Starting mileage: 1054 Starting time: 4:00 pm
Ending mileage: 1136 Ending time: 6:30 pm
Travel mileage: 82 (can't be right) Travel time: 2:30 hours
Our first stop was the National Park Service Fort Sumter visitor center where there was an extensive exhibit of the history of Charleston from its founding in 1670 through the Civil War. The only access to Fort Sumter is via ferry from the visitor center.
On the ferry going over, two dolphins were playing just at the bow of the ferry. We could see them just below the surface and then they would jump up and crash back into the water. They were so close they splashed the people standing in the very front of the ferry. It was quite exciting to watch.
On the ferry going over, two dolphins were playing just at the bow of the ferry. We could see them just below the surface and then they would jump up and crash back into the water. They were so close they splashed the people standing in the very front of the ferry. It was quite exciting to watch.
One of the first battles of the Revolutionary war was on a Charleston island where the militia was able to hold off the British attackers in large part due to the Palmetto Palm palisade around the fort which caused the cannon balls to bounce off and the militia then fired back the same cannon balls at the British, damaging their ships. This is the reason the South Carolina flag (and license plates) has the Palmetto Palm on it.
Fort Sumter was built after the Revolutionary War to hold off foreign attackers from the sea and was a three-story structure. After the succession of South Carolina in 1860, the union forces held Fort Sumter but were attacked by the confederate forces from the land which was the weaker side of the fort and the union forces were forced to evacuate (not quite surrender). The confederates held the fort until almost the end of the Civil War but it was reduced to a single story of rubble.
The fort has been restored to its single story level. When the fort is opened for tourists in the morning, one of the first acts is to raise the huge flag over the fort with the help of the visitors - it is a rather emotional experience. There are many informational exhibits and a visit to the fort is certainly worthwhile.
In the afternoon we took a coach tour of Charleston to see many of the historic buildings going back to the 1700s and 1800s. Many were restored after the Civil War and a major earthquake in 1898. At the end of the tour we visited the Charleston Museum which is the oldest museum in the US. We hadn't realized the importance of rice to the South Carolina economy but this is what created much of the wealth of the early landowners although it could only be done with the help of many slaves as it was very labor intensive. The end of slavery was largely responsible for the decline in rice production.
On the drive to Savannah, we were surprised by how undeveloped much of the state is - it was almost like going through the Adirondacks with miles and miles of forest with no houses - although it is VERY flat. Along the way we saw a sign for boiled peanuts and peach cider and had to stop. The peach cider was very good although sweet. A sampling of the boiled peanuts convinced me this wasn't something I wanted to buy!
We had a delicious seafood dinner at the Shrimp Factory in Savannah.
Day 5 route
Approaching Fort Sumpter
Raising the flag
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