Fort Sumter
Discover where the first shots were fired during the American Civil War as you cruise past Fort Sumter. Years of struggles between the North and South erupted on April 12, 1861 when Confederate artillery opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The Battle of Fort Sumter resulted in a significant gain of support for military action from both the North and South.
USS Yorktown
USS Yorktown, built during World War II for the US Navy, is one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers. In 1970 USS Yorktown was decommissioned and placed in reserve. This historic ship was moved from New Jersey to Charleston in 1975 and currently resides as the centerpiece of Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. Learn about the ship’s service history and marvel at her majesty as you pass by her.
Charleston Battery
The Charleston Battery consists of two sections. The high and low batteries are fortified, concrete, seawalls located along Charleston’s southernmost peninsula. The converging, man-made seawalls were built to enhance the scenic beauty of the area and afford panoramic views from a scenic promenade along Charleston Harbor.
Ravenel Bridge
The Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge, which opened in July of 2005, is famously known for being the tallest structure in South Carolina as well as the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America. The towers stand approximately 575 feet above the waterline and use 128 cables to suspend the 13,200 foot long roadbed. The height of this landmark allows ships to easily pass underneath its architectural beauty.
Castle Pinckney
This masonry fortification was built by the US government in 1810. Castle Pinckney was used to defend the coast, artillery positioning, and as a prisoner of war camp. The fort is best known for its integral role in the Confederate defense of Charleston.
This tour is not handicapped accessible. If you need a wheelchair, please contact your group leader to see if any accommodations can be made.
A snack bar (cash only) and restrooms are available on board. Additionally, ice cold beer and wine is available for purchase (cash only).
Tripadvisor Testimonials
Amy “The narrator was great and explained all the places we saw and told us about the animals. Fun with my nieces and we all 3 enjoyed it. Highly recommend it!”
Andrew “We did the 1.5 hour harbor tour, which was just the right amount of time. There was plenty of room to move around and see things/different parts of the boat. Staff was friendly and welcoming, and the narrator seemed very knowledgeable”
John “His ability to tell the history of Charleston while pointing out the points of interest was outstanding. Highly recommend this tour”