Historic Site

Decades of growing strife between North and South erupted in civil war on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort in Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later. Union forces would try for nearly four years to take it back.

For more information visit the National Parks and Recreation website.

During the Revolutionary War a British Army contingent of 2,500 men attempted to raid a colonial encampment on adjacent Sullivan's Island. The area was of significance again during the Civil War, as a point of departure for the CSS Hunley.

Isle of Palms is known locally for it's legends of buried treasure highlighting it's history as a pirate enclave.