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Fort Sumter National Monument, Charleston

4.5

#1 of 70 in Museums in Coastal South Carolina

Historic Site Military Facility

• ©

Explore the site where the Union and Confederate armies clashed for the first time in the American Civil War. Your visit to Fort Sumter National Monument begins at the education center, where you can study exhibits on the war and purchase ferry tickets to the sea fort. Once you arrive, a park ranger will give a short talk about the conflict between the North and South that led to the firing of the first shots. As you walk the area, examine the defenses and imagine the Confederates’ 34-hour bombardment until the Union forces surrendered. For more information, visit the fort’s onsite museum. Refreshments are available on the ferry, but it is a good idea to bring water. Use Inspirock's suggestions to plan your Charleston trip and find the best activities and attractions for your vacation.

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Fort Sumter National Monument Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

4,974 reviews

Google

4.6

facebook

5.0

16 likes

• By peterrC5040MB

  Visit history, a beautiful part of the bay, an enjoyable morning learning about our history of the Civil War.  more »

• By mikeclark14

  We enjoyed the boat trip and then looking around Fort Sumpter. It was very windy when we went - take an extra top.  more »

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Google

• By Roxanne Humphries

  Park rangers were great, very informative. This place is nothing like I have seen before. Great history. While park is free the ferry ride to get there is not cheap. $76 for family of 4 (2 military).

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• By Henry Coggins

  Add Ft Sumter to your to do list when you visit Charleston! So much American History! Take the ferry from downtown Liberty Square . $24 for seniors and includes visit to the Fort as well as the boat ride. Total trip two hours. National Park Service rangers Andy and Gabby were wonderful narrators of this important time in American history. We thoroughly enjoyed this experience.

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