Fort Sumter Hotel

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Description:

Aerial view of the Fort Sumter Hotel located at 1 King Street and the surrounding area of houses looking west toward the Ashley River. White Point Gardens is visible and Wappoo Creek can be seen in the distant background.

The Fort Sumter Hotel was opened in 1923 as the first luxury hotel in Charleston and operated until 1974 when it was converted into condominiums. In February of 1942, John F. Kennedy spent three nights at the hotel with Inga Arvad, who was a former Miss Denmark and suspected Nazi spy. In July of the same year, the building was rented by the 6th Naval District for their headquarters until 1945 when it was refurbished and reopened as a hotel in 1946.