Castle Pinckney

Castle Pinckney is a circular masonry fortification on Shutes Folly Island, roughly one mile (1.6 kilometers) off the Charleston coast in South Carolina. The structure rises directly from the water and encloses an open courtyard with casemates along the outer wall.

The fortification was completed in 1810 on the site of an earlier defense work and followed a new concept for American harbor protection. It became the first Federal installation seized by South Carolina forces in December 1860, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War.

The name honors Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a South Carolina founding father, and the structure displays features typical of early American coastal defense. Visitors can observe the horseshoe shape, which once met military needs and now stands as evidence of early engineering practice.

The island can only be reached by boat, and visitors should contact the local preservation society beforehand to learn about access rules. Because the site is remote, thorough preparation with water and sun protection is recommended for the trip.

The fortification is one of the few remaining American coastal defenses from before 1820 that still shows its original horseshoe layout. Despite its small size, its position in the harbor allowed it to control strategically important shipping lanes.

Location: Charleston

Website: https://castlepinckney.org

GPS coordinates: 32.77361,-79.91139

Latest update: December 20, 2025 13:48