A Walk Through Time: The Guns of Fort Moultrie
Exploring the Evolution of American Coastal Artillery The National Park Service at Fort Moultrie offers a unique journey through the...
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When did the Charleston National Parks become part of the National Park Service?
The National Park Service, a division of the Department of the Interior, has had a presence in the Charleston Area for over 75 years....
The Story of Fort Moultrie
The current Fort Moultrie, opened in December, 1809, is the third fort on the same site to bear Col. William Moultrie’s name. Reflecting...
10 Facts about Liberty Square in Charleston
10 Fascinating Facts about Liberty Square in Downtown Charleston, SC Liberty Square in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, stands as a...
Learn why Charles Pinckney is known as the Forgotten Founder
Discover the Life of Charles Pinckney, Revolutionary War Hero, Politician, and Contributor to the U.S. Constitution at His Iconic Snee...
10 Facts: The Charleston Light
Morris Island Lighthouse with Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse in the distance #1: Official Name: The official name for the lighthouse on...
10 Facts: The Charles Pinckney National Historic Site at Snee Farm
The Charles Pinckney National Historic Site contains a portion of the historic Snee Farm that was the plantation or country seat of...
10 Facts: Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney is one of South Carolina’s most significant and historic figures. Born into a prominent family, Pinckney...
10 Facts: Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was the focal point for the opening acts of the American Civil War and became an important symbol of resistance to both the...
10 Facts: Fort Moultrie
Fort Moultrie remains one of the most historic fortifications in the United States. Its location spans more than 250 years of history and...
The Evacuation of Fort Moultrie
As many journalists might tell you, significant news rarely occurs around Christmas, when families gather to celebrate. However, in...
Tremendous Sacrifices for Our Freedoms
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, it’s important to reflect on the sacrifices made by our forefathers....
Perspectives of a Charleston National Parks Volunteer
Indeed, National Parks are our “best idea”, but given competing priorities in Federal funding, they are not receiving enough money to...
Ratification Day
Ratification Day, celebrated annually on January 14, commemorates a pivotal moment in American history when the Continental Congress...
Charleston’s Great Ornithologist
In celebration of National Bird Day on January 5, we honor Arthur Trezevant Wayne, one of Charleston’s most fascinating yet lesser-known...
January 9, 1861: The Day the Civil War Didn’t Start
On the morning of December 21, 1860, South Carolina declared itself an independent republic, separating from the United States. U.S....
Presidents’ Day
Congress has designated the third Monday in February as Presidents' Day, a national holiday to honor the Presidents of the United States....
Isaac Sawyer of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry
For two years after the start of the American Civil War in April 1861, both the Union and Confederate governments refused to enlist...
The Role of Enslaved African Americans in the Construction and History of Fort Sumter
Within the legacy of Fort Sumter’s iconic role in the arc of the Civil War, is a little-known fact that enslaved African Americans were...
Women’s History Month: Rebecca Brewton Motte
Throughout history, the significant roles and contributions of women have often been overlooked compared to those of men. However, March...
Women’s History Month: Harriet Tubman
The story of Harriet Tubman, who passed away on March 10, 1913, is a remarkable tale of bravery, cunning, and a deep commitment to the...
Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross and Humanitarian Pioneer
When people think of Clara Barton, the name is synonymous with the founder of the American Red Cross. Her humanitarian journey began as a...
Charles Pinckney’s Scandal
Charles Pinckney (1757-1824), remembered as a significant Founding Father of the United States, made his mark early in American history....
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – March 30
In the spring of 1861, tensions in Charleston reached an all-time high. For decades, South Carolina harbored grievances against the U.S....
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – March 31
As discussed in yesterday’s post, America found itself at a pivotal crossroads as March transitioned into April 1861, with no favorable...
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – April 1
Confederate Brigadier General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard communicated with President Jefferson Davis and South Carolina Governor...
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – April 2
In yesterday’s post, we discussed the strategic actions of Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard as he fortified Charleston’s defenses,...
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – April 3
On March 26, the merchant schooner *Rhoda H. Shannon* departed from Boston, carrying a shipment of ice destined for Savannah. However, on...
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – April 4
On the critical issue of Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln convened with Republican governors who had been vocal about the ongoing...
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – April 5
Gideon Welles, serving as Lincoln’s Secretary of the Navy, issued crucial orders to send reinforcements to Fort Sumter during a critical...
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – April 6
In a pivotal communication penned in his own handwriting, President Abraham Lincoln addressed U.S. Maj. Robert Anderson stationed at Fort...
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – April 7
On the 56th birthday of South Carolina Governor Francis Pickens, tensions escalated as U.S. Major Robert Anderson refused to surrender...
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – April 8
U.S. Maj. Robert Anderson and South Carolina Gov. Francis Pickens received a crucial message from President Abraham Lincoln regarding a...
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – April 9
On April 9, 1861, the Confederate Cabinet convened in Montgomery to strategize the imminent attack on Fort Sumter, aiming to compel its...
How the Civil War Began, an April 1861 Timeline – April 10
In a pivotal moment during the American Civil War, Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s Secretary of State, Robert Augustus Toombs,...
History of the South Carolina State Flag
Pop quiz: Name the icons featured on South Carolina’s state flag, and when and where it was first flown? If you guessed a blue flag with...
William Moultrie
Dr. John Moultrie, 1729-1798 William Moultrie, the son of a Scottish immigrant, was part of a family deeply affected by the American...
Denmark Vesey
The life and trial of Denmark Vesey remain shrouded in mystery, with little known about him beyond various rumors and allegations. As...
The Mosquito Fleet
Charleston’s "Mosquito Fleet" was a resilient group of African-American fishermen who, for nearly two centuries, braved the elements to...
Battery Wagner
The week of July 10-18, 1863, marked some of the bloodiest days in Charleston's history, highlighted by the Civil War battles of Battery...
Signing the Declaration of Independence
Many people are surprised to learn that the Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4, 1776, by the 56 delegates to the Second...
The HL Hunley
The Civil War was a time of transformation, not only for our country but also for warfare. Innovation was the name of the game when it...
Fort Moultrie’s Lost Battery: Battery Lord
Following the Civil War, General Quincy Gillmore of the Army Corp of Engineers had Fort Moultrie rebuilt along the lines of the original...
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
On this Constitution Day, we reflect on the remarkable life of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a military officer who risked both his life...
The Legacy of Capt. Florence O'Sullivan: From Early Charles Town Settler to Sullivan's Island Namesake
Florence O'Sullivan was a prominent figure among Charles Town’s first settlers and a key player in shaping the early history of South...
LEARN THE HISTORY OF THE PARKS
Protecting Charleston’s Past and Future
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