Fort Sumter National Monument
Charleston Harbor, SC 29482-9748
Phone: (843) 883-3123
- Hours:
- Apr-Aug 10am-5:30pm, Sep-Mar 10am-4pm
Editorial Review for Fort Sumter National Monument – by Florrie Byrd
The Background
April 12, 1861, the first shots of the Civil War were fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. After passing the Ordinance of Secession, South Carolina demanded that all military installations be handed over to the Confederate army. When Union troops at Fort Sumter refused to surrender, Confederate troops opened fire. No one was killed in the 34-hour battle, but it marked the beginning of a war that would last four years and result in more than 600,000 casualties. By the time Union troops took back Fort Sumter in 1865, the fort's 50-feet-tall and eight-feet-thick walls had been reduced to rubble.
The Appeal
The fort, rebuilt after the Civil War and used until WWII, is a fascinating step back in time. Many of the fort's original armaments are on display, and a small museum chronicles Fort Sumter's role in the war. Park rangers offer informative, free walking tours.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoFort Sumter is only accessible by boat. Tours leave several times a day from Liberty Square in downtown Charleston and Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant.
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