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Fort Moultrie, Sullivan's Island, SC

Photo: Dima Sergiyenko; Please attribute this image as the work of " DiscoverWithDima .", CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFamily Favorite

Fort Moultrie

1214 Middle St · Sullivan's Island, SC

Why you should go…

Fort Moultrie stands on Sullivan's Island at the mouth of Charleston Harbor, part of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. The first fort here, built of palmetto logs, turned back a British fleet in 1776. The brick fort you walk through dates from 1809 and has been restored to show the major periods of its history through 1947, including a World War II Harbor Entrance Control Post. There is parking at the visitor center.

  • #historic fort
  • #national park site
  • #revolutionary war
  • #civil war history
  • #charleston harbor

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Fort Moultrie, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Fort Sumter

    $25–$50

    Ride a ferry across Charleston Harbor to walk the island fort where the first battle of the Civil War took place.

    1.1 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

    $25–$50

    Board the WWII aircraft carrier USS Yorktown and the destroyer USS Laffey on Charleston Harbor.

    3.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    The Battery

    Free

    Stroll the harbor seawall promenade past antebellum mansions to the oaks and cannons of White Point Garden.

    4.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Rainbow Row

    Free

    See 13 pastel-painted historic row houses lining East Bay Street between Tradd and Elliott Streets.

    4.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    International African American Museum

    Under $25

    Explore African American history on Gadsden's Wharf, where a large share of enslaved Africans arrived in North America.

    4.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    South Carolina Aquarium

    $25–$50

    Walk from mountain streams to the open ocean through South Carolina habitats, then touch rays and watch sea turtles in recovery.

    4.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions