Visit the Fort Sumter National Monument in Charleston!
Fort Sumter National Monument in Charleston is one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions, mainly because of its significance to the American Civil War. Fort Sumter was the location where the Civil War officially began, as the Confederate Army first opened fire on a Federal fort in Charleston Harbor. Though Fort Sumter surrendered quickly, the North took half a decade to win the territory back and end the Confederacy’s threat. Today, although much of the fort is made up of ruins, there are still plenty of monuments and historical places to visit. Fort Sumter is a national monument, as it was declared such in 1948 and includes land areas like Liberty Square Visitor Education Center and Fort Moultrie. However, the actual ruins site is only accessible by boat. Not only is the site a great place to experience, in terms of beautiful scenery and historical relevance, but it’s also a great place to learn. Park Service Rangers can help you with questions regarding the fort’s history and the Civil War. They can also explain what became of Fort Sumter after the war and the process that led up to its being declared a National Monument. Fort Sumter is a must-see for an educated tourist!
