SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, SC – The National Park Service is initiating a planning process to prepare a visitor use management plan that will shape the visitor experience and management direction of Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie National Historical Park into the future. The park welcomes all interested persons to participate in this effort.   

The purpose of the plan is to improve visitor experience and universal access at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park; provide planning direction for the US Coast Guard Historic District; and ensure that park resources and values remain protected. The impact of sea level rise and increased frequency and intensity of storm events on resources and visitor use patterns, given the park's especially sensitive coastal location, will also be addressed. The plan will guide the creation of high-quality visitor experience at all stages of the park visit, including pre-arrival; at ferry departure location(s); and onsite at Fort Sumter, Fort Moultrie Military Reservation, and the US Coast Guard Historic District.  

This plan is needed to provide visitors with a high-quality experience, protect natural and cultural resources, and provide future planning and management guidance to sites within the park. The plan is also needed to inform the development of a prospectus for a concession contract that provides access to Fort Sumter. The current contract expires in 2029. 

Get Involved: 
The National Park Service encourages all interested citizens to play a role in outlining the park’s future by sharing their thoughts on key issues and potential management strategies to improve visitor experiences and protect park resources considering climate change conditions. The project team will consider public input while developing the plan.    

To provide feedback, please click on the link below to reach the park planning website for Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park or write to the National Park Service using the address below. Please submit comments by February 15, 2024.  

To hear more information and share ideas directly with National Park Service staff, please attend one of the virtual public meetings on February 1, 2024, from 3-4:30pm or from 6-7:30pm (both in eastern time).  

Virtual Public Meeting
February 1, 2024, 3:00pm EST
Teams Meeting Link: https://tinyurl.com/mwvam4u7
Meeting ID: 238 899 158 891, Passcode: naYtVc
Call In: 1-202-640-1187, Passcode: 651 586 989# 

Virtual Public Meeting
February 1, 2024, 6:00pm EST
Teams Meeting Link: https://tinyurl.com/ycy4andt
Meeting ID: 221 074 157 438, Passcode: QWhHa9
Call In: 1-202-640-1187, Passcode: 744 241 474# 

Comment Here:   

ONLINE: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/FortSumterVUM
MAIL: Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
Visitor Use Management Plan
Attention: Brett Spaulding
1214 Middle Street
Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 

Closed captioning will be available, and the virtual meeting will be recorded. To request accessibility accommodations, please contact Brett Spaulding at brett_spaulding@nps.gov or 843-732-5006 by January 24, 2024.  

For more information on Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, visit the park’s website at: https://www.nps.gov/fosu   

www.nps.gov 

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 428 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.