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Castle Pinckney Historical Preservation Society Announces Construction of New Private Access Dock to Support Restoration Efforts
Feb. 25, 2026
Charleston, S.C. ─ The Castle Pinckney Historical Preservation Society (CPHPS) announces that it will soon begin constructing a new dock at Castle Pinckney on Shute’s Folly in Charleston Harbor.
The new dock, which will be shorter than the original one, is designed to provide safe and secure access to the historic fort for restoration crews, contractors, preservation specialists and authorized personnel engaged in ongoing stabilization and restoration efforts at the historic site.
“This dock is an important step in protecting and restoring Castle Pinckney, and it is a critical infrastructure improvement that will enhance safety, improve logistical efficiency, and support the long-term preservation of the site,” said CPHPS President Richard Moore. “By reconstructing a safe access point in the footprint of the former dock and keeping the new structure smaller and purpose-built, we are balancing preservation needs with environmental sensitivity and historic integrity.
“Thanks to generous donations,” Moore added, “this project is fully funded, and all required permits have been obtained.”
The new dock will not be for public use. Instead, the new private dock will be strictly restricted for use by personnel participating in authorized restoration and maintenance activities.
Castle Pinckney
Castle Pinckney was constructed around 1809 on Shute’s Folly, an island in Charleston Harbor, to defend the city on the eve of the War of 1812. The fort has a rich history preceding that of Fort Sumter, and the CPHPS has launched an effort to save the historic structure while there is still time. (See Fourteen Historical Facts about Castle Pinckney)
Shute’s Folly, about 100 acres in size when Castle Pinckney was built, has eroded to less than 15 acres. Tons of earth, used to reinforce the brick-and-mortar structure during the War Between the States, were dumped into the fort immediately following the war. The pressure from the tons of earth that buried the cannons and everything else remaining in the fort after the war is adversely affecting the structural integrity of the fort.
The Castle Pinckney Historical Preservation Society, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the steward and owner of Castle Pinckney. The Society is dedicated to the general preservation of the castle, the feasible restoration of some of the structure’s lost features, and to reestablishing its significance as a resource.
For more information, visit Castle-Pinckney.org
