Fort Sumter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Sumter |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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 Fort Sumter
Location in the United States
Fort Sumter
Location in South Carolina
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| Location | Charleston Harbor, Charleston, South Carolina |
| Area | 234.74 acres (95.00 ha) |
| Authorized | April 28, 1948 |
| Visitors | 857,883 |
| Website | Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park |
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Fort Sumter
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| Built | 1811 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000101 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
Fort Sumter is a famous island fort in Charleston, South Carolina. It's known as the place where the American Civil War began. On April 12, 1861, soldiers from the Confederate side fired cannons at the fort. The Union soldiers defending the fort, led by Major Robert Anderson, gave up after 34 hours.
During the war, Union forces tried many times to get the fort back. The Confederate soldiers finally left Fort Sumter in February 1865. This happened when the Union Army, led by Major General William Tecumseh Sherman, captured Charleston.
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Building Fort Sumter: A Strong Defense
On December 5, 1815, President James Madison suggested building forts to protect the coast of the United States. Congress agreed, and construction on these forts began in 1816. This system of forts was called the "Third Coastal Defense System."
One important location chosen was in Charleston Harbor. In 1829, work started on a sandbar in the harbor. This sandbar was about one mile west of Fort Moultrie. Over the next 16 years, workers created a 2.5-acre artificial island. They used 99,000 tons of rock and stone to build it.
The fort was planned to hold 650 officers and soldiers. It would have 135 guns placed on three levels, one above the other. All the guns would point towards the harbor to defend it. The fort was named after Brigadier General Thomas Sumter, a Revolutionary War hero.
Fort Sumter During the Civil War
Fort Sumter was about 90% finished when work stopped in 1860. This was because South Carolina left the Union. In the early morning of April 12, 1861, a mortar shell exploded over the fort. This event officially started the Civil War.
During the war, Fort Sumter stayed in Confederate hands. From 1863 to 1865, Union forces attacked the fort many times. Confederate soldiers held onto the fort for 587 days. By 1865, the fort was heavily damaged by Union attacks. The Confederate army was then forced to leave it.
Rebuilding and New Uses
In 1870, the work of clearing the rubble began. Union General Quincy Adams Gillmore led the rebuilding of the fort. He had been in charge of the Union guns during the attacks on the fort in 1861. But in 1876, the rebuilding stopped, and the fort slowly started to fall apart again. From 1876 to 1898, the fort was used as a lighthouse.
In 1898, when the Spanish–American War began, Army engineers started rebuilding Fort Sumter once more. They built a huge concrete area for weapons in the center of the fort. This area held two large 12-inch coastal guns. The construction was not finished until after the war.
During World War I, the two-gun area (called "Battery Huger") was used by the U.S. Army. By World War II, these guns were old and not useful anymore. They were removed in 1943. Later in World War II, Fort Sumter became a place for anti-aircraft guns. In 1948, the National Park Service took over the fort.
Visiting Fort Sumter Today
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Today, the restored Fort Sumter is a popular place for tourists. You can also visit the Visitor's Center and Education Center in Charleston. Fort Moultrie in Sullivan's Island is also part of the park.
You can only get to Fort Sumter by special ferries that leave from Liberty Square. The boat ride to the island takes about 30 minutes. There is also a ferry from Patriots Point. The monument is open to visitors almost every day of the year.
The restored fort now has one level instead of the original three. You can still see artillery projectiles (cannonballs) stuck in some of the brick walls. The park museum has interesting items. These include a small model of the original fort. You can also see the original 33-star U.S. flag that flew during the first attack. The museum also displays the flag of the South Carolina militia (called the Palmetto Guard). They took over the fort after the Union soldiers left.
Interesting Facts about Fort Sumter
- The War of 1812 showed that a fort like Fort Sumter was needed.
- The fort was named after General Thomas Sumter. He fought in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War.
- Building the fort was stopped for seven years. This was because there were questions about who owned the land where the fort was being built.
- Fort Sumter was not fully finished when the Civil War started.
- No soldiers were killed in the main attack on Fort Sumter in 1861.
- However, one Union soldier, Private Daniel Hough, was killed by accident. This happened during a ceremony as the Union Flag was being lowered.
- The Union got control of the fort again on April 14, 1865. They raised their flag over the fort on that day. This was exactly four years after the flag was lowered in 1861. It was also the same day that Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theater.
Related Pages
Images for kids
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Fort Sumter was photographed in 1861 when it was still intact.
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Letter from William H. Seward advising President Lincoln on the obstacles in resupplying Fort Sumter, March 1861
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Drawing of Fort Sumter
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Fort Sumter National Monument marker of the Map of Charleston Harbor defenses
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Flag-raising over Fort Sumter, April 14, 1865
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Fort Sumter, ca. 1900
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Views of Ft Sumter; [Bottom] View of right angle
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Right angle gorge of Ft. Sumter; sally port (a secure gate or passage) at right
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View of the gorge and sally port
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View of western part of gorge
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[Top] View of gorge and sally port; [Bottom] Left gorge angle
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View of left gorge angle; sally port would be at far left
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View of left flank
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At left northwest castmates (left angle); at right can be seen the start of the right angle
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Fort Sumter National Monument
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Aerial view of Fort Sumter National Monument
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The interior of Fort Sumter from the top of the fort
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Tourists at Fort Sumter on a summer afternoon
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Cannon displayed at Fort Sumter
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See also
In Spanish: Fort Sumter para niños
