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grandmaR Says: The ferry to the fort is run by a private contractor. There are two different ferries running to the fort - from Liberty Square in Charleston and the once a day from Mt. Pleasant on the other side of the Cooper River. We went from Liberty Square.The ferry ride is quite a lot...
grandmaR Says: When we got off the ferry, we walked around with a ranger for a short (10 minute) tour. After that we walked around on our own. You do not have to take the ranger tour, but it really helps to understand the history of the fort. One of the facts I remember is that the guns at...
Fort Sumter Exhibit Hall in Charleston
grandmaR Says: The ferry ride to Fort Sumter costs money - it is operated by a contractor. But the Exhibit Hall on the Charleston side ferry docks is free. Inside is a museum giving the history of the fort and the area before and during the Civil War. The Exhibit Hall is open 8:30 to 5...
goingsolo Says: The museum on Fort Sumter is a tiny area which contains some interesting exhibits. One of the original flags which flew over the Fort is on display here. The photo shows how the nearly completely destroyed Fort after the war. During the attempts at preservation, the Park...
goingsolo Says: In order to tour Fort Sumter, you must take one of the boat tours offered by the National Park Service. There are two departing locations- one on Calhoun Street and the other on Mount Pleasant. The tours depart twice a day- three times per day in the busiest months, and run...
saraheg77 Says: Fort Sumter was an enjoyable day's visit for the price. The little boat ride out to the monument was very pleasant! There was some construction going on at the time we were there, but I'm sure it's gone by now! :)
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You can only get to Ft. Sumter by boat. Oh I suppose you could charter a heliocopter and go that way, but really, the only way to go is by boat. If you are a NPS ranger who is stationed at the fort, you can go in a NPS boat.
Ordinary people however have two choices. They can use either the National Park Service authorized concession ferry, which is run by Fort Sumter Tours, Inc., or their private boat. Although we saw the Fort from our boat whenever we transited the harbor, we visited the Fort on the concession ferry.
The trip takes about 30 minutes, and there is narration that explains the points of interest and historic significance and they go over the major events which led to the outbreak of the Civil War. They allow one hour at the fort.
Limited handicap access at the Liberty Square boarding facility only.
Rates for 2006 Dates and Season From Patriots Point Mt. Pleasant Rates and Schedule subject to change without notice. Limited handicap access at the Liberty Square boarding facility only.
Schedule /Rates for 2006
Date/Season From Patriots Point Mt. Pleasant From Liberty Square@ Aquarium Wharf
April 1 thru Labor Day 10:45 am, 1:30 pm, 4:00 pm 9:30 am, 12:00 Noon, 2:30 pm
Day After Labor Day thru November 30 10:45 am, 1:30 pm 9:30 am, 12:00 Noon, 2:30 pm
December 1 thru December 24 1:30 pm 11:00 am, 2:30 pm
December 26 thru December 31 10:45 am, 1:30 pm 9:30 am, 12:00 Noon, 2:30 pm
** Closed: Christmas Day, New Years Day, and Thanksgiving Day.
Fort Sumter Tour Rates:
Adults: $14.00; Seniors: $12.50; Kids (5-11): $8.00; Infants (5 and Under): Free
These are departure times.
Please allow at least 25 minutes for Ticketing and Boarding.
Updated Aug 26, 2006
Phone: Tour Boat 1-800-789-3678
Website: http://www.spiritlinecruises.com/
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Open All Year Same as Park
Closures - Closed January 1 and December 25.
Available Facilities - A small museum shop is operated at the fort. Snacks and drinks are available on tour boat. I think there is also a shop at the Liberty Square Charleston terminal. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of any of those shops.
What to buy: Normally the NPS stores have books, maps, posters, prints, apparel, pins, patches, audiovisual items and coins and collectables.
What to pay: At this store examples of what they have are
Book - Fashions of the South Paper Dolls $5.95 (third picture)
Fort Sumter Patch $3.95 (fifth picture)
Confederate State of America Coins: $6.95 (fourth picture)
Updated Aug 26, 2006
Website: http://www.eparks.com/eparks/park_entrance.asp?park=535
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General Beauregard, who commanded the Confederate forces, was the former student of Major Anderson, who commanded the Union forces at Fort Sumter. Since many generals and other officers took sides based on their ties to their home states, it was not uncommon for those who trained together and fought together in other wars to find themselves on opposite sides of the battlefield during this war. Fortunately for Beauregard and Anderson, there were no casualties resulting from the clash at Fort Sumter. But that would not be the case in many subsequent battles.
Written Feb 19, 2006
Website: www.nps.gov
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One of the things that the park ranger who gave our tour EMPHASIZED was that visitors were not to climb on the cannons.
I had to reprimand my granddaughter who was going to climb on one anyway. The rule book says:
*. Walking upon, climbing, ascending, descending, or traversing all earth mounds, cannons and carriages, fort walls and historic structures are prohibited.
Other rules
*. Sporting activities including, but not limited to, kite flying, golfing, soccer, baseball, football, etc. are prohibited at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie.
*. Permits are required for the following actions. Permits must be submitted no later than 72 hours prior to the event:
A. Material collections
B. Collection of specimens
C. Special events
D. Public assemblies and meetings
E. Sale and distribution of printed materials
F. Memorialization
G. Operations of commercial business
H. Filming for commercial business
I. Overnight use of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie docks.
*. Spanish moss, sea oats, pine straw, wood and other natural or man-made items may not be collected except as noted.
*. Wood may not be collected, except driftwood along the beach face.
*. Fishing, trapping and casting from the Fort Sumter dock are prohibited during visitor hours.
*. Only Federal law enforcement officers and those cooperating state and local agencies are permitted to carry firearms. Official NPS volunteers under the supervision of a permanent park ranger may carry unloaded weapons for living history activities.
*. Camping is prohibited.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
goingsolo Says: Fort Sumter is the most heavily shelled structure in the U.S. As a result of the repeated attempts to break down these walls and the Confederate spirit, the fort withstood much damage. So much so that, once abandoned, the fort was nearly in ruins. Much of the fort has been...
goingsolo Says: Fort Sumter was not heavily armed at the start of the civil war. In 1860, only 15 canons were ready for battle. After the Confederates seized the fort, they began fortifying its defenses. But some of the canons you see during the tour are Union canons which were located on...
The First Shot and the Aftermath
grandmaR Says: The first engagement of the Civil War took place at Fort Sumter on April 12 and 13, 1861, and after a brief battle, the Union surrendered the fort to the Confederates. At that time, the Confederates thought that the 60 foot tall fort's six foot thick brick walls were...
goingsolo Says: Many people think of Fort Sumter as the place where the war began and do not realize the overali mportance of the Fort. The Union tried many methods of obtaining surrender from the Confederates and one of these was a naval blockade of the Atlantic Coast. The South needed to...
goingsolo Says: In the now entranceway, there is a plaque which honors the Confederate defenders of Fort Sumter. A Union monument was also erected to honor the Union defenders of the opening bombardment. Although none of the Union soldiers were killed during the original bombardment, many...
goingsolo Says: When the Confederates took over Fort Sumter, down came the U.S. flag and up went the flag of South Carolina. The Confederate flag also flew over the Fort. Today, there are six flags which fly over the fort: The U.S. flag is in the center, two of the former U.S. flags with 33...
goingsolo Says: The visitor's center, shown in the photo is the place where tours start. There is a series of exhibits here which trace the events leading up to the war. Its worth taking some time to browse this area as the exhibits provide a great deal of background information that many...
And so it begins. Following the election of President Lincoln, South Carolina delegates voted to secede from the Union, claiming that the Federal government violated its constitutional rights. Five......
We see Fort Sumter from a distance whenever we cross Charleston Harbor on the ICW or go in or out of Charleston Harbor From the NPS website: The first engagement of the Civil War took place at Fort...
Build your own Fort Sumter National Monument page
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