diff --git a/cmd/server/main.go b/cmd/server/main.go
index 8503e62..d10f663 100644
--- a/cmd/server/main.go
+++ b/cmd/server/main.go
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/cubecraft/remoterig/internal/api"
 	"github.com/cubecraft/remoterig/internal/auth"
 	"github.com/cubecraft/remoterig/internal/db"
+	"github.com/cubecraft/remoterig/internal/events"
 
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5/middleware"
@@ -47,13 +49,16 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	// Open database
-	db, err := db.Open(cfg.DBPath)
+	sqlDB, err := db.Open(cfg.DBPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("Failed to open database: %v", err)
 	}
-	defer db.Close()
+	defer sqlDB.Close()
 	log.Printf("Database open: %s", cfg.DBPath)
 
+	// Create SSE hub for real-time updates
+	sseHub := events.NewHub()
+
 	// Set up router
 	r := chi.NewRouter()
 	r.Use(middleware.RequestID)
@@ -69,7 +74,7 @@ func main() {
 	})
 
 	// API routes (auth required if API key is configured)
-	r.Mount("/api/v1", auth.Middleware(cfg.APIKey)(apiRouter(db)))
+	r.Mount("/api/v1", auth.Middleware(cfg.APIKey)(apiRouter(sseHub, sqlDB)))
 
 	// Create server
 	httpServer := &http.Server{
@@ -98,10 +103,24 @@ func main() {
 }
 
 // apiRouter creates the API route tree.
-func apiRouter(database *db.DB) http.Handler {
+func apiRouter(sseHub *events.Hub, database *db.DB) http.Handler {
 	r := chi.NewRouter()
-	// TODO: register handler routes here
-	// Example: r.Get("/cameras", handlers.ListCameras(database))
+
+	// Camera management routes
+	r.Get("/cameras", api.ListCameras(database))
+	r.Post("/cameras", api.RegisterCamera(database))
+	r.Get("/cameras/{id}", api.GetCameraDetail(database))
+
+	// Recording control routes
+	r.Post("/cameras/{id}/start", api.StartRecording(database))
+	r.Post("/cameras/{id}/stop", api.StopRecording(database))
+
+	// Status ingestion (from ESP32 nodes)
+	r.Post("/cameras/{id}/status", api.PushStatus(database))
+
+	// Real-time events (SSE)
+	r.Handle("/events/stream", sseHub.Handler())
+
 	return r
 }
 
@@ -131,4 +150,4 @@ func loadConfig(path string) (*Config, error) {
 	}
 
 	return &cfg, nil
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/internal/api/recording.go b/internal/api/recording.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fb5bfca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/api/recording.go
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+// Package api provides HTTP handlers for camera operations.
+package api
+
+import (
+	"log"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"github.com/cubecraft/remoterig/internal/db"
+	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
+)
+
+// StartRecording returns a handler for POST /cameras/{id}/start.
+func StartRecording(database *db.DB) http.HandlerFunc {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		cameraID := chi.URLParam(r, "id")
+		if cameraID == "" {
+			respondJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "camera_id required"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Check if camera is registered
+		var exists int
+		err := database.QueryRowContext(r.Context(),
+			"SELECT COUNT(*) FROM cameras WHERE camera_id = ?", cameraID).Scan(&exists)
+		if err != nil || exists == 0 {
+			respondJSON(w, http.StatusNotFound, map[string]string{"error": "camera not registered"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Open recording event
+		result, err := database.ExecContext(r.Context(), `
+			INSERT INTO recording_events (camera_id, started_at, reason)
+			VALUES (?, datetime('now'), 'manual')
+		`, cameraID)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("Error starting recording: %v", err)
+			respondJSON(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, map[string]string{"error": "database error"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		rows, _ := result.RowsAffected()
+		log.Printf("Recording started on %s (%d rows affected)", cameraID, rows)
+
+		respondJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]string{
+			"status":    "recording_started",
+			"camera_id": cameraID,
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// StopRecording returns a handler for POST /cameras/{id}/stop.
+func StopRecording(database *db.DB) http.HandlerFunc {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		cameraID := chi.URLParam(r, "id")
+		if cameraID == "" {
+			respondJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "camera_id required"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Check if camera is registered
+		var exists int
+		err := database.QueryRowContext(r.Context(),
+			"SELECT COUNT(*) FROM cameras WHERE camera_id = ?", cameraID).Scan(&exists)
+		if err != nil || exists == 0 {
+			respondJSON(w, http.StatusNotFound, map[string]string{"error": "camera not registered"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Close the most recent open recording event
+		result, err := database.ExecContext(r.Context(), `
+			UPDATE recording_events SET stopped_at = datetime('now'), reason = 'manual'
+			WHERE camera_id = ? AND stopped_at IS NULL
+		`, cameraID)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("Error stopping recording: %v", err)
+			respondJSON(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, map[string]string{"error": "database error"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		rows, _ := result.RowsAffected()
+		log.Printf("Recording stopped on %s (%d rows affected)", cameraID, rows)
+
+		respondJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]string{
+			"status":    "recording_stopped",
+			"camera_id": cameraID,
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/api/status.go b/internal/api/status.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ba0f7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/api/status.go
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+// Package api provides HTTP handlers for camera operations.
+package api
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"log"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"github.com/cubecraft/remoterig/internal/db"
+	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
+)
+
+// PushStatus accepts a status update from an ESP32 node and persists it.
+func PushStatus(database *db.DB) http.HandlerFunc {
+	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		cameraID := chi.URLParam(r, "id")
+		if cameraID == "" {
+			respondJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "camera_id required"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		var req struct {
+			BatteryPct        *int      `json:"battery_pct"`
+			VideoRemainingSec *int      `json:"video_remaining_sec"`
+			Recording         bool      `json:"recording"`
+			Mode              string    `json:"mode"`
+			Resolution        string    `json:"resolution"`
+			FPS               int       `json:"fps"`
+			Online            bool      `json:"online"`
+			RawBatteryPct    *float64  `json:"raw_battery_pct"`
+			Timestamp         *string   `json:"ts"`
+		}
+		if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&req); err != nil {
+			respondJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid request body"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Check if camera is registered
+		var exists int
+		err := database.QueryRowContext(r.Context(),
+			"SELECT COUNT(*) FROM cameras WHERE camera_id = ?", cameraID).Scan(&exists)
+		if err != nil || exists == 0 {
+			respondJSON(w, http.StatusNotFound, map[string]string{"error": "camera not registered"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Insert status log
+		result, err := database.ExecContext(r.Context(), `
+			INSERT INTO status_logs (camera_id, battery_pct, video_remaining_sec,
+			                         recording_state, mode, resolution, fps, online, raw_battery_pct)
+			VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+		`, cameraID, req.BatteryPct, req.VideoRemainingSec,
+			boolToInt(req.Recording), req.Mode, req.Resolution,
+			req.FPS, boolToInt(req.Online), req.RawBatteryPct)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("Error inserting status log: %v", err)
+			respondJSON(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, map[string]string{"error": "database error"})
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Check if recording state changed - update recording_events if so
+		var prevRecording int
+		err = database.QueryRowContext(r.Context(), `
+			SELECT recording_state FROM status_logs
+			WHERE camera_id = ? AND recorded_at > datetime('now', '-60 seconds')
+			ORDER BY recorded_at DESC LIMIT 1
+		`, cameraID).Scan(&prevRecording)
+		if err == nil && prevRecording != boolToInt(req.Recording) {
+			reason := "manual"
+			if req.Recording {
+				// Start recording - open a new event
+				_, err := database.ExecContext(r.Context(), `
+					INSERT INTO recording_events (camera_id, started_at, reason)
+					VALUES (?, datetime('now'), ?)
+				`, cameraID, reason)
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Printf("Error inserting recording event: %v", err)
+				}
+			} else {
+				// Stop recording - close the most recent open event
+				_, err := database.ExecContext(r.Context(), `
+					UPDATE recording_events SET stopped_at = datetime('now')
+					WHERE camera_id = ? AND stopped_at IS NULL
+					ORDER BY started_at DESC LIMIT 1
+				`, cameraID)
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Printf("Error updating recording event: %v", err)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		_, _ = result.RowsAffected() // consume the result
+
+		respondJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]string{
+			"status": "accepted",
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// boolToInt converts a bool to 0 or 1 for SQLite storage.
+func boolToInt(b bool) int {
+	if b {
+		return 1
+	}
+	return 0
+}
diff --git a/internal/events/sse.go b/internal/events/sse.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ed13d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/events/sse.go
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+// Package events provides Server-Sent Events (SSE) for real-time camera status.
+package events
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"log"
+	"net/http"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Hub manages SSE client connections and event broadcasting.
+type Hub struct {
+	mu      sync.RWMutex
+	clients map[*Client]bool
+}
+
+// NewHub creates a new SSE hub.
+func NewHub() *Hub {
+	return &Hub{
+		clients: make(map[*Client]bool),
+	}
+}
+
+// Handler returns an HTTP handler for SSE connections.
+func (h *Hub) Handler() http.Handler {
+	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		h.serveSSE(w, r)
+	})
+}
+
+// Client represents an SSE client connection.
+type Client struct {
+	done   chan struct{}
+	writes chan []byte
+}
+
+// Write sends data to the client.
+func (c *Client) Write(data []byte) bool {
+	select {
+	case c.writes <- data:
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false // buffer full
+	}
+}
+
+// Close stops the client.
+func (c *Client) Close() {
+	close(c.done)
+}
+
+// serveSSE handles SSE connections.
+func (h *Hub) serveSSE(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	// Set SSE headers
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/event-stream")
+	w.Header().Set("Cache-Control", "no-cache")
+	w.Header().Set("Connection", "keep-alive")
+	w.Header().Set("Access-Control-Allow-Origin", "*")
+
+	// Get flusher
+	flusher, ok := w.(http.Flusher)
+	if !ok {
+		http.Error(w, "Streaming unsupported", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Create client
+	client := &Client{
+		done:   make(chan struct{}),
+		writes: make(chan []byte, 256),
+	}
+
+	// Register client
+	h.mu.Lock()
+	h.clients[client] = true
+	h.mu.Unlock()
+
+	// Cleanup on disconnect
+	defer func() {
+		h.mu.Lock()
+		delete(h.clients, client)
+		h.mu.Unlock()
+		client.Close()
+	}()
+
+	// Send initial connection event
+	data, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]string{
+		"type": "connected",
+		"ts":   time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339),
+	})
+	if !client.Write(data) {
+		return // client disconnected
+	}
+
+	// Heartbeat and write loop
+	heartbeat := time.NewTicker(30 * time.Second)
+	defer heartbeat.Stop()
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-client.done:
+			return
+		case <-r.Context().Done():
+			log.Println("SSE client disconnected")
+			return
+		case event := <-client.writes:
+			fmt.Fprintf(w, "data: %s\n\n", string(event))
+			flusher.Flush()
+		case <-heartbeat.C:
+			fmt.Fprint(w, ": heartbeat\n\n")
+			flusher.Flush()
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Broadcast sends an event to all connected clients.
+func (h *Hub) Broadcast(eventType string, payload interface{}) {
+	h.mu.RLock()
+	defer h.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	event := map[string]interface{}{
+		"type":    eventType,
+		"ts":      time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339),
+		"payload": payload,
+	}
+
+	data, err := json.Marshal(event)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("SSE marshal error: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	for client := range h.clients {
+		if !client.Write(data) {
+			log.Println("SSE client buffer full, dropping event")
+		}
+	}
+}