South Carolina has a multitude of historic forts, and locations of previous forts, that one can visit and walk in the footsteps of the men who served their cause throughout history. From famous Civil War forts like Fort Sumter to historic battlefields such as the one found in Camden, the historic sites in South Carolina are honored for their significance in the history of our state and our country.

But there is one historic fort that is underrated and not as well known as the other bigger and more battle-centric locations of the past.
TripAdvisor/SavantIII_11
The fort, Fort Howell, is located on Hilton Head and is unique in so many ways it deserves to be in the spotlight. It's also very worthy of a visit.
And while a hike through Fort Howell doesn't exactly deliver a brick and mortar fort, the grounds do still have evidence of the earthen fort once placed here.
TripAdvisor/SavantIII_11
TripAdvisor/SavantIII_11
But that's not what makes this fort a bit haunting...
It's the painted metal sculptures from a local artist that represent the men who served at Fort Howell.
TripAdvisor/SavantIII_11
TripAdvisor/SavantIII_11
And we'll get to those, but first, a little background about this unique fort.
You see, the slaves in the Hilton Head area were the first to be freed during the Civil War. And this was their home so they built themselves a community called Mitchelville.
TripAdvisor/SavantIII_11
But the federal troops soon figured out that the newly freed slaves were vulnerable and needed some protection. So Fort Howell was constructed with a two-fold mission: protect Mitchelville, and guard the surrounding area from attack.

Related Stories

This Beautiful Boardwalk Trail In South Carolina Is The Most Unique Hike Around

This Beautiful Boardwalk Trail In South Carolina Is The Most Unique Hike Around

 The Easy Trail In South Carolina That Will Take You To The Top Of The World

The Easy Trail In South Carolina That Will Take You To The Top Of The World

 South Carolina's Newest Mountain Hiking Destination Is Jaw-Droppingly Gorgeous And You'll Want To Go

South Carolina's Newest Mountain Hiking Destination Is Jaw-Droppingly Gorgeous And You'll Want To Go
Now back to those unique, yet haunting, sculptures at Fort Howell.
TripAdvisor/karibu372
As you hike around the grounds of Fort Howell, these sculptures tell several stories about the people who once occupied the fort. The one above is a metal sculpture representing Harriett Tubman, a former slave, scout, spy and nurse who came to Fort Howell during the war. (Tubman was also at Fort Johnson outside Charleston for a short period.)
On that note, you'll also find a marker declaring Fort Howell a site of the Underground Railroad.
TripAdvisor/SavantIII_11
TripAdvisor/karibu372
TripAdvisor/SavantIII_11
There are many of the metal sculptures throughout the fort, making the haunting hike also an educational journey into the past.
Each one has a marker to explain whom the figure is meant to represent.
TripAdvisor/SavantIII_11
Google Maps/Christine Solba
And while there are no legendary tales of ghosts or even haunted happenings at Fort Howell, this hike inspires a haunted notion of another kind. The kind where the visual reminders of the people who lived, worked and maybe even died here touch your very soul and inspire you to take a step back in time.
Fort Howell is a historic fort that had a primary function of guarding the first freed slave settlement during the Civil War. That settlement was called Mitchelville.
TripAdvisor/Guy S
Today, the fort is maintained by the Hilton Head Island Land Trust.

Fort Howell is located at 160 Beach City Rd., Hilton Head Island, SC 29926, near the airport. The hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission is free.

To visit another historic Civil War location in South Carolina, check out this previous article.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore South Carolina