Back in December our family was able to take a quick trip out to Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina. Anytime we go anywhere I always look to see what National Sites we’ll be by. So when I saw that Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park were in Charleston where we’d be flying out of, I knew that we had to visit! We weren’t able to take a boat out to Fort Sumter on this trip, but keep reading for all my tips of visiting Fort Moultrie with kids. Plus, I’ve included some information on how to visit Fort Sumter as well.

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

This National Historical Park is comprised of both Fort Moultrie (where we went, on the coast) and Fort Sumter (on an island you must take a boat to).

Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to preserve slavery, construction on a new fort, Fort Sumter, proceeded. The Confederacy fired on the US garrison of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861 opening the Civil War, which redefined American freedom.

www.nps.gov/fosu

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Fort Moultrie National Historical Park with kids

Our family loved exploring Fort Moultrie. This fort is so fun to tour both inside its walls and outside while taking in the view of Fort Sumter in the distance. The green “fields” you see in the picture below is actually the top of the fortifications, so you can walk both underneath and on top. We enjoyed a beautifully clear day while we were there! There is plenty of room to spread out and walk around, while reading all the informational placards. Keep in mind, the tour through Fort Moultrie is not very stroller-friendly.

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Fort Moultrie was the first fort on Sullivan’s Island, a strategic entry point into the harbor. It was originally constructed of palmetto logs and sand and you can still take in a lot of its history! Interesting fact–it was first fired on before it was even completed, on June 28, 1776. Fort Moultrie has been restored in such a way as to show people the major periods of its history. As you tour the fort you move backwards in time from the World War II Harbor Entrance Control Post to the site of the original Palmetto-log fort of 1776. We spent about an hour at Fort Moultrie but could have easily been there longer.

Fort Moultrie
1214 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482

Fort Sumter

Because Charleston Harbor was seen as such a vulnerable point, they started construction on Fort Sumter in 1829–more than 50 years after Fort Moultrie! The history of Fort Sumter in the hands of both the Union and the Confederacy is a very interesting one. The Park Headquarters for Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park is located at Fort Moultrie so you can find out more there, however we hope that next time we can make a trip to Fort Sumter!

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Because Fort Sumter is on a man-made island there is no entrance fee but you must purchase tickets for the authorized concession-operated ferry. Note that National Parks passes are not accepted for admittance on the ferry. There is a Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square that is free to visit if you’re unable to take the boat to Fort Sumter.

Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square
340 Concord Street, Charleston, SC 29401

Have you ever been to this National Historical Park?