Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter was built after the War of 1812 as a means to protect the Charleston harbor. Work started in 1829 but by the time that the Civil War broke out it was still not completed. The opening shots of the Civil War were shot here on April 12, 1861 the Confederate troops successfully took the fort from the Union troops and held it for almost the rest of the war, it served as the only break in the naval blockade that the Union had around the whole of the South. After the Confederacy took the fort the Union attempted to retake a few time but never succeeded. The Union maintained naval barrages on the fort and even though the fort was reduced to utter rubble the Confederate troops still held it. After the war the fort was rebuilt so much of what is here is not part of the original fort. 

The fort is a small place, you'd think it was much larger given how important is was. We got about an hour to walk around the island and it is more than enough time to get to see everything.

Shell buried in the wall from the Civil War

Memorial to the battle and troops killed here

Flags which once flew over Fort Sumter: USA (Union), CSA, and S Carolina

The powder magazine, it exploded while the Confederacy held it if I am not mistaken

  

Another shell in the wall

Fort Pinckney, also in Charleston harbor.

Charleston

Charleston, SC still looks much like it would have back in the early years of our country. Save for a handful of buildings the tallest thing in the city are the steeples of churches, there are a couple of apartment buildings that are taller. The city is very nice; lots of good restaurants, shops, and places to go see. This trip I drove downtown and walked around checking out the city.

The old slave market. This was one of the largest slave markets in the South at the time, it now serves as a slavery museum.

The front of an old building at the docks

These alleyways are everywhere and lead to many different places. They're a nice escape from the city since all of them are practically gardens.

Houses along the alleys have gates opening into them

Coming ot the other end of one of the alleys I found an old cemetary and church that was being cleaned up at the time since it was overgrown.