Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Military fortifications at Charleston Harbor, United States.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park contains two coastal defense structures positioned at Charleston Harbor's entrance in South Carolina. One sits on an island in the water while the other stands on land on Sullivan's Island, each showing distinct building styles from different eras.
The first shots of the American Civil War erupted at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked Union soldiers stationed there. Fort Moultrie had previously played a role in the Revolutionary War and then served as a military stronghold for more than a century.
Local residents and visitors come to these sites to understand how military service shaped the harbor's story across generations. Walking through the gun emplacements and barracks shows how soldiers lived within these defensive structures.
Fort Sumter is reached only by ferry service departing from downtown Charleston, while Fort Moultrie can be accessed by car on Sullivan's Island. Bad weather can cause ferry service to be cancelled, so bring weather-appropriate clothing and allow extra time for possible delays.
Fort Moultrie withstood a nine-hour British naval assault in 1776 thanks to walls built from palmetto logs that absorbed enemy cannonballs rather than shattering. The soft nature of the palmetto material gave the fort an unexpected advantage during that attack.
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