Sesquicentennial Media Advisory

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Date: April 9, 2011
Contact: Linda Friar, 786-385-0067
Contact: Nancy Gray, 865-712-4928

150th Commemoration of the Civil War

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National Park Service Media Information Center
843-883-3123 - X 19 (no voicemail)

Fort Moultrie, 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island - Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sullivan’s Island, SC: Fort Sumter National Monument is commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War during 9 days of events, April 9-17 at three of its sites: Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie, and Liberty Square. Highlights of the events include Reenactors presenting daily programs that includes musket firing and heavy artillery drills at Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter and living history programs at Liberty Square. 

In order to manage the significant number of media inquiries and assist the media in accessing the historic sites and interesting people, Fort Moultrie National Monument will provide a Media Information Center from April 9 – 14.

Media availability to access historic sites and interview subject matter experts is being provided on Monday the 11th and Tuesday the 12th as outlined below.

April 11
9:00 a.m. – Meet at Fort Moultrie Visitor Center - Designated parking in grassy area off parking area.
9:30 a.m - Interview with Superintendent Tim Stone about the Civil War commemoration.
10 a.m.- Noon - Boat transportation to Fort Sumter with subject matter experts and Reenactors who will be available for interview. Opportunity to capture B-roll.

Limited space available, RSVP IS REQUIRED - 843-883-3123, ext. 19 (office)
1p.m. (Interview opportunity with confederate Reenactors at Fort Moultrie on return


April 12
National Park Service Civil War Sesquicentennial Keynote event at Fort Sumter
Commemoration Ceremony of the first shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter will include comments by invited dignitaries followed by a military salute, concluding with the laying of wreaths by uniformed Union and Confederate reenactors.

Dignitaries include Bob Stanton, Senior Advisor to the USDOI Secretary, NPS Regional Director David Vela, Fort Sumter Superintendent Tim Stone, and NPS Chief Historian Bob Sutton, City of Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley, and nationally renowned historian Dr. Bernard Powers.

After ceremony there will be a media availability of key officials and reenactors.

Logistics: Boat transportation will be provided for media to Fort Sumter at 6 a.m. from Patriots Point (40 Patriot’s Point, Mt. Pleasant). Patriots Point charges a $5 parking fee. The boat will return to Patriots Point at 10:30 a.m. RSVP is required including number of cameras, reporters, and gear as space is limited on island -843-883-3123, ext. 19 (office). There is restricted boat traffic this day and all media should return on the 10:30 boat. A second smaller boat may be available later in the afternoon for media representatives conducting live feeds throughout the day but that has not been confirmed at this time.

  • A highlight of additional programs April 9 – 17 is below.
  • Daily opportunities for media are available, check in at Media Information Center
  • Please note due to anticipated traffic and crowds, advance notification is required on any Satellite Broadcasting - vehicles or handheld equipment in order to manage logistics on NPS lands.



Additional Programs

April 9 – 17
Fort Sumter

  • Daily tour boats from Liberty Square and Patriots Point
  • Daily musket drill/firing and Heavy Artillery Drill for each tour boat group (April 14 – program is flag ceremony instead of drills)

Fort Moultrie Reenactment activities beginning at 6am through 7pm
NPS Volunteer Reenactors camping at Fort Moultrie - Daily Programs including Reveille, Guard Mount, morning parade, musket drills, heavy artillery drill, children’s musket drill, lowering of flags

Liberty Square 1-5 pm
“Home Front” Daily programs (1-5pm) in front of Visitor Center including talks on food, brick making, living with slavery, civil war medicine, influence of 19th century women, period music & dance, children’s programs

Special Park Programs In addition to interpretive Programs

April 11, 2011 Monday - Fort Sumter
Media Program 10am – noon (park Boat from Fort Moultrie) – RSVP required, limited space

  • 9:30 – Media availability with Superintendent Timothy Stone
  • 10am – noon  Boat tour to Fort Sumter – access b-roll
  • Subject Matter Experts will be available on the boat tour and on the island

Interpretive tour of Fort Sumter - Ranger
NPS Michael Allen – Social history

NPS Fort Sumter Historian - Rick Hatcher on military history

Reenactors - park staff


April 12, 2011 Tuesday – Fort Sumter – Special Interpretive moments and Dignitary Visit

  • 0430 spotlight at FOSU splits from one to two beams – media access at Fort Moultrie
  • 0615 – Media Boat leaves for Fort Sumter (Leaves from Patriots Point)
  • 0645 firing of 10” mortar from Fort Johnson with a starburst shell as a visual – visible from media boat
  • 0805-0930 Special program with dignitaries with musket demo and placing of 2 wreaths
  • 11:15 – Book Signing at Liberty Square - Civil War Remembered – Bob Sutton – NPS Historian & James McPherson – Nationally renowned Civil War Historian
  • 1230 – Postal Service First Day Release of Fort Sumter 150th Stamp – Liberty Square
  • 1:00 – 5:00 – Interpretive Programs “on the home front” Liberty Square

April 13, 2011 – Wednesday – Liberty Square – Special Interpretive Program

  • African Antebellum Charleston – a number special talks and demonstrations of African-American history in Charleston will be held under the tents at Liberty Square

April 14, 2011 Thursday – Fort Sumter/Fort Moultrie – Change of Fort Control

  • Confederate Soldiers leave Fort Moultrie on the NPS Boat for Fort Sumter
  • Flag will come down and Union comes out and leaves – 2:30 pm
  • Union re enactors leave Fort Sumter and return to Fort Moultrie 3:30PM


April 16, 2011 Friday - Children at play Games during the civil war 10am – 4pm at Liberty Square



Last updated: April 14, 2015

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1214 Middle Street
Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

Phone:

(843) 883-3123

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