Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Park Service, South Carolina.
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to preserve slavery, construction on a new fort, Fort Sumter, proceeded. The Confederacy fired on the US garrison of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861 opening the Civil War, which redefined American freedom.
Notifications and Alerts
Entrance passes purchased through recreation.gov are for access to the Fort Moultrie site only. Fort Moultrie is located on Sullivan's Island and can be driven to. Fort Sumter is located on an island in Charleston Harbor and requires tickets for the ferry boat. Tickets to Fort Sumter are purchased through www.fortsumtertours.com or by calling 843-722-2628. Check the park's website for hours of operation, www.nps.gov/fosu.
Nearby Activities
- Boating
- Fishing
- Historic & Cultural Site
- Wildlife Viewing
Directions
Fort Sumter is accessible by ferry boat. Boats depart at scheduled times from two sites. The primary departure point is the Fort Sumter Visitor Center, 340 Concord Street, Charleston. Boats depart from Patriots Point, 40 Patriots Point Boulevard, Mount Pleasant. There is a fee for the concession-operated ferry. Fort Moultrie is accessible by car at 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island. A park entrance fee is charged for the park. Details at: https://www.nps.gov/fosu/planyourvisit/directions.
Additional Information
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park Official Website
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park Map
