FORT SUMTER

May 21, 2017

CANNONS CONSERVED THROUGH ADOPT-A-CANNON PROGRAM AT FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTIRE.

For the past six years, the National Park Service has partnered with the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, a part of Clemson University, to conserve historic metals at Fort Sumter National Monument.  Through the Adopt-a-Cannon Program, the Fort Sumter-Fort Moultrie Historic Trust has raised funds necessary to complete the conservation of the park’s historic cannons.  The park’s collection of 40 cannons at Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter span the period of 1830 to 1890.

The last segment of the project is underway, and concentrates on Fort Sumter’s twelve 100 pound Parrott rifles. These guns were mounted in the right face of the fort in 1870, on post-Civil War iron carriages.  These guns were buried in place by means of dirt fill associated with the building of Battery Isaac Huger in 1899.  The guns were not unearthed until the partial exacavation of the fort that took place between 1958 and 1960.

The application of paint stripper begins the process.  High pressure hot water blasting safely removes the loosened paint without damaging the historic metals. The final application of an epoxy based primer and top coat completes the work.  Identifying marks previously unseen due to many layers of black enamel and rust are now clearly legible.  The guns are being conserved in place, one at a time. This enables visitors to get a close up look at the ongoing project.  It is hoped that the Parrott conservation will be completed by the end of 2020.

For more information regarding the Fort Sumter-Fort Moultrie Historic Trust, visit www.fortsumtertrust.com.  Interested members may also contact Park Ranger and CDSG site representative Gary Alexander at Gary_A_Alexander@nps.gov.