Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Information Fort Moultrie Fishing Dock Closure

The Fort Moultrie Fishing Dock is currently under construction and closed to the public.

Information Scam Warning: Book Ferry Tickets Through Authorized Concessioner Only

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.

Information Patriots Point Ferries Accessibility 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.

Overview

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.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Boating
  • Boat Tour
  • Fishing
  • Saltwater Fishing
  • Food
  • Dining
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Boat Tour
  • Hands-On
  • Citizen Science
  • Living History
  • Reenactments
  • Historic Weapons Demonstration
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Fort Moultrie: 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.

Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square: The Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square, 340 Concord Street, Charleston, is the primary departure point for ferry boats to Fort Sumter. This visitor education center is free. There is a fee for the concession-operated ferry to Fort Sumter.

Fees and passes

  • Entrance - Per Person — $10.00
  • Annual Entrance - Park — $35.00

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at federal recreation lands across all four agencies.

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.

Visitor centers

Weather

Mild winters. Hot and humid during the summer.

Phone: (843) 883-3123

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

Fort Sumter with a US flag flying above the fort with dock in the foreground
Fort Sumter · NPS Photo
Civil War cannon sitting on carriage pointing towards firing hole in brick wall
Fort Sumter Cannon · NPS Photo
Center of image is round metal and glass signal light with grassy hills hills in background
Inside Fort Moultrie Today · NPS Photo
A three-story brick structure with a staircase in front and water in the background
Fort Sumter Visitor Center · NPS Photo

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