Few forts in the United States today can boast a pedigree to equal that of this unassuming fortification along the north entrance to Charleston Harbor. Fort Moultrie served the United States as a coastal fortification in no less than 6 conflicts and found itself under attack in two of them. The original structure, which no longer exists, was hastily constructed in response to an anticipated British attack on Charleston in the early days of the Revolutionary War. Despite being unfinished and wildly outgunned, the stout fort constructed of thick Palmetto logs withstood the British onslaught and delayed the British occupation of the city for a full four years. The next test would come 80 years later with the outbreak of the Civil War. Upon South Carolina's succession, Federal troops at Fort Moultrie abandoned it for "safer" quarters at nearby Fort Sumter. Moultrie was occupied and participated in the opening act of the conflict. Over the course of the war both Fort Sumter and Moultrie came under periodic Union bombardment but were never captured by force. Needless to say, there wasn't much left of the fort when the conflict ended. The fort was reconstructed, however, and was utilized right through the end of World War 2. The fort today has been reconstructed to give visitors a taste of each era in the fort's history. As you walk from one end of the fort to the other you are witness to life at the fort over a nearly 200-year span. It's quite a unique and interesting place to visit...

Fort Moultrie, SC (12-21-11)

Visitor Center
The visitor center at Fort Moultrie...inside are some nice displays related to the history of the fort and you can climb to the roof to get a good overlook of the fort itself...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Visitor Center
Looking at the main entrance to Fort Moultrie from the roof of the visitor center...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Visitor Center
Another look at the fort from the roof of the visitor center. The yellow bricked section of the fort is the portion that represents its Civil War days...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
As you enter the fort the World War 2 era observation tower looms above the old brick walls...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Fort Moultrie - Sally Port
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
There are numerous places where you can wander a bit inside the walls of the fort, but most areas all there is to see are whitewashed walls...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Heading out into the fort proper...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
WW2 Harbor Entrance Control Post
During World War 2 the Command Post at Ft. Moultrie controlled the defenses of Charleston Harbor...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
WW2 Harbor Entrance Control Post
Looking towards Fort Sumter
IMG 0657p Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Fort Moultrie - Interior Walls
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Fort Moultrie - Interior Battery
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Fort Moultrie
Interior looking north
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Fort Moultrie
The Civil War era Fort
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
A single cannon face the sea from the older portion of the fort...This cannon represents the earliest armament of Ft. Moultrie. In 1776, the fort's 30 smoothbore guns defeated an attack by the British fleet armed with over 200 guns!
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Parade Grounds
Looking across the parade grounds...the square foundation in the foreground denotes the location of a former barracks structure...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Powder Magazine Area
This area represents the fort from 1809 to just before the Civil War. The building with the peaked roof is the ca. 1809 powder magazine.
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Civil War Guns
These cannon represent the newer rifled 32-pound guns used by the Confederates during their occupation of the fort during the Civil War.
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
1809 Powder Magazine
Overlooking the ca.1809 powder magazine towards the World War 2 control tower...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
The surroundings seem quite odd from this location at the southwest corner of the fort...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Fort Moultrie
IMG 0674x Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
1809 Powder Magazine
Time to take a look inside the old powder magazine...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
1809 Powder Magazine
The powder magazine is surrounded by a separate barrier wall to provide added protection to the occupants of the facility in the event of an explosion...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
1809 Powder Magazine
ca.1809 Powder Magazine...a look inside...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
1809 Powder Magazine
This small hole in the wall bears testimony to the fort's violent past...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
South Entrance
Heading out the south entrance...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
A group of visiting soldiers offered a unique photo opportunity...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Evidence of past repairs to the walls of the fort are obvious...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
South Entrance
The south entrance to the fort...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
An extension to the walls was built here during the Civil War to provide additional protection from attack...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
A stone path leads out from the fort towards the beach...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Fort Moultrie from the beach walkway...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Another look at the fort...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
We took a few minutes to explore the beach, though darkening clouds meant we couldn't stay long. The famous 'Palmetto Log Fort' of the Revolutionary War stood directly along the shore near here. No trace of this fort remains today...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
We took a few minutes to explore the beach, though darkening clouds meant we couldn't stay long. The famous 'Palmetto Log Fort' of the Revolutionary War stood directly along the shore near here. No trace of this fort remains today...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
To the east of the main fort are a couple more 20th Century shore batteries and a nice display of old cannon, so we wandered over to take a closer look...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Civil War Sea Mine
A Civil War era sea mine...bigger than I imagined for some reason...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Battery Jasper
Alongside Battery Jasper...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Battery Jasper
Located a short distance from the main fort Battery Jasper offers a better look inside a World War era shore battery than its counterparts within the fort...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Battery Jasper
How many long, boring hours were spent in this position by soldiers during World War 2 looking for a German threat that never materialized?...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Battery Jasper
Inside Battery Jasper...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Battery Jasper
One mechanical component of Battery Jasper remains...and old shell lift that would have been used to raise ordinance from beneath to the guns above...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Battery Jasper
One mechanical component of Battery Jasper remains...and old shell lift that would have been used to raise ordinance from beneath to the guns above...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Battery Jasper
This hole marks the location of one of Battery Jasper's gun emplacements...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
Battery Jasper
Looking back towards the main fortifications...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
The old and new(ish)...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument
A 15-star Old Glory snaps in the wind above us as we depart...A clearer day would have been nice from a photographic standpoint but it was a wonderful visit none-the-less...
Civil War Revolutionary War American War for Independence Charleston Spanish American War World War 1 World War 2 fort fortification Fort Sumpter Sullivan's Island coastal battery cannon Palmetto South Carolina National Monument

dwhike

Fort Moultrie, SC (12-21-11)

Fort Moultrie, SC (12-21-11)