We've all heard of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie...Charleston landmarks nationally preserved for their historic value. But Castle Pinckney harbors no such luck... laying in deterioration for many years now.
The State Ports Authority has long wanted to be rid of the Castle Pinckney; selling the crumbling site to the Sons of Confederate Veterans for a bargain price of $10. The SPA has owned the site, off and on, since 1958. Twice, they gave the Castle to historic societies, only to have it given back. However, both parties are optimistic about this transfer."We've been looking for a proper home for Castle Pinckney for many years," says SPA spokesman, Byron Miller.
The Castle might not figure as prominently in South Carolina history, however it does have a very lengthy story. "When George Washington stayed here, in 1791, it was his suggestion when he saw Shutes' Folly Island. He said that is the perfect place for a fort and that is why it was ultimately built there," according to Phillip Middleton, Commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1269. From there, the fort also claims an important piece of the Civil War timeline, being the first fort to fall from union hands to the confederates.
The Castle was once considered a national monument, but was taken off the list in the 1950's. Middleton is optimistic, that with the right amount of work, the Castle can once again grace that list. "That doesn't mean it can't get back on there, so let's just say the glass is half full, instead of half empty."
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