An orange gun port creates a striking color contrast to the purple gun carriage, presumably the very same colors that were displayed here during the Siege of Fort Sumter in April 1861. Such vivid colors seem almost whimsical when viewed in the context of deadly combat. The original cannons defending Fort Sumter were scavenged by the victorious Confederate army following the Fort’s surrender. This 100-pounder Parrot rifle was installed following the Civil War, but it never saw combat.