Charleston Forts Adopt-A-Cannon Conservation Project

Originally published April 2017 · p. 16

Photo of a U.S. 100-pounder, 6.4-inch caliber Parrott rifle on its original iron carriage located in Fort Sumter before conservation.

Charleston Forts Adopt-A-Cannon Conservation Project CHARLESTON, S.C.—Fort Sumter-Fort Moultrie Trust’s biggest news of the year: Adopt-ACannon is now funded—thanks to an anonymous $200,000 donation! Many individuals have contributed towards this conservation project to preserve the guns at Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter. We recently received donations from the Roanoke Civil War Roundtable and the American Civil War Roundtable (UK) and the park was awarded Federal funds. What put us over the top was the game-changing gift from a local anonymous donor in honor of his father, a proud Citadel graduate. This is why we are inspired! We hope you will be

Chris McKenzie. too. Gratitude abounds. Work began this fall on the first of eleven Parrott rifles and metal carriages to be treated by conservators from the Warren Lasch Conservation Center. The “Lasch Lab” is known internationally for its work on

100-pounder Parrott rifle trunnion stamped with “P” for proofed. the Hunley and is the heart of the Clemson University Restoration Institute in North Charleston. Make a trip out to Fort Sumter and you may just see conservators Chris McKenzie (pictured), Claire Achtyl and Justin Schwebler at work. We are humbled and grateful for the generous gift that will see this long-term project to completion. The Fort SumterFort Moultrie Trust is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and utilizing Charleston’s National Parks for the common good. For more information about the Friends of Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie & Charles Pinckney visit www.fortsumtertrust.org.

Rear view of a 100-pounder Parrott rifle mounted in its casemate and ready for conservation. The salt-water environment surrounding Fort Sumter is extremely corrosive to iron which has to be constantly maintained.

U.S. 100-pounder, 6.4-inch caliber Parrott rifle on its original iron carriage located in Fort Sumter during conservation.