Fort Sumter a sea fort built on an artificial island.  It is located near Charleston, South Carolina.

     Fort Sumter was built after British forces captured and occupied Washington during the War of 1812.  It was named after a military officer Thomas Sumter.

     The artificial island was originally a sand bar.  The fort  was never built as planned.  In 1827, army engineers concluded.that the site was suitable as planned.

     70,000 tons of granite were transported from New England to build up the artificial island. By 1834 a lumber foundation  that was several feet beneath the water was built.

     The walls of the fort consisted of brick 5 feet thick and 50 feet over the low tide mark.