“F” is for Fort Sumter

“F” is for Fort Sumter. Named after South Carolina Revolutionary War hero, Thomas Sumter, construction began on Fort Sumter in 1829. A two-and-one-half acre, man-made island served as the foundation on which to build the pentagonal fort. It was ninety percent complete when South Carolina seceded in December 1860. On April 12, 1861, the Civil War began when Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter. During a 587 day siege, more than seven million pounds of artillery were fired at the fort. Confederates abandoned it February 17, 1865. Over the next eighty-two years the fortification was rebuilt and modern guns mounted for service in three wars—the last being World War II. Fort Sumter, considered obsolete in 1947, was closed and transferred to the National Park Service and, in 1948 designated Fort Sumter National Monument.