go to Turkey to see hundreds of hot air balloons rising.
Dear Atlas: Where Can I Find the Most Unusual Festivals in the U.S.?
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Colorado Central City The Mountain Submarine

The Mountain Submarine

The first mountain submarine had its initial and last voyage in 1898.

Central City, Colorado

Added By
Isabella Contolini
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The Mountain Submarine   imcontolini / Atlas Obscura User
The Mountain Submarine   imcontolini / Atlas Obscura User
The Mountain Submarine   imcontolini / Atlas Obscura User
The Mountain Submarine   imcontolini / Atlas Obscura User
The Mountain Submarine   imcontolini / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

No one is sure why, but in 1898 Rufus T. Owens of Central City, Colorado (elevation 9,000 feet) decided to build a submarine, which he named the Nautilus. He and a few friends launched it on nearby Missouri Lake. They ballasted it with three tons of rocks. Owens intended to captain the maiden voyage himself, but fortunately for him, the submarine sank before he had a chance to climb inside.

For nearly 50 years, the submarine lay on the bottom of Missouri Lake and became something of a local legend. Few people had actually witnessed its building and launch, and the idea of a "mountain submarine" seemed so preposterous that most assumed it was a tall tale out of one of the town's many saloons. However, in 1944, one of the witnesses decided that the time had come to put the rumor to rest. The Nautilus was rescued from the briny deep using chains and a tow truck, while the whole town looked on and the high school band played.

Today, the mountain submarine is on display at the Gilpin County History Museum in Central City. The rest of the museum, which is also home to many other weird and wonderful historic artifacts and paraphernalia of an Old West mining town, is well worth a visit. 

Related Tags

History & Culture Engineering Museums

Know Before You Go

Admission costs $7/person. The museum is open daily from May 27-October 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

All other times by appointment or request (for groups of 5 or more) at the tour office, Washington Hall, 117 Eureka St. 

Directions: From Central City Pkwy, at the 2nd stop sign, turn right on Gregory St. Turn left at the Grand Z Casino (D St.) and left again onto Lawrence St. Turn right at Church St. (museum sign) and then left onto E First High St. Free parking on the street in front of the museum. 

Community Contributors

Added By

imcontolini

Edited By

mikewalker, linkogecko

  • mikewalker
  • linkogecko

Published

October 18, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.gilpinhistory.org/submarine
The Mountain Submarine
228 E 1st High St
Central City, Colorado, 80427
United States
39.80125, -105.513197
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Face on the Barroom Floor

Central City, Colorado

miles away

Madam Lou Bunch Day

Central City, Colorado

miles away

Nevadaville Ghost Town

Central City, Colorado

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Central City

Central City

Colorado

Places 4

Nearby Places

The Face on the Barroom Floor

Central City, Colorado

miles away

Madam Lou Bunch Day

Central City, Colorado

miles away

Nevadaville Ghost Town

Central City, Colorado

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Central City

Central City

Colorado

Places 4

Related Stories and Lists

23 Peculiar Places of 2023

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Scranton Iron Furnaces

    Scranton, Pennsylvania

    Scranton Iron Furnaces

    Abandoned blast furnaces are an enduring reminder of Scranton's once booming iron business.

  • All manner of speed records are represented.

    Davis, California

    U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame

    A blend of sporting history mixed with childhood nostalgia await visitors to this museum.

  • Savannah, Georgia

    WEBB Military Museum

    At this privately owned collection, conflicts are humanized through soldiers’ personal belongings.

    Sponsored by Visit Savannah
  • Odawara, Japan

    Suzuhiro Kamaboko Museum

    Dedicated to the history and culture of Japanese fishcake, this museum invites you to take part in its kamaboko-making workshop.

  • One of the galleries in the modern section of the Manchester Jewish Museum.

    Manchester, England

    Manchester Jewish Museum

    A Victorian synagogue-turned-museum chronicles centuries of Jewish life.

  • Portumna, Ireland

    Irish Workhouse Centre

    A well-preserved, 19th-century Irish workhouse recounts a grim time in the country’s history.

  • Manjira

    Meknes, Morocco

    Dar Jamai Museum

    A museum dedicated to the musical instruments used in traditional Moroccan music.

  • Reproduction of an eviction scene.

    County Donegal, Ireland

    Doagh Famine Village

    Once part of a living village, these buildings now house exhibits showcasing historical aspects of life in Ireland.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.