Fort Sumter National Monument

Fort Sumter National Monument

Historic site, on a man-made island at the entrance to the harbour of Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. Construction of the fort began in 1829 and was still in progress in 1861, when it became the site of the first engagement (April 12, 1861) of the American Civil War. The national monument, established in 1948, also includes Fort Moultrie on nearby Sullivan's Island, site of an American victory against the British (June 28, 1776) in the American Revolution, when the fort was called Fort Sullivan. The Seminole Indian leader Osceola is buried there.

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Fort Sumter National Monument

Parks Directory of the United States / US National Parks / National Monuments

Address: 1214 Middle St
Sullivans Island, SC 29482
Phone: 843-883-3123;
Fax: 843-883-3910;
Web: www.nps.gov/fosu/
Size: 200 acres.
Established: Authorized on April 28, 1948; accepted by the U.S. Department of the Interior from the Department of the Army on July 12, 1948.
Location: In Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, accessible only by boat. The concession tour boats leave from Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, or the City Marina on Lockwood Blvd., just south of US 17 in Charleston.
Facilities: Rest rooms (é), visitor center (é), museum/exhibit, self-guided tour/trail.
Activities: Concession boat tour, self-guided tour.
Special Features: The first engagement of the Civil War took place here on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort in Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later. The park also embraces Fort Moultrie, scene of the patriot victory of June 28, 1776 -- one of the early defeats of the British in the Revolutionary War. Together the forts reflect 171 years of seacoast defense.

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See other parks in South Carolina.