Fort Sumter

For some reason we had not visited this historical site on our past visits to this city so it was at the top of our list on this visit.  For those of you who may not be up on your history this is where the first shot was fired to start the civil war.  The Union army was holding the fort and South Carolina had seceded from the United States and wanted all federal property turned over to them.  The Union commanding officer refused so the Confederate forces shelled the fort until the Union army surrendered.  An interesting point learned is that the fort was built to protect against an enemy coming into the harbor via the sea, not from an “inside” attack.  The walls on the sides of the fort that face land were less fortified and is exactly where the Confederate forces were shelling since they were doing it from land on either side. 

The fort sits out in the middle of the harbor opening and is only reachable by a boat service provided by a vendor to the National Park Service at $18 per person.  Because of these set tours and the smallness of the fort you are only allowed 1 hour on the island, but it was more than enough.  There is really not much to see.  Over the course of the Civil War, and other wars since, the fort was reduced to rubble.  What stands is one level of brick wall around the place and a new structure that was built for World War II.  It is still something to see from a historical perspective and the boat ride out and back is very nice.

Here is the Yorktown aircraft carrier that is on display at Patriot’s Point.

Fort Sumter as we approach it.

Closer view.

View of the parade ground from the “new structure” that was added.

In the distance is one of the spots where Confederate forces fired on the fort.

The original flag that was flying over the fort when it was held by the Union army.

The original flag that Confederate forces raised over the fort when they took it.

The tour boat.

View of Charleston from the fort.