Fort Sumter Today

Fort Sumter, visible in the far distance of Charleston Harbor, looks very different today. Built after the War of 1812, its tow two tiers are gone, destroyed during the Civil War. The fort's center is now dominated by Battery Huger, ...

Historic Fort Sumter - Fort Sumter Today

Charleston's Historic Past

Historic Fort Sumter

At 4:30 a.m., April 12, 1861, Confederate gunners fired on Fort Sumter and the Civil War began. After 34 hours of non-stop shelling, Sumter's Union garrison surrendered, and on April 14 the Confederates took ...

Fort Sumter Today

The Fort Sumter that you see today bears little resemblance to the imposing, three tiered brick fort of 1861. The fort's present appearance is the result of more than 100 years of change. Bombardment, reconstruction, and renovation have reshaped the ...