SURF CITY -- Tropical Storm Ana has unearthed an old shipwreck from the early 1900s in Surf City.
The state archeology office says the wreck belongs to the William H. Sumner, a three-masted, 165-foot schooner that ran aground in 1919.
On Thursday morning, nearly everyone who walked by had to stop and take a look.
"It's definitely something you got to look at," said tourist Karen Haithcock, of Goldsboro.
Hampstead resident Jacob Lea drove out to the beach Thursday morning to see the wreck.
"It's a lot more rugged than I thought," Lea said. "I was noticing the pins that they use to hold the lumber together and the planks. It's a lot bigger than the photos. They don't do it justice."
The shipwreck was first uncovered more than 10 years ago, according to the state archeology office.
"I like the wood, you know the wood is old and like I said, it has those iron pegs that they put it together with so it's just interesting and neat," said tourist Cindy Roberts, of Tennessee.
The wreck usually stays buried deep under the sand, but is unearthed whenever a strong storm passes through.
"It looks like it's made of pine, and the way it's still put together," said tourist Sharon Crawford, of Goldsboro. "And somebody actually had to do this by hand a hundred years ago. I mean that's pretty awesome."
The last time the shipwreck was unearthed was after Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
"I'm just glad we still have history around this day and time, you know, where people can sit and look at it," said tourist Mitch Hubbard, of Virginia.
As long as the tides stay low, people can catch a glimpse of the rare history on the beach. That is, until the sands shift again, and bury it deep.
"Come to Topsail and check it out!" said Haithcock.
The state archeology office says the rest of the ship is likely lying on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, toward the southern end of Topsail Island.