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Fort Sumter National Monument42 pounder cannon
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Where The American Civil War Began

Decades of growing strife between North and South erupted in civil war on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort in Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later. Union forces would try for nearly four years to take it back.
 
Fort Moultrie, with a 32 pdr. seacoast cannon in the foreground.

Fort Moultrie

Fort Moultrie is a unit of Fort Sumter National Monument. The site is located on Sullivan's Island and is accessible by car. Learn about 171 years of American seacoast defenses.
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Limited accessibility to Fort Sumter

The ramping system for the Fort Sumter ferry departing from downtown Charleston is currently out of service. Disabled visitors should plan on a low tide departure using a manual wheelchair.
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Write to

1214 Middle Street
Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

E-mail Us

Phone

Visitor Information & Park Headquarters
(843) 883-3123

Fax

(843) 883-3910

Climate

Summers are generally hot and humid. Brief showers and thunderstorms are normal, especially in the afternoon. Spring and fall are temperate. Winters may be cool and damp with occasional periods below freezing. Snow is unlikely.
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Did You Know?  

Did You Know?
The island where Fort Sumter stands was constructed with a foundation of over 70,000 tons of granite and other rock. For over a decade contractors from as far away as New York and the Boston area delivered this material by ship and dumped it on a shoal in Charleston Harbor.

Last Updated: September 08, 2008 at 09:31 EST