You are here

Home » Fort Sumter's Historic Civil War-Era Flags To Be 'Rested' For Conservation

Fort Sumter's Historic Civil War-Era Flags To Be 'Rested' For Conservation

Share
By Compiled From N... - September 12th, 2023

The 33-star U.S. flag is one of several flags at Fort Sumter to go into storage for a while/NPS file

In an effort to help preserve the life of Civil War-era flags, several flags at Fort Sumter Fort Moultrie National Historical Park in South Carolina will be removed from the park museum and stored in the dark for a period time to rest.

Fort Sumter’s historic Civil War-era flag collection consists of the Palmetto Guard, the United States 33-star storm, and United States 33-star garrison flags. They will be removed from public display for an indefinite period beginning September 19. It is anticipated that the removal will take two days and the Fort Sumter Museum will be closed during this time.   

The historic flags need to be rested for their long-term preservation, a park release said. The exhibition of textile artifacts like flags must limit humidity fluctuations and prevent long-term irreversible light damage that make them progressively more fragile. While all the flags underwent conservation prior to display in the museums, they have been on display for more than 20 years. Despite taking great care to protect the artifacts, they are best preserved when stored in a clean, dark, cool, and dry environment for periods of rest, the release added. 

The United States garrison flag flew over Fort Sumter until it sustained wind damage the night of April 11, 1861. It was replaced by the smaller United States storm flag that endured a 34-hour bombardment from Confederate artillery that precipitated the beginning of the American Civil War. The Palmetto Guard flag was the first Confederate flag to fly over the fort after the departure of the United States Army on April 14, 1861. 

 

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.