Battery Thomson, Artillery battery at Sullivan's Island, United States

Battery Thomson is a concrete artillery battery on Sullivan's Island, about 326 feet long and 84 feet wide, with its ocean-facing front roughly 10 feet high. Built in the same style as Battery Jasper, it held two ten-inch guns and stands in a line of batteries running from Fort Moultrie to the eastern end of the island.

Battery Thomson was built between 1906 and 1909 as part of a series of batteries stretching from Fort Moultrie to the eastern end of Sullivan's Island. It housed two ten-inch guns until decommissioned in 1947. Along with its neighbor Battery Gadsden, it fortified the mouth of Charleston Harbor. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

The site reflects early 20th century military design and was part of a coastal defense system protecting Charleston Harbor. Visitors can explore the solid concrete structure and understand how harbor protection worked during that era.

The site sits on Sullivan's Island near the Charleston Harbor entrance and is relatively accessible to visit. Keep in mind that some concrete structures are exposed to the elements and access to certain areas may be restricted.

The guns were designed to sink back into the concrete for protection, representing innovative defense technology for its time. This disappearing gun system was a hallmark of coastal fortifications in the early 1900s.