Fort Moultrie National Monument, Charleston

Fort Moultrie National Monument is a superior example of how coastal defenses have evolved over time. It is actually the third structure built to defend the coast on Sullivan's Island; the first two versions of Fort Moultrie were destroyed in hurricanes. Edgar Allan Poe penned a poem and the story "The Gold Bug" while stationed here in the early 1800s, and Seminole Indian Chief Osceola was buried at the entrance to the fort. Artillery buffs will find the historic cannons fascinating. The historic Fort Sumter is a short distance away on its own island (though they share the same mailing address), but visitors without their own boat cannot reach Fort Sumter from Fort Moultrie; they must take a ferry via downtown Charleston or Mount Pleasant.

Write a Review