Fort Sumter Tours

06/23/2026

We are so honored to be featured on L.A. Family Travel's "15 Favorite Things to Do in Charleston SC with Kids" blog! Head on over to their site to read about their journey to Fort Sumter, Patriots Point, and more from all around the Lowcountry!

Charleston SC is one of the best family destinations on the East Coast. Here are 15 things to do in Charleston with kids — beaches, history tours, pirate adventures, and the best seafood of your life.

06/23/2026

Be Cool and Do Hydration!

Whether it’s 1776 or 2026, June is always hot! In fact, it often feels hotter than the predicted high temperature due to humidity levels. Patriot troops fought in this intense summer heat and just had to grin and bear it. Luckily, you have modern gear to help you be prepared.

Use these tips to help you pack like a patriot and stay cool while you take part in the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.

💧Be Cool and Do Hydration! Patriot soldiers would have carried canteens full of water to beat the heat. Bring your own canteen (a refillable water bottle!) with you. There will be several water filling stations around the event.

👟Wear appropriate clothing and shoes. You’re not a soldier about to fight a battle, so avoid the wool uniform! Wear lightweight, light colored clothing. We recommend wearing close-toed shoes for walking around the event and in the fort as some of the surfaces can be uneven. Fire ants are common in the area as well and close toed shoes will help protect against any potential bites.

🌳They faced the heat of the cannons; you’ll face the heat of a South Carolina sun in late June. While the soldiers had minimal places to find shade or cool off, you have modern conveniences. If you feel yourself getting overheated, find some shade under one of our event tents, or head across the road to the visitor center and enjoy a cool blast of AC.

🕶🧢The patriots didn’t have sunscreen or sunglasses, or even ball caps with brims to shade their eyes. Don’t take your SPF or shades for granted, protect your skin and eyes from the sun’s brutal rays.

Follow these tips and whether you support the patriots or the British, you’ll have a cool time at the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.

Image: Take a tip from these rangers and always stay hydrated! A row of rangers at a water filling station wait patiently to fill their reusable water bottles. NPS image/R. Claussen

06/20/2026

First rule of Hydrate Club: stay hydrated.

Second rule of Hydrate Club: tell everyone you know about Hydrate Club.

Third rule of Hydrate Club: hang on…BRB, nature calls.

Summer is here, which means increasingly high temperatures and humidity. While the heat may allow for more time outdoors, it can also increase your risk for dehydration and related illnesses.

No matter what type of park you’re visiting, stay hydrated and drink before you feel thirsty. The amount of water you need may increase if you are doing a strenuous activity. Bring enough water to drink with you for the duration of your trip. When in a park, make sure to locate areas where you can access drinking water along your trip route.

Learn more ways to at: https://www.nps.gov/articles/heat-illness.htm

Image: Rangers use a refilling station Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park to fill up reusable water bottles. NPS/R.Claussen

06/19/2026

Juneteenth is one of the oldest commemorations of the end of slavery in the United States. It marks June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation at the end of the Civil War.

Within the National Park Service, Juneteenth helps connect this history to places and stories preserved across the National Park System that interpret emancipation, Reconstruction, and the broader struggle for civil rights.

Learn more about the history of Juneteenth at: https://www.nps.gov/articles/juneteenth-origins.htm

Image: The African American Civil War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

06/06/2026

Feels like Summer ☀️ 🌼⛴️🇺🇲

Did you know , where the American Civil War began, is on a man-made island? Can you visit Fort Sumter? Absolutely! Visit Fort Sumter exclusively with Fort Sumter Tours. Your Charleston harbor adventure departs daily from Liberty Square and Patriots Point!

Reserve your tickets online using the official website fortsumtertours.com

06/03/2026

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island with a weekend of events later this month. (Link below for details)

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

Plan your Charleston harbor adventure with Fort Sumter Tours!

Question: How to visit Fort Sumter?

Answer: Tour Fort Sumter exclusively with Fort Sumter Tours, the only authorized concessioner that allows you to explore Fort Sumter.

Question: How to purchase tickets for the Fort Sumter Tour?

Answer: Purchase your Fort Sumter Tours ticket online at fortsumtertours.com, call 843-722-2628, or purchase in-person at Liberty Square or Patriots Point.

Explore Fort Sumter National Historical Park, take a sunset dinner cruise on Charleston Harbor, and enjoy many other tours and attractions in Charleston SC.

05/31/2026

Just like that, summer has arrived! Here are some tips to help you plan like a ranger when you visit Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park.

🌞Check the weather before you go! Remember in Charleston, it ALWAYS feels hotter than the predicted high temperature. Don't forget to account for humidity, a day in the 80s could feel like it's over 100 degrees outside.
💧Stay hydrated! Bring a reusable water bottle with you and fill it up at our water filling stations!
🧴Wear sunscreen! Protect your skin with sunblock of at least 50 SPF.
🧢🕶 Wear appropriate clothing! Light colored clothing helps to reflect the sun’s rays, headgear and sunglasses can also help protect your face and eyes.
👟Wear appropriate shoes! Many areas of our historic forts are not flat, appropriate shoes will help prevent trip and fall injuries.
🌳Take breaks in the shade or AC! To cool off, visit the museum at Fort Sumter or the visitor centers at Fort Moultrie and Liberty Square.
🌀Summer is also hurricane season! Make sure to check the park website www.nps.gov/fosu for any closures related to severe weather.

Follow these tips and you too can plan like a park ranger. We can’t wait to see you!



Image: A park ranger at Fort Sumter holds up a wind and temperature meter with the temperature reading 116.1 degrees. NPS/A.Solgere

05/25/2026