Here, at the fort named for South Carolina Revolutionary War patriot Thomas Sumpter, there opening shots of the Civil War were fired on April 12, 1851, Construction of th fort was begun in 1829, one of a series of costal fortifications built in the aftermath of the War of 1812. What you see today bears no resemblance to the oriiginal which was battered by Union when the fort was in the possession of the Confederancy. The small museum is well done and the National Park Service interpreters do an excellent job. Highly recommended.