Fort Sumter Information
Fort Sumter is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired. Named after General Thomas Sumter, a Revolutionary War hero, Fort Sumter was built after the War of 1812, as one of a series of forts on the southern U.S. coast. Construction started in 1827, and was still unfinished in 1861, when the Civil War began. Seventy thousand tons of granite were imported from New England to build up a sand bar in the entrance to Charleston Harbor, which the site dominates. The fort was a five-sided brick structure, with walls five feet thick, standing 50 feet tall. The Confederacy attacked Fort Sumter on Friday, April 12th, 1861 at 4:30am. The battle continued overnight until Saturday.
Interesting
While walking around at the top of the fort, Melissa’s cousin Jeremy and I down and then at each other. We both thought about how that must have looked very similar back in 1861, when men would be walking around with guns. So we posed so our shadows looked like two men on guard, holding guns. Clever? I think so!
note: there was no handrail back in 1861
Many of the original cannon’s are still inside the walls of Fort Sumter. In fact, they were barely touched. The tour guide told us that the cannon’s were the only of their kind, as they fired the cannonballs quite far. After photographing a bunch of the canon’s, I decided to go for a different view. What would the canon ball see as it is ejected from the gun?
Think about this…
Thanks for reading and happy shooting,
Scott
Chris Nitz
11 May 2011I really like the cannon shot. Great little tour Scott!
Scott
11 May 2011Thank you Chris!
Jason Hines
11 May 2011It must be awesome to capture a place with that much history. Great shots, I especially like the second one with the shadows.
Scott
11 May 2011It is an amazing place to visit and learn about the US history. Thanks Jason!
Steve Beal
11 May 2011Great post – that shot of your shadows is hysterical! Those canons look intense…. Really great group of photos!
Scott
11 May 2011Thanks Steve, appreciate it!
A.Barlow
11 May 2011Really cool shots. That place looks cool. You did well with the last one.
Scott
11 May 2011Thank you very much
Chris Frailey
11 May 2011Nice job on this Scott. Appreciate the back history lesson.
Scott
11 May 2011Thanks Chris! Glad to share the info.
David LaSpina
11 May 2011At least two of my uncles are obsessed with the civil war — one is an american history teacher and the other travels the country doing civil war shows. So I have heard so much about the topic I could probably teach classes myself. I’d love to travel to Fort Sumter sometime, someday when I make it back to the States. Great photos, esp that canon. Thanks for sharing!
Scott
11 May 2011I hope you can get there one day David.
Kristi Hines
12 May 2011Great capture of such a historically memorable place.
Scott
12 May 2011Thank you Kristi