Charleston is a seaport city in the state of South Carolina in the United States of America. Its historic downtown is on a peninsula formed by two rivers, the Ashley and Cooper, flowing into the Atlantic, and protected from the open ocean by surrounding islands. Charleston is characterised by its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and pastel antebellum houses, particularly in the elegant French Quarter and historic Battery area. The Battery promenade and Waterfront Park both overlook Charleston Harbour, while Fort Sumter, a federal stronghold where the first shots of the Civil War rang out, lies across the water.