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Fort Sumter National Monument


  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Historic District

Where the American Civil War Began

Decades of growing strife between North and South erupted in civil war on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort in Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later. Union forces would try for nearly four years to take it back. - NPS


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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1776/00/00
1811/00/00
1854/00/00 George W Cullum Architect Construction continues on Fort Sumter, 1853-1854
1861/01/09 Maj Richard Kidder Meade Jr Witness, US Army Commander Richard Meade witnesses Confederate firing on the "Star of the West".
1861/01/09 At sunrise, Confederate guns on Morris Island, crewed by cadets from the Citadel, fire the first shots of the American Civil War at the merchant relief ship, STAR OF THE WEST, as it approaches Fort Sumter. Beginning of the American Civil War
1861/03/16 Maj Richard Kidder Meade Jr Confederate Major Meade resigns from the US Army and is commissioned a Major in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States. He will serve on the staffs of Generals John B Magruder and James Longstreet respectively.
1861/04/12 Maj Richard Kidder Meade Jr Confederate Major Richard Meade commands a Confederate artillery gun crew bombarding Fort Sumter.
1861/04/12 Confederate States Army Aggressor Confederate artillery bombard Fort Sumter, April 12-14, 1861. Battle of Fort Sumter
1861/04/12 Confederate States Army Aggressor Confederate artillery bombard Fort Sumter, April 12-14, 1861. Beginning of the American Civil War

Data »

Particulars for Fort Sumter National Monument:
Area of Significance Architecture
Criteria Architecture-Engineering
Historic Use Battle site
Criteria Consideration Commemorative property
Area of Significance Engineering
Owner Federal
Structure Type Fortification
Sight Category Historic District
Criteria Historic Event
Historic Use Institutional housing
Area of Significance Military
Level of Significance National
Area of Significance Politics-government



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration: 15th October 1966

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name: Fort Sumter National Monument
Registry Address: Charleston Harbor
Registry Number: 66000101
Resource Type: District
Owner: Federal
Architect: Multiple
Architectural Style: No style listed
Area in Acres: 34
Contributing Buildings: 8
Contributing Sites: 3
Contributing Structures: 17
Contributing Objects: 1
Other Certification: Additional documentation
Certification: Listed in the National Register
Nominator Name: National Monument
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: National
Area of Significance: Military, Engineering, Politics-government, Architecture
Applicable Criteria: Event, Architecture-Engineering
Criteria Consideration: Commemorative property
Period of Significance: 1800-1824, 1825-1849, 1850-1874, 1750-1799
Significant Year: 1776, 1811, 1860
Historic Function: Domestic, Recreation and Culture, Defense
Historic Sub-Function: Fortification, Institutional housing, Battle site
Current Function: Recreation and Culture, Landscape
Current Sub-Function: Park Monument, Marker

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