Tourists often flock to Fort Sumter to learn more about Charleston’s rich history. However, on Saturday, one group of visitors likely got more of a history lesson than they bargained for when someone discovered a historic ordnance.
According to the National Park Service, the ordnance was found within the fort’s parade ground.
Charleston Police Department’s explosives team responded to investigate, and the fort was closed to the public.
Experts identified the ordnance as a Civil War-era cannonball. As the removal of ordnances is the responsibility of the Department of Defense, the United State Air Force took possession of the cannonball, according to the National Park Service.
No injuries or damage to the fort were reported. While one scheduled tour had to be canceled on Saturday, operations resumed on Sunday as normal.