Fort Sumter National Monument
Fort Moultrie wasn’t yet complete in 1776, when British warships opened fire on Sullivan’s Island during the Revolutionary War. Even still, patriots stationed there were able to fend off the attack, and the fort was named for its commanding colonel, William Moultrie. Following the war’s end, the original fort fell in to disrepair. When war erupted between England and France in 1793, a second Fort Moultrie was built – which was eventually destroyed during an 1804 hurricane.
By the start of the Civil War, an improved fort (Sumter) had been built – and it was there that the war’s first battle was fought. Today, both forts are open to tourists. Moultrie has been restored to represent its historical time periods, while Sumter houses a museum.
Learn more about Fort Sumter National Monument.
