Don’t Miss Fort Moultrie on Your Next Trip to Charleston

A visit to Sullivan’s Island is not complete without a tour of Fort Moultrie, and with just a few dollars needed to get through the gate, you’ve got to put it on your Charleston Bucket List. Local mom Jackie Vest shares her experience touring Fort Moultrie on her trip to Charleston.

Check out our Kidding Around® Travel Guide to Charleston, SC. We even have a 2-3 day itinerary for Charleston, SC that you can use to plan out your next vacation!

A Bit on the History of Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

Named after William Moultrie, the fort’s earliest battles were in defending young America from British warships when war broke out in 1776. The original fort was built of palmetto logs and inspired the nickname and flag of our Palmetto State. It remained in use from that year until 1947! The fortifying walls speak of seacoast defense for the entire life of our nation. It has seen everything from pirates, to the British during the Revolutionary War, from the American Civil War battles after South Carolina seceded from the Union, to support in the Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, and everything in between. The wars Fort Moultrie has seen is vast. It was decommissioned in 1947 when new technologies outdated seacoast defense. The fort overlooks Charleston Harbor as a guard to the city.

Plan your own trip to Fort Moultrie

You can visit the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie website for more details about the fort’s construction. You will also be happy to find that both Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie are a part of the National Park Service Jr Ranger Program.

This one location tells the tales of defending our soil from our nation’s earliest history through World War II. The visitor center holds many artifacts, educational bits, souvenirs, books, and useful information before you head across the street to the fort.

To an adult, this fort serves as a gateway back in time, beginning with the most recent historical use of the fort and progressing further and further back in history as you progress through the walls and tunnels. To a child, this is an ocean-view maze peppered with massive cannons, enticing them to run the whole place over in a matter of about an hour. Both parties will leave feeling like the afternoon was well-spent.

Cost to Enter Fort Moultrie

For general entry into the fort, you will pay a $10 fee for a standard pass. If you regularly visit the fort, you may want to invest in an annual membership for a $35 fee. If you have an America the Beautiful pass, you will receive free entry into the park. Members of the military will also be able to enter Fort Moultrie for free.

Fort Moultrie
1214 Middle Street
Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
(843) 883-3123

Open Daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Have you ever visited Fort Moultrie?