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Fort Sumter National Monument

The first engagement of the Civil War took place at Fort Sumter on April 12 and 13, 1861. After 34 hours of fighting, the Union surrendered the fort to the Confederates. From 1863 to 1865, the Confederates at Fort Sumter withstood a 22 month siege by Union forces. During this time, most of the fort was reduced to brick rubble. Fort Sumter became a national monument in 1948.


Contact Information

1214 Middle Street
Sullivan's Island, SC 29482
843-883-3123 - Visitor Information
843-883-3124 - Headquarters


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Getting There

By Plane
The concession tour boats leave from Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, or the City Marina on Lockwood Blvd., just south of US-17 in Charleston. For visitors to the City Marina, parking at the Charleston Visitor Center (on Meeting Street) and using the DASH (Downtown Area Shuttle) service is recommended. For private boats, Fort Sumter is 3.33 miles from Charleston at the harbor entrance.

If traveling on the tour boat, allow 2 hours and 15 minutes for the trip (35-minute boat ride each way, and 1 hour at the fort).

By Car
See above.

By Plane
See above.

Weather

Summers are extremely hot and humid. Light clothing. Winters very mild. Wear a light jacket.


Activities

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.
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  • Educational Programs
  • Bird Watching

Recommended Activities
Listen to the history tape played on the tour boat and read the park brochure before reaching Fort Sumter. Attend the ranger orientation program and visit the extensive museum.

Special programs are usually done for April 12 and 13. For more information call (843) 883-3123.



 

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Find Hiking and Biking Trails
If you like to go hiking or biking, then don't forget to get a map and guidebook. Trails.com offers a great service that allows unlimited downloads of trail guides for a small monthly fee. They even have a 14 day free trial. Whether you are looking for day hikes, backpacking trails, mountain bike routes or just short nature stroll, they cover it all. So let Trails.com help plan your next outing.
RV Information
Are you planning on traveling with your RV? If you are, you should check out the Good Sam Club. The Good Sam Club offers discounts on camping, a free magazine subscription and great tips on traveling with your RV. You can also get a free no-obligation RV Insurance quote . Give them a look and enjoy your trip.
Gear Up For Your Trip
Once you have finished deciding where to go, it will be time to gear up. A great place for adventure travel gear is The National Geographic Store. They have all types of maps and guides to help finalize your vacation plans.