Fort Sumter Today

Fort Sumter Today

This article relates to The Demon of Unrest

As Erik Larson recounts in The Demon of Unrest, the first shots of the American Civil War were fired on Fort Sumter, off the coast of South Carolina, at 4:30 a.m. on April 12th, 1861. Thirty-six hours later, Union Major Robert Anderson and his small force surrendered with no loss of life. Ironically, the only casualties sustained came during the fort's 100-gun salute when an artillery round exploded prematurely, killing Pvt. Daniel Hough and mortally wounding another. The Union would reclaim the fort four years later and Anderson would be the one to raise the same American flag the Confederates fired upon.

Today, Fort Sumter is one part of the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historic Park, overseen by the U.S. National Park Service. First added to the National Park Service as a national monument in 1948, it was redesignated in 2019 under its current pairing with Fort Moultrie. Unlike Fort Moultrie, which is located on Sullivan's Island, Fort Sumter is only accessible via boat. According to the Charleston tourism bureau, more than 800,000 people visit Fort Sumter every year.

The only commercial boat transportation to Fort Sumter is via Fort Sumter Tours, an authorized NPS concessioner. Private boats are not allowed at the fort. The ferry takes about thirty minutes to reach the fort, but visitors are allowed a full hour to roam and listen to NPS ranger talks about the fort's history and significance. The ferry ride also provides visitors with beautiful views of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown and the Ravenel Bridge, according to an article by Sharon Williams for State by State Travel. A museum inside the fort relates the history of Sumter, and visitors can view the same flag that was flying when it was first attacked. Rangers are on hand to answer questions as visitors are encouraged to explore the fort on their own.

For those unable to visit in person, the American Battlefield Trust provides an online and immersive 360-degree virtual tour of Charleston and Fort Sumter (compatible with a VR headset, no less!). Video tours and a helpful animated battle map are important offerings for those who are unable to travel but still desire to see Fort Sumter and understand its geographical and historic importance.

Forts Sumter and Moultrie recently commemorated the first shots of the Civil War on April 13–14, 2024, marking the 163^rd anniversary of the beginning of the war. According to an NPS press release, "living historians in period clothing" portrayed soldiers and civilians at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie "to help provide insight into the tension filled days that preceded the war." From an embattled American Civil War sea fort to a popular and beautiful tourist attraction, Fort Sumter continues to draw thousands of visitors every year to reflect on a turbulent time in the nation's history.

Aerial view of Fort Sumter in 2017, courtesy of Library of Congress

Filed under Places, Cultures & Identities

This "beyond the book article" relates to The Demon of Unrest. It originally ran in May 2024 and has been updated for the April 2024 edition. Go to magazine.