Fort Dorchester – Summerville, South Carolina

Fort Dorchester is part of the Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site in Summerville. In addition to the fort, the site also includes the ruins of St George’s Anglican Church and the remains of a shipping dock visible only at low tide.

Dorchester was founded in the late 1690s by a group of Congregationalist settlers from Massachusetts. Located on the banks of the Ashley River, Dorchester flourished as a trading village and by the mid 1700s had become the third largest town in South Carolina.

The town’s fear of an impending French invasion in 1757 prompted the construction of a powder magazine and tabby fort. Fort Dorchester saw little activity until the American Revolution, during which it served as an important military depot and strategic point. Many notable South Carolina military leaders, including Francis Marion and Thomas Sumter, were stationed at Fort Dorchester during the war to guard the powder magazine.

Many thanks to Paul Mulkey of Charleston for sharing this photo.