National Park Service Site · Charleston, South Carolina
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
Organization Confirmed · last verified 2026-09-12 · What this means
An authorized representative of the organization has confirmed the listing, or an editor has confirmed it from a first-party source.
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.
Visiting
- Designation
- National Historical Park
- Owned or managed by
- National Park Service
- Address
- 340 Concord Street, Charleston, SC, 29401 · Map and directions
- Hours
Fort Moultrie represents the entire history of static seacoast defenses in the United States, from the American Revolution through World War II. The site includes a visitor center with museum exhibits. The Fort Moultrie Visitor Center is open daily 9:00 am-4:30 pm. The fort itself is open until 4:30 pm all year. There is an entrance fee for the park.
Wednesday: 9:00AM - 4:30PM · Monday: 9:00AM - 4:30PM · Thursday: 9:00AM - 4:30PM · Sunday: 9:00AM - 4:30PM · Tuesday: 9:00AM - 4:30PM · Friday: 9:00AM - 4:30PM · Saturday: 9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Admission and fees
Entrance - Per Person: $10.00 — Fort Moultrie charges a per person entrance fee for adults. Anyone 16 years old or older is considered an adult.
- Getting there
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 also 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.
- Periods interpreted
- American Civil War, American Revolution, Reconstruction, Multi-Era Military History
- Official page
- https://www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm (opens nps.gov in a new tab)
- Official contact
- https://www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm/contacts.htm (opens nps.gov in a new tab)
Current alerts from the source
- Scam Warning: Book Ferry Tickets Through Authorized Concessioner Only (Information) — The National Park Service is aware of fraudulent websites selling invalid ferry tickets to Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. Valid ferry tickets can only be purchased through the park's authorized concessioner at www.fortsumtertours.com. Visitors should carefully verify the website address before purchasing tickets. Tickets purchased through unauthorized websites are not valid and will not be honored.
- Patriots Point Ferries Accessibility Information (Information) — Ferries to Fort Sumter from Patriots Point are not always accessible for individuals who use mobility assistance devices or have trouble navigating stairs. The Fort Sumter Visitor Center departure location is fully accessible or visitors can call Fort Sumter Tours (843-722-2628) for current Patriots Point accessibility conditions.
- Fort Moultrie Fishing Dock Closure (Information) — The Fort Moultrie Fishing Dock is currently under construction through Spring 2026.
Visitor centers
- Fort Moultrie Visitor Center — The Fort Moultrie Visitor Center is located at 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, SC. Inside are an information desk, museum exhibits, a museum store. The visitor center and fort are open daily fr
- Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square — The primary departure point for Fort Sumter is the Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square, located at 340 Concord Street, in downtown Charleston. Visitors can find parking in the South Carolina
Programs and events
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