Charleston, South Carolina - Top Ten Tourist Attractions and Things to Do

Originally built by the federal government to defend Charleston against invasion by foreign forces, Fort Sumter is best known today as the site where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in the early hours of April 12, 1861. Located on an island, Fort Sumter National Monument is only accessible by boat. Regularly scheduled round-trip ferry transportation includes a narrated tour of the scenic harbor and time to explore Fort Sumter.

Touring Fort Sumter is self-guided, although National Park Service rangers offer a short historical overview to each arriving ferry. Exhibits document the construction of Fort Sumter and describe events leading up to the 1861 battle.

Ferry Departure Points - The ferry departs from two points:

• Primary Departure Point: Liberty Square - Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at 340 Concord Street in Charleston
  
• Secondary Departure Point: Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum at 40 Patriots Point Road in Mount Pleasant

Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square - Museum exhibits provide background information about how the escalating division between the North and the South resulted in the American Civil War.

Additional Information

• Fort Sumter Tours
  
• Fort Sumter National Monument - National Park Service Website
  
• About the Battle of Fort Sumter
  

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