Fort Sumter National Historic Site

LisaMarch 25, 2019

We headed back to Charleston over Presidents’ Day weekend and visited Fort Sumter again. I have to say that the weather in February is a lot more pleasant than going in June.

Fort Sumter Visitors' Center at Liberty Point

Address and location

Fort Sumter is located on an island in Charleston Harbor. You must purchase a ticket on the NPS-operated ferry to visit. Ferries run from both the Fort Sumter Visitors’ Center at Liberty Point and the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. You will find Fort Moultrie at 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island.

Cost

Admission to the Fort Sumter Visitors’ Center and the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum is free. You will have to pay for parking at both sites. Tickets for the Fort Sumter Tours ferry cost $23 for adults, $21 for military and seniors, $15 for children ages 4-11, and free for kids under 3. Fort Moultrie costs $7 per adult (16 and over) and $20 for an annual pass. As always, interagency passes are $80 a year and free for military members.

What to do

Take some time to explore the museum at Liberty Point. It has an interesting exhibit about the run-up to the start of the Civil War. The museum also looks at the troops stationed on the fort. Abner Doubleday, the inventor of baseball, was stationed at Fort Sumter when the Civil War began and is credited with firing the first Union shot of the war.

Once you board the ferry, you can expect a 30 minute ride through Charleston Harbor. Try to grab a seat on the top deck to enjoy the views of the harbor and city skyline. You’ll have 45 minutes to an hour on Fort Sumter. The Rangers onsite offer several programs and guided tours while you are there. The first and last boats of the day can also participate in the flag raising and lowering ceremonies. We were on the first boat of the day, so we watched the flag raising ceremony over the fort. Be sure to walk around the exterior of the fort and see the damage caused by the Civil War. Also check out the museum inside the fort. It examines the actual siege of Fort Sumter that started the Civil War and the fort’s role during the war. You can also view the flag that flew over the fort.