Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

How to Get There

From Mount Pleasant (6 mi): Take Coleman Boulevard east to Ben Sawyer Boulevard, cross the Ben Sawyer Bridge onto Sullivan's Island, continue on Middle Street, and arrive at the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park Visitor Center and Fort Moultrie at 1214 Middle Street.

Overview

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park is a national historical park located in coastal South Carolina and mainly protects Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie, the Charleston Light and Liberty Square, Charleston.

The Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center is located at Liberty Square in Charleston, South Carolina, on the banks of the Cooper River. The center features museum exhibits about the disagreements between the North and South that led to the incidents at Fort Sumter, particularly in South Carolina and Charleston. Displays include slavery and the plantation culture, major figures, politics, and how the Confederate Army was formed. This site is also the main departure point for tour boats heading to Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Park rangers and volunteers offer topical programs throughout the week for every boat.

The museum at Fort Sumter itself focuses on the activities at the fort, including its construction and role during the American Civil War. The fort is open to the public only via concession tour boat.

The Fort Moultrie Visitor Center is located in Sullivan's Island across from the fort itself. There is a self-guiding brochure available and interpretive wayside exhibits posted throughout the fort. The center offers an orientation film and museum exhibits about American seacoast defenses from 1809-1947, and the history of the first two forts. There is an information desk staffed by NPS Rangers, a book/souvenir store and bathrooms.

Charleston Light is not open to the public but can be viewed from its surrounding grounds, which also allow beach access

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0