Fort Sumter National Monument, now designated as Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, sits in the middle of Charleston Harbor in South Carolina and marks the symbolic beginning of the American Civil War. Construction of this coastal fortification began in 1829 but remained incomplete when Confederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard bombarded the Union garrison on April 12, 1861, triggering the nation's bloodiest conflict. Accessible only by ferry through Fort Sumter Tours, visitors can explore the fort and learn its compelling history at the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center. The park encompasses both Fort Sumter and its sister fortification Fort Moultrie, collectively interpreting centuries of coastal defense.
