Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park protects and interprets the sites, structures, landscapes and history associated with the first military engagements of the Civil War. The park encompasses two forts – Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the war were fired, and Fort Moultrie, where Confederate soldiers fought their first successful battle – as well as Liberty Square and Charleston Light. Located in Charleston, SC, on the banks of the Cooper River, the park also includes a Visitor Education Center that tells the story of the lead-up to the war, with exhibits on topics such as slavery and plantation culture, major figures, politics, and how the Confederate Army was formed. The Visitor Education Center is also the main departure point for tour boats heading to Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor.