Fort Sumter and Charleston, SC

Going over the bridge into Charleston is always a beautiful experience.  This time we were not suppose to cross the bridge so this is a picture of the return to the side of the harbor we wanted to be on to catch the ferry out to Fort Sumter.  Hey, all in a day of retirement.  

We arrived in downtown Charleston with time to spare for the noon ferry ride out to Fort Sumter.

From the ferry dock the bridge that crosses the harbor.






Larry drove, we treated Gail and him to the Fort.

A beautiful and sunny day.  We were first in line to board the ferry and got great seats with commanding views of the harbor on the way out.  It was about a 25 minutes ride.

A better pic of the bridge.  The multiple cable seems to be the latest in structural support and beauty combined.

A great picture of Charleston from the ferry.

Fort Sumter is an island fortification located in Charleston Harbor.  Built in 1829, following the American Revolution.  It is one of 50 coastal garrison ordered built for defense purposes against the British and any other invaders.  Fort Sumter is most famous for being the site of the first shots of the Civil War 1861-65.

Construction of Fort Sumter was still underway when South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860.  South Carolina's militia forces seized and were in command of all the city's forts, leaving Fort Sumter the lone federal outpost in Charleston.  You must, like me, be getting the picture of the isolated post of Fort Sumter with a state full of secessionist from the union with soldiers in THEIR fort and on their property.  This was not going to end well for someone.  This initial battle was a perfect example of winning the battle but losing the war.

Bill keeping guard on one of the Fort's cannons.

This is part of what was the kitchen of the fort.  No longer there, but there was two stories of officer quarters above it.

You can see the top wall in the pic below.  This shows the officers quarters, flanked on both sides by soldiers quarters.

The Battery Huger (the large black structure in the center of Fort Sumter) was built in 1898 following a resurgence of interest in the Fort for defense during the Spanish-American War.  It never saw combat.

An interesting bit of trivia but the fort was originally designed with an open ship channel for supplies to be brought inside.

Brigadier General Thomas Sumter.

I don't think I'd want to take this man on in a debate or otherwise.

Cannon shells fired on the Fort.

The aftermath of war seems to always look the same.  This is what was left of Charleston after Sherman's March to the Sea.

Time to leave Fort Sumter.  It was too short a visit.  So much history, so little time.  We had a great time.

We beat the train as we crossed the tracks heading for a deli for lunch.

I finally located this statue at Battery Park, also called White Point Gardens.  This statue was the site of a picture taken in 1956-57 of me, my sister Peggy, and our mom.  We lived in Charleston at the time, my sister and I being Navy brats.


The statue is dedicated to the Confederate Defenders of Charleston.

Bill and I duplicating the original.

The original, 58 years ago.

The park is beautiful with lovely trees and numerous statues.

The homes along the street were amazing, beautiful, and huge.

There were sure enough trees in this park to handle a hanging of this magnitude.

What a beautiful location for a wedding.  A new bride and groom.

What a glorious day.  Perfect weather, nice breeze, great friends, and a fantastic does of history and nostalgia.

Thanks for visiting.  Come back again.  I'm still trying to catch up on my blogs.  Just 2 weeks behind.  Not too bad for a volunteer position.