Fort Moultrie at Sullivan’s Island
Step inside on of Charleston’s most historic landmarks at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island. From Revolutionary War battles to World War II defenses, this coastal fort tells the story of America’s history along the harbor. It’s an easy stop for families exploring the area.
If you’re planning a visit to Charleston and want to add a meaningful but easy stop to your itinerary, Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island is such a hidden gem.
We stumbled across it by accident during an afternoon of island hopping from Charleston and it ended up being a very special part of our day. My husband especially loves to visit historical forts in the south during our family vacations, like we did with Fort Clinch State Park in Amelia Island. So when my daughter and I spotted Fort Moultrie, we had to stop.
What made Fort Moultrie especially interesting to me is the focus on its role during the Revolutionary War. We had already visited Fort Sumter on a previous vacation and that one obviously focuses on the Civil War era. It was fascinating to learn more about the older history of Charleston, especially since this summer is America’s 250th anniversary.
Whether you’re traveling with kids, love a good historical story, or just want a scenic spot to explore near the beach, Fort Moultrie is a surprisingly easy and worthwhile stop to add to your Charleston plans.
Know Before You Go
Hours
Fort Moultrie is open every day from 9 am – 4:30 pm except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s days.
Fees
Fort Moultrie is operated by the National Park Service and if you have a national parks pass it will work at this location.
If you do not already have a pass, tickets are $10 per person ages 16 and over.
You could also purchase an annual pass to Fort Moultrie for $35 which covers 3 persons aged 16 and over for an entire year.
NOTE: If you plan to also visit Fort Sumter during your visit to Charleston, Sumter does not charge a fee but you’ll have to pay for the ferry boat ride over to the fort which is not covered by an annual national parks pass.
Map It
You can park at the Fort Moultrie Visitor Center lot at:
1214 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island, SC
Prep the Kids
Whether this your kids’ first visit to a National Parks destination or their seasoned park pros, I recommend reading a few of these 20 books about National Parks for kids together before your trip!
Learn the History of Fort Moultrie at the Visitor’s Center
Our first visit to Fort Moultrie was a happy accident during our afternoon Island Hopping from Charleston. We didn’t know the fort was there on Sullivan’s Island and were pleasantly surprised to spot it on our drive.
We pulled over to take a picture and discovered the Visitor’s Center. Once we stepped inside, we were surprised to find a small museum about the fort and we were welcomed by the friendly National Parks staff.
During the 13-minute educational movie, we enjoyed a helpful overview of what makes this fort so special:
- The fort was constructed of palmetto logs (the short palm trees that are the South Carolina state tree) and sand.
- Fort Moultrie was still incomplete when it was attacked on June 28, 1776 by the British Royal Navy.
- The American soldiers were completely outnumbered but held off the British ships for 9 hours and eventually forced them to retreat.
- Charleston was saved from British occupation and the fort was named in honor of its commander, Colonel William Moultrie.
- Fort Moultrie was an active fort through WWII and has been involved through many conflicts in its 250 year history.
If you want to get a brief overview before your visit, this is a helpful video hosted by the South Carolina Educational Public Broadcasting:
Celebrate Carolina Day
If you happen to be traveling to Sullivan’s Island in June, you should know that Carolina Day is the annual commemoration of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island that occurred on June 28, 1776.
Fort Moultrie hosts Carolina Day events annually on the weekend closest to June 28 and this would be a great way to incorporate a little history for your family vacation.
During this weekend, the park hosts living historians, historic weapons demonstrations, ranger programs, and other activities.
Tour the Fort
Once you step out the front of the Visitor’s Center, you’ll walk down the Sally Port, the entrance of the fort.
We headed towards the left to find the World War II command post. Completed in 1944, this spot coordinated all the harbor defenses around Charleston.
Leaving the World War II station, you’ll walk past the Batteries that were designed to protect the mine field at the entrance to Charleston Harbor from 1898 to 1939.
Beyond that you’ll find a pair of canons that were part of the post-Civil War modernization of the fort:
Finish the walking loop and you’ll find Civil War era canons and pre-Civil War section to show the history of the weaponry used at the fort.
We were curious to see how close we could walk towards the water so we exited the fort and walked around the outside to the backside.
There are several exhibits in a large open green space between the fort and the water. We were on a shorter timeline so we decided to save exploring this section until our next visit.
Our Tips for Your Visit
There is very little shade once you’re at the fort itself so plan ahead with sunscreen and hats. We recommend visiting earlier in the day or later in the afternoon to avoid the worst of the heat.
There are a number of long staircases to see the top of the fort where the cannons are, this would not be a very friendly location for anyone who has trouble walking unless you plan to stay on the ground level.
If you look out on the water from Fort Moultrie, you’ll be able to spot Fort Sumter in the harbor. This is especially neat to point out to the kids if you plan to take the ferry boat over to Sumter during your trip.
More Things to Do in Sullivan’s Island
While you’re on Sullivan’s Island visiting the fort, why not take the time to do a little Island Hopping adventure? We had a great time driving between Mount Pleasant, Sullivan’s Island, and Isle of Palms in an afternoon.
Sullivan’s Island has a cute little “downtown” area with restaurants and shops you can enjoy before or after your visit to Fort Moultrie.
For full details, be sure to check out my Island hopping from Charleston guide here.
