I knew before I visited this that the fort was not in good shape. It took a very heavy bombardment during the Civil War. The fort originally contained 3 stories and by the end of the war, it was reduced to 1 story. Additionally there was an artillery fortification that was added during the Spanish-American War. This black concrete monolith... more

The trip to Ft. Sumter was literally a breath of fresh air. You pick up the excursion boat near the Aquarium in Charleston. There is plenty of seating both inside on the first level and on top if you like the fresh air and the sunshine. The ranger gave a very succinct and helpful overview of the events that happened... more

Even if you care nothing about history, this is a great trip. It includes a ferry ride to an island at the entrance to Charleston harbor followed by the opportunity to explore the ruins of an old fort. Anyone who does care something about history will appreciate Ft. Sumter's significance and the historical detail provided by the park service staff. more

Really a must see from a history perspective. The boat ride is pleasant and informative, the fort is beautifully preserved and the rangers are informative. more

We really enjoyed our visit to Fort Sumter. We left from Aquarium Wharf, on the earliest boat (9:30), which was not very crowded. The boat ride to the island takes about 30 minutes. We saw some dolphins swimming near the boat, and nice views of the downtown Charleston skyline. When you arrive, there is a talk given by one of... more

Nice boat ride out to the island followed by an hour of time to actually spend the the island fort. The park rangers are terrific. They do a great job giving an overview of the fort from founding to present. From there they are a wealth of info if you have any questions. A really nice, but a bi small,... more

I recently (02 June 09) visited Ft Sumter. This is my second trip. I was so overwhelmed by the historical significance the first time I went - I missed the simplicity until the second time I went. Don't get me wrong - This site is SO SIGNIFICANT to every American or wanna be American that it should be visited at... more

I recently took the ferry over from Patriots Point (May 2009) to see Fort Sumter, and the historical significance it played in both the start of the civil war and the subsequent battle for a true naval blockade of the south cannot be overstated. The fort itself was nearly demolished during the war and was never fully rebuilt, and currently... more

I recently visited on 4/13/09. You must take a boat from either Charleston or Patriots Point in Mt Pleasant. This site is for historical buffs. You are allowed 1 hour at the Fort which is plenty of time. The fort is preserved as it was at the end of the Civil War with the addition of a gift shop and... more