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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Fort Sumter National MonumentFort Sumter today
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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.
 
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Restrooms and Water Not Available at Fort Sumter

Restrooms and water are currently unavailable at Fort Sumter. The site's restrooms are being expanded and made more accessible. Work began on September 29, 2009 and is expected to take up to 150 days to complete.

While both restrooms and water are available on board the ferry boats, fully accessible facilities are only available at the departure locations in Charleston and Mount Pleasant.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete this very important project.

 
Fort Moultrie with a 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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Fort Sumter Museum Closed Wednesday

The museum at Fort Sumter will be closed for utility work on Wednesday, November 25, 2009. With the exception of the restrooms, which are closed until further notice for renovation as mentioned above, the rest of the site will be open.

This closure only effects the museum at the fort itself. All other park facilities will remain open on Wednesday, including the Fort Sumter Visitor Center in Charleston.

While all park sites will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, they will be open on Friday, November 27.

 

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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Fort Sumter as seen from the water.  

Did You Know?
Fort Sumter's island 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. Fort Sumter National Monument, SC

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Last Updated: November 23, 2009 at 12:14 EST