This is a must do exhibit if you visit the Charleston area. You have a brief ferry trip to the monument. As you arrive, you can see the stations of where the cannons were pointing outward. The fort itself is well preserved and it’s history is very fascinating. Quick tip: You can take part in the “raising” and lowering of the American flag if you are on either the 9:00 or 4:00 tours. The overall tour was quite informative and pleasant.

First, the 30 min ferry ride was relaxing and informational. We were able to spot dolphins several times during the ride. The historic Fort itself is wonderful to explore. They have a museum which explains the history of the Fort and displays historic artifacts. The flag raising ceremony (first trip only) was also very meaningful. Restrooms were clean and well maintained. There’s also a tiny gift store at the fort.

Wow. What an amazing place to visit. I could have spent hours there. The park rangers were amazing.

This place had so much history. It is amazing to think of what the men stationed here went through, and what a big part of history it was. You get there by ferry which is fun(watch for dolphins which we spotted multiple). The ferry also has snacks for sale, but it is cheaper to just bring your own. The Fort has a small gift shop. They also have a guide that will spend some time talking about the fort. We had a group that ranged from a teenager to grandparents and we all enjoyed it. Highly recommend it.

The tour of Fort Sumter was the perfect length at approximately an hour. We took the first tour at 9:30 and I highly recommend it. It is cooler and better yet we rode with all the docents! Ranger Walter gave the history of the Fort and the area. It is mostly preserved in its mostly destroyed state. Restoring it imo would take away from the story.

Not long enough to see everything at the fort. Was told we had 10 more minutes, then a guy starts hollering (in the museum) that time's up and we have to go. Get to dock and dolphins are jumping and people are taking pictures, same guy hollered at them. We still had time. The Fort is amazing with tons of histor. Just be prepared to be rushed! If you listen to the park ranger tell you facts that are all around the fort, I imagine you'll see nothing.

Must do experience while in Charleston. I must admit spending time on the water to and from the island was half the reason I visited Fort Sumter. The views of the Battery, Ravenal Bridge, and Sullivan's Island from the ferry were stunning. Knowledgeable guides and a very well written brochure provided more background and history than could be absorbed for one day. Next time I'd like to go early and stay late, so I could spend more time in the museum. The sound system can't compete with the engine and the waves. More speakers on board are needed to be able to actually hear the park ranger clearly. Old and young alike catch just enough snippets to be tantalized without being informed. Also, the web site refers to a garage on the Charleston side without providing a map or the cost of parking, so we opted for Patriots Park on the Mt Pleasant side for $5. All in all, the excursion was well worth the time and money. I'll make time for a fourth trip when I can make a day of it. Fascinating, really.

The paddle boat ride was relaxing. The raising of the flag was really cool and the story that he shared was neat. Gave you a better appreciation for both sides of the civil war. It's amazing how much the enslaved people did in this part of the country to build this part of the country.

This one one thing on our bucket list and a great adventure to share with our girls. We had a blast on the ferry watching the dolphins and on the fort soaking up all the history it has. Highly recommended!!!

The ferry ride to the island is peaceful and offers a nice view of Charleston Harbor. Once on the island, you have an hour to explore the fort on your own. There are National Park rangers available to answer questions and give some historical background. There are snacks and restrooms available on the ferry.

Interesting location to visit. The Battle of Fort Sumter took place April 12–13, 1861. Fort Sumter is located in the harbor next to Charleston, South Carolina. It is on a small island just off the coast. The fort was bombarded by the South Carolina militia. In the end the fort was surrendered by the United States Army, beginning the American Civil War.

A great and exciting monument of American history. We had a fun ferry ride to and from Fort Sumter. We were the last group for the day and the park rangers asked for volunteers to help lower the flag at the end of the day… such a wonderful experience. A great museum to walk through and learn so much about Fort Sumter. Allow 2-3 hours of time (1/2 hr ferry ride each way and about a hour in Fort Sumter).

Wonderful place, can feel the past come alive here. The ferry ride gives you a chance to see other ships too. Currently a ticket is $35.. Note to park in the lot for the ferry, is $5 same as it has been the last 10+ years.

Totally worth the ticket. Ranger are very knowledgeable and even got a chance to help put away the flag at the end of the trip. Dolphins leading the boat during the ride was a plus.

We randomly decided to go and it was such a fun excursion. I loved the boat ride to and from the island, we saw SO many dolphins! The boat had plenty of places to stand or sit depending on your preference. The fort itself was a very neat experience. We were there for the taking down of the flag. The park ranger on duty was so charismatic and kind to everyone. If you love history I'd definitely recommend it.

A great experience!! I wish the ferry options allowed for a longer visit, as it did feel rushed. You get about an hour to explore, however I would have probably wanted 2 hours to really immerse myself and read all the history. Also, the ferry will cost you $30+ per person just as a heads up.

Absolutely gorgeous. The Forest Rangers know their stuff and you can tell they love their job! So much history to learn about and see. Even saw dolphins on the ferry ride to the fort! It is well worth a visit for sure!

Although we went on a foggy day, it was still great. The ferry was nice and clean. The ride was nice with great information. We really enjoyed it.

Excellent tour of this historic site, with good displays of artifacts inside and informative presentations. The ferry ride out to the fort was also nice- we were lucky to see dolphins jumping out of the water on our way in. Highly recommend a visit.

This starts with a nice relaxing ferry ride to the island. We loved sitting on the deck outside and looking at the water and the city. Once we arrived at Fort Sumter, we were giving a brief overview by one of the Rangers about the monument. The Rangers are extremely knowledgeable and can answer almost any questions. There is a lot of history there and it is interesting to learn. It’s well preserved a great addition to our Charleston trip. We probably would not go back again but we were glad we went once.