Until the last few months of the Civil War, Fort Fisher kept North Carolina's port of Wilmington open to blockade-runners supplying necessary goods to Confederate armies inland. By 1865, the supply line through Wilmington was the last remaining supply route open to Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. When Ft. Fisher fell after a massive U.S. amphibious assault on January 15, 1865, its defeat helped seal the fate of the Confederacy.
Hours and Location
Tuesday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday, and designated state holidays
1610 Ft. Fisher Blvd. South
Kure Beach, NC 28449
GPS Coordinates Lat 33.9698958°N. Lon -77.9180417°W.
Admission
General Admission is FREE.
Donations are welcome.
Guided Tours
Throughout the year, we offer outdoor guided tours of Fort Fisher’s earthworks along the Tour Trail. Tickets are purchased on-site at the first-floor Information Desk, and advanced booking is not available. Learn about the different types of tours we offer below:
- Standard Tour: 45-minute duration along the outdoor Tour Trail.
- $5 per adult, $4 for seniors 65+ and military, $1 for children 3-17 (plus sales tax).
- Above the Scenes Tour: 90-minute duration along outdoor Tour Trail with an exclusive climb to the top of Fort Fisher's earthworks.
- $10 per person (plus sales tax).
Tours are dependent on staffing and weather, so we advise calling our Information Desk at 910-251-7351 ahead of time to learn which tours we are offering and when on the day of your visit.
We ask that large groups make reservations in advance (see section below).
Group Visits and Activities
If you plan to bring a group of 15 people more to Fort Fisher, please make a reservation at least two weeks in advance using these Google forms:
- Adult groups please use this form
- Military Groups please us this form
- School, Scout, and Family Groups please use this form
By reserving visits for groups of 15 people or more, you can request staff-guided activities such as tours and demonstrations, free of charge. If you have questions, please contact Cameron Kinard at cameron.kinard@dncr.nc.gov.
Special Events
If you would like to visit Fort Fisher for one of our special events during the year, please see our Events schedule.
Facilities
Visitor Center
With our grand opening on October 30, 2024, Fort Fisher's new 20,000 square-foot visitor center is open to the public. This impressive building contains new exhibit galleries, the Friends of Fort Fisher Gift Shop, a robust Activity Hall, and public restrooms. The Activity Hall will soon be available as a rentable space for receptions, presentations, group meetings, etc.
Historic Structures
Less than ten percent of the original earthen fortification remains. Approximately 180 yards of Fort Fisher's original land face exists on the river side of U.S. 421, now expanded with newly reconstructed Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Traverses. This new section boasts an enterable Bombproof Shelter Exhibit, a reconstruction of the Center Sallyport, and several gun positions, all built according to historical records and archaeological evidence.
Seventy-five yards of the original land face also exists on the ocean side of U.S. 421, now part of the natural landscape. The partial remains of Battery Buchanan can be found at the southern end of Federal Point, just south of the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry landing.
Trails, Monuments, Outdoor Exhibits
The Fort Fisher Tour Trail is approximately one-half mile in length and encircles the remains of the fort on the river side of the highway. Exhibit panels containing photos and text are located at many locations along the tour trail. Other walking trails can be found on the ocean side of U.S. 421, in the vicinity of the Battle Acre Monument.
Handicap Accessibility
The visitor center and restrooms are fully ADA-compliant. The tour trail is also handicapped-accessible, with the exception of the restored gun emplacements.
Picnic Facilities
No picnic facilities are available.
Gift Shop
The Friends of Fort Fisher Gift Shop features many unique items for sale related to Fort Fisher, the Civil War, and North Carolina History. Please contact our Gift Shop manager with any questions at fortfishergift@gmail.com, and learn more about the Friends of Fort Fisher on their website, www.friendsoffortfisher.org.