Fort Palmetto
Fort Palmetto is a coastal earthwork fort in Charleston County built to protect against attacks from the sea. The structure has three gun batteries and measures about 160 feet long and 80 feet deep, with 15-foot-high walls and a powder magazine at 25 feet elevation.
The fort was built in late 1861 and was part of a defense line planned by General Robert E. Lee. It served during the war under soldiers from the 20th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry and was one of the few installations with full armament.
The name Palmetto comes from the palm trees that grow naturally in this region and shape the landscape. The earthwork structure still shows the simple, functional design that soldiers needed for their defensive duties.
The fort sits along a walking trail about a mile and a half long that is flat and easy to navigate. The path passes by freshwater ponds and marshland and ends at an elevated viewing platform overlooking Dewees Inlet.
The fort was one of the few installations along the defense line that had full armament, while most others remained unequipped. It was armed with one large nine-inch gun and two rifled cannons, representing rare firepower in this coastal section.
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