Fort Sumter National Monument

First Engagement of the Civil War

Description

As the site of the first battle of the Civil War, Fort Sumter has a notable place in American history. Construction on the five-sided brick fort started in 1827, and over 70,000 tons of granite were imported from New England to build the massive structure. On April 12, 1861, Confederate soldiers opened fire on Fort Sumter, where Major Robert Anderson and about 127 army men had illegally stationed themselves. By the next day, the troops at Fort Sumter surrendered and officially ended the first Civil War skirmish. The fort was used as a Confederate stronghold throughout the war, although after the war ended, Sumter had been destroyed. It was rebuilt and only occasionally utilized by the military after the Civil War, and now the fort is one of the most popular tourist attractions in South Carolina. Visitors must either take a 30 minute ferry ride from the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center or arrive via private boat to reach the fort itself which is located on an island offshore.