Fort Sumter National Monument, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
The attack on Fort Sumter marked the official beginning of the American Civil War—a war that lasted four years, cost the lives of more than 620,000 Americans, and freed 3.9 million enslaved people from bondage.
Fort Sumter: 340 Concord St, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
On April 12, 1861, forces from the Confederate States of America attacked the United States military garrison at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Less than two days later, the fort surrendered. No one was killed. The battle, however, started the Civil War, the bloodiest conflict in American history.
The visitor center for the Fort Sumter
South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union and the first state to attack the Union force at Fort Sumter in South Carolina harbor.
South Carolina and the Slavery
Charleston was the dominant force in the Old South
The constitution was not clear on slavery.
South states’ comments on slavery
Conflicts between the north and south
Charleston in 1860 was prosperous
South Carolina seceded from the union.
Preparing for the war
When the supply ship, “Star of the West,” approached Fort Sumter to resupply the fort, South Carolinians opened fire at the ship and made it to return.
South Carolinians opened fire at Fort Sumter, marking the first shot that caused damage.
This boat will take visitors to Fort Sumter from the visitor center.
During the boat trip, there was a parade of C30 cargo airplanes.
The fort, which built on a small man-made island in the middle of the harbor.
This is what the fort looks like now. The black building in the middle was not there originally.
Spanning view of the inside of the fort
Individual photos of the inside
This section of the fort was most damaged from the bombardment
The spanning view from the top of the black building in the middle of the fort
Behind the black building is an area with a flag pole and the visitors helping to raise the flag.
“Star of the West” was a supply ship to Fort Sumter that South Caroliners repelled.
Back to the front of the black building in the middle
After South Caroliners took the fort at the beginning of the war, the Union soldier had to fight for two years before it was able to retake it.
In the museum inside the Fort Sumter
Location of Fort Sumter in the harbor
The fort’s original purpose was to fight against foreigners and not for the civil war.
America at the start of the civil war
Soon after South Carolina seceded from the union, it started taking over the state’s union forts.
South Carolina taking over Fort Sumter
The civil war started
Fort Sumter was important for both the union and the confederates
Attack on Fort Sumter by the union forces
Federal forces (union forces) retake Fort Sumter
After the civil war
Charleston during the civil war
