The charleston harbor is home to civil war era forts, historic sites, and even a wwii aircraft carrier. Take your groupschool class, senior home, church group, book club, or any social group and experience charleston in an upcloseandpersonal way that the group will cherish forever. Fort sumter tours and ferry cruise free tours by foot. Fort sumter national monument is a must for history buffs and civil war enthusiasts. The civil war in charleston tour covers much more than just fort sumter and the battles that followed. Fort sumter national monument, charleston tripadvisor. 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. A few years ago, i spent my summer vacation on the east coast and got to visit some cool sites. The cruise consists of a 75minute narrated tour of charleston harbor and a 1hour tour of fort sumter national monument. Visit fort sumter national monument on your trip to charleston.
Visiting charlestons great fort sumter family travel. On the water, you will cruise to fort sumter and explore the site where the first shot of americas civil war was fired. Fort sumter, charleston, sc, where the first shots of the american civil war were fired. This tour combines our 90 minute historic charleston city tour with a boat tour to fort sumter where the civil war began. We recommend booking fort sumter national monument tours ahead of time to secure your spot. The national park service collaborates with fort sumter tours, so you will have to book a boat tour with this company to visit the fort. Historic city tour and fort sumter tour charleston. Book early to guarantee entrytours sell out far in advance. Fort sumter is a sea fort out on an island in the middle of charleston harbor and is a great place to visit if you like history andor exploring ruins.
You will see notable american landmarks, such as fort sumter, the aircraft carrier uss yorktown, the battery, the ravenel bridge, castle pinckney and other sites from the past and present. Located only a short walk from their patriots point pick up location, discover the history of fort sumter with fort sumter tours. Fort sumter is one of the most popular historic attractions in charleston. Charleston firsttime visitors guide things to do in. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund.
Fort sumter battlefield american battlefield trust. A percentage of the proceeds from all sales are donated to the interpretive program of fort sumter national monument. Fort sumter is a sea fort in charleston, south carolina, notable for two battles, the first of which signified the start of the american civil war. Our knowledgeable and entertaining tour guides are certified by the city of charleston and enjoy interacting with guests. Read about our other fabulous things to do in charleston. Dont forget to tour nearby fort moultrie and the many civil war sites in the beautiful and historic. Historic charleston tours old south carriage tours. The fort was reduced to rubble by shelling over the ensuing years of war. To contact the park bookstore, call 8435770242 x 12 or send email. Both forts are located on islandsdress in layers if visiting during cool weather. When visiting charleston, one of the top things to do is going out to see fort sumter, known for being the site where the civil war began.
The fort sumter visitor education center is located. In charleston, everything from the cobblestones to the iron gates has a story to tell and we pride ourselves on showcasing these historic sites. Experience the patriotic and memorable 2 14 hour tour with about an hour at the fort. Fort sumter tours on april 12, 1861, the first shots of the american civil war were fired upon fort sumter, forever solidifying the location in the annals of history. Your tour vessel will cruise to fort sumter from liberty square in downtown charleston or from patriots point in mount pleasant. The tour is fully narrated and explains many points of interest and historic significance. Visitors are transported back in time and are able to explore and learn about the wellpreserved fort ruins and the civil war itself. Fort sumter tours, a local tour company, is the only authorized concessionaire of fort sumter. You will learn about the major events which led to the outbreak of americas most bloody war. A tour of fort sumter in charleston, south carolina. While you enjoy a relaxing stay at the cottages on charleston harbor enjoy pristine views of fort sumter from our harbor view cottages. The best fort sumter visitor education center tours. At fort sumter national park, historians will provide detailed information about fort sumter and its pivotal role in the war between the states.
Beginning march 15, 2018, visitors can choose from 7 fort sumter tour boat departure times. Fort sumter boat tours charleston sc high tide harbor. There are usually three stops during the day with two of them at the fort sumter museum and the other one by fort moultrie on the. Fort sumter does not require an entrance fee, but fort moultrie does. Best charleston harbor tour in charleston, sc spiritline. Plus enjoy a cruise to historic fort sumter where the civil war began. Take a ferry to fort sumter and stand exactly where the civil war began. See and hear about fort sumter, the harbor of history and the aircraft carrier yorktown at patriots point. Fort sumter is a fascinating place to visit and only accessible by taking a 30 minute boat ride through the charleston harbor. Fort sumter surrendered 34 hours later, and union forces tried for nearly four. It was one of a number of special forts planned after the war of 1812, combining high walls and heavy masonry. At 14 anson street, 1 block off the charleston market, you will enjoy an old south carriage ride from a horse drawn carriage guided by some of the finest tour guides in charleston.
Includes the boat rides, tour and entry to the fort so very good value. See all 14 fort sumter national monument tours on tripadvisor. Your tour guide is randomly assigned a route and will delight your tour group with stories and facts about charleston from her earliest days to the present. After arriving at the fort, guests will have the opportunity to learn about the major events that led to the outbreak of the american civil war. Once aboard, enjoy a 30 minute narrated cruise to historic fort sumter. Tours of fort sumter what does the experience involve. How to visit fort sumter and patriots point walks of. The site of the shots fired that marked the official start of the civil war, fort sumter is a physical reminder of the events leading up to. From fort sumter to appomattox, a visitors guide to the history, personalities, and places of. I want kristin to appreciate our country, and along the way, i learn to appreciate our country a little more, too. This is a unique and informative tour of the civil war here in charleston, that goes past the usual facts and figures.
Fort sumter tours is the only authorized concessioner for the national park service and actually docks at fort sumter. Enjoy fort sumter and the charleston, sc harbor with fort sumter tours. Take the ferry and visit fort sumter love, laughter, and. Fort sumter tours charleston 2020 all you need to know. Fort sumter tours admission included with tour pass. There is history everywhere so be sure to take time to take it all in. Tour one of our expertly preserved plantations and mansions.
Old south is the only carriage company that offers a fort sumter carriage tour combo. Im so glad we included fort sumter in our plans for our quick trip to charleston. Fort sumter tours charleston 2020 what to know before. The tour was about two hours long, and it was well worth it. Plan your visit fort sumter and fort moultrie national. A brief history south carolina seceded from the union on december 20, 1860. They offer 1 3 tours per day, depending on the time of year. Fort sumter is an iconic name in us history, for it was here that confederates fired the first shots of the civil war in 1861. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The fort sumter and fort moultrie national historic park sits prominently at the mouth of the charleston harbor, a strategic location that was crucial to its defense. Old south carriage tours carriage tours fort sumter old south carriage tour.
The tours include a 30minute ferry ride to and from the fort and 60 minutes on the island. Exploring the historic and beautiful city of charleston is the perfect group activity. Explore the site where the union and confederate armies clashed for the first time in the american civil war. On the water, you will cruise to historic fort sumter and explore where the first shot of americas civil war was fired. This tour combines a 90 minute guided tour of historic charleston, a relaxing cruise to fort sumter national historic park includes 30 minute cruise to the fort, approximately 1 hour of a selfguided fort tour for visitation and a 30 minute return cruise and a guided tour of the fullyrestored historic home joseph manigault house. Historic fort sumter is located in charleston harbor and is only accessible by the concessionoperated tour boat. Fort sumter tours offers year round trips to fort sumter that departs daily from liberty square in charleston 340 concord street. Then, catch a glimpse of the colorful diversity of aquatic life and habitats by visiting the south carolina aquarium. Fort sumter retains much of its history and mystique and is a must see for any civil war buff. Official fort sumter tours, charleston, sc visit ft sumter. Today, visitors will find the fort sumter national monument a unique historic site that folks seek out as one of the best things to do in charleston, sc.