Fort Moultrie National Monument

Summers are generally hot and humid. Brief showers and thunderstorms are normal, especially in the afternoon. Spring and fall are temperate. Winters may be cool and damp with occasional periods below freezing. Snow is unlikely.

No Fees.
Ferry fees $8-$14

Reservations accepted for groups.

At the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center (340 Concord Street, Charleston), Liberty Square offers a connection by the Cooper River where visitors may sit, rest, read and watch the harbor traffic in a very pleasant setting.

Fort Sumter is designated historic, so recreational activities are limited to passive pursuits such as scenic viewing and bird watching. Ranger talks are offered to each group of visitors who arrive by ferry. Wayside exhibits interpret the historic resources found throughout the site and the vistas visible from the observation level.

Fort Moultrie (1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island) can be toured using the self-guided brochure. Interpretive wayside exhibits are posted throughout the fort. By using these signs and the park brochure, visitors guide themselves through the fort traveling back in time from World War II to the Revolutionary War.

Ranger programs are offered from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend daily at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Other outdoor activities include:
- Bird Watching
- Boating
- Fishing
- Kayaking
- Nature Walks
- Wildlife Viewing

At the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center (340 Concord Street, Charleston) extensive museum exhibits tell the story of growing sectionalism and strife between the North and the South, and how these problems ultimately erupted into civil war at Fort Sumter.

At Fort Sumter, museum exhibits tell the story of the construction of the fort and island, the events leading to the April 12-13, 1861 battle, and the subsequent bombardment and reduction of Fort Sumter by artillery later in the war. The exhibits bring the history of the fort up to modern times. A small bookstore offers interpretive items relating to Fort Sumter's history. The rest of the site is primarily outdoors.

At the Fort Moultrie Visitor Center (1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island) museum exhibits trace the story of American seacoast defenses from 1776-1947. A 20-minute orientation film is offered on the hour and half-hour from 9:00 am with the last film starting at 4:30 p.m. A bookstore offers interpretive items relating to Fort Moultrie's history. The rest of the site is primarily outdoors.

National Park Service Areas

• Charles Pinckney National Historic Site

Other Attractions

• Boone Hall Plantation
• Charleston Museum
• Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
• Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
• South Carolina Aquarium