At the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center (340 Concord Street, Charleston) extensive museum exhibits tell the story of growing sectionalism and strife between the North and the South, and how these problems ultimately erupted into civil war at Fort Sumter.

At Fort Sumter museum exhibits tell the story of the construction of the fort and island, the events leading to the April 12-13, 1861 battle, and the subsequent bombardment and reduction of Fort Sumter by artillery later in the war. The exhibits bring the history of the fort up to modern times. A small bookstore offers interpretive items relating to Fort Sumter's history. The rest of the site is primarily outdoors.

At the Fort Moultrie Visitor Center (1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island) museum exhibits trace the story of American seacoast defenses from 1776-1947. A 20-minute orientation film is offered on the hour and half-hour from 9:00 a.m. with the last film starting at 4:30 p.m. A bookstore offers interpretive items relating to Fort Moultrie's history. The rest of the site is primarily outdoors.