Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
Hours
See this week's hours below.
- Entrance fee
- $10 · per person
- Phone
- (843) 883-3123
- Address
- 340 Concord Street, Charleston, SC 29401
About Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie
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.
Hours
Fort Moultrie
Fort Moultrie represents the entire history of static seacoast defenses in the United States, from the American Revolution through World War II. The site includes a visitor center with museum exhibits. The Fort Moultrie Visitor Center is open daily 9:00 am-4:30 pm. The fort itself is open until 4:30 pm all year. There is an entrance fee for the park.
| Monday | 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Changes to these hours
- Thanksgiving Day, Nov 26: Closed
- Christmas Day, Dec 25: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Closed
- New Year's Day, Jan 1: Closed
Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square
The Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square, 340 Concord Street, Charleston, is the primary departure point for ferry boats to Fort Sumter. This visitor education center is free. There is a fee for the concession-operated ferry to Fort Sumter.
| Monday | 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Friday | 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Saturday | 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Sunday | 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Changes to these hours
- Thanksgiving Day, Nov 26: Closed
- Christmas Day, Dec 25: Closed
- New Year's Day, Jan 1: Closed
Entrance fees
| Per Person | $10 | Fort Moultrie charges a per person entrance fee for adults. Anyone 16 years old or older is considered an adult. |
|---|
An America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee at every site that charges one.
Getting there
Fort Sumter is accessible by ferry boat. Boats depart at scheduled times from two sites. The primary departure point is the Fort Sumter Visitor Center, 340 Concord Street, Charleston. Boats also depart from Patriots Point, 40 Patriots Point Boulevard, Mount Pleasant. There is a fee for the concession-operated ferry. Fort Moultrie is accessible by car at 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island. A park entrance fee is charged for the park. Details at: https://www.nps.gov/fosu/planyourvisit/directions.
Weather
Mild winters. Hot and humid during the summer.
Things to do
Astronomy, Birdwatching, Boat Tour, Boating, Bookstore and Park Store, Citizen Science, Dining, Fishing, Food, Guided Tours, Hands-On, Historic Weapons Demonstration, Junior Ranger Program, Living History, Museum Exhibits, Park Film, Reenactments, Saltwater Fishing, Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Shopping, Stargazing, Wildlife Watching.
Source: National Park Service data feed, checked September 24, 2026. Hours shown are the Park Service's posted standard hours plus any date changes it lists. Official page for Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie ↗