City: Charleston, SC

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (843) 883-3123, (800) 789-3678

Insider Pick:

Description: Almost every Charlestonian knows the story by heart: The year was 1861. South Carolina had seceded from the Union. And yet, just a few miles east, there at the mouth of Charleston Harbor, Union forces were still stationed at Fort Sumter. The Confederacy officially demanded that Fort Sumter be vacated, but the North adamantly refused. At 4:30 a.m. on the morning of April 12, a mortar shell burst over the fort, fired from nearby Fort Johnson. The Civil War had begun. At first—largely as a matter of honor—the Union forces defended Fort Sumter. But after 34 hours, they surrendered. It was practically a bloodless battle—no one was killed, and only a few men were wounded. Amazingly, the Confederates held the fort for the next 27 months, against what was the heaviest bombardment the world had ever seen. Over the course of almost 2 years, no fewer than 46,000 shells (about 3,500 tons of metal) were fired at the island fort. In the end, the Confederate troops abandoned Fort Sumter, but they never surrendered. It was February 17, 1865. By April, the war and the cause would be lost. Today, Fort Sumter is a national monument administered by the National Park Service of the US Department of the Interior. It is still accessible only by boat, and the only public tour of this tiny man-made island and world-famous fort is offered through Fort Sumter Tours, Inc. You can board the Fort Sumter tour boat at the National Park Service’s new facility at the foot of Calhoun Street on the Cooper River. The impressive $15 million interpretive center took 3 years to build and adds a dramatic new dimension to the Fort Sumter experience. Here, visitors are immersed in the Fort Sumter story with interactive displays and graphics, while Park Service rangers are on hand to answer questions. Among the sights found here, you’ll find the actual 33-star Garrison Flag that flew over the fort that historic first night of the Civil War. The trip out to Fort Sumter takes about two hours and 15 minutes (including one hour at the fort). The boat ride affords delightful views of Charleston’s waterfront and includes a narrated history of Charleston Harbor given en route. The specially built sightseeing boats are clean, safe, and have on-board restrooms. Once you’re at Fort Sumter itself, you can walk freely about the ruins. There’s another interpretive museum area on-site with National Park Service rangers there to answer any questions you may have. You’ll need to check in for your tour at least 25 minutes early for ticketing and boarding. Departure times vary according to the season and the weather, so call the number listed for departure information. During the busy summer season, there are usually three tours a day. Children younger than 6 are admitted free, but a boarding pass is required for them. Wheelchair access is available. Group rates are available, but advance reservations for groups are encouraged.