Until the last few months of the Civil War, Ft. 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 Federal amphibious assault on January 15, 1865, its defeat helped seal the fate of the Confederacy. Continued
The Site
- Site Overview
- Historical Gallery
- Exhibits
- Exhibit Photos
- Fiber-Optic Battle Map
- Site Area Map (74K)
- Tour Map Front (PDF - 3.6Mb)
- Tour Map Back (PDF - 427K)
- Other Websites
- Eastern Regional Map
Second Saturdays
- June 12 - Exploring Our Historical Landscape. Local artists and craftspeople explore coastal themes in their work, will demonstrate and sell seascapes, landscapes and more. Painters, potters, jewelry makers and others will participate
- July 10 - Life on Fort Fisher’s Waterways. Explore life in the Cape Fear River region with artisans who work in coastal themes, artifacts from the N.C. Aquarium. Painters, clay artisans and others will attend.
- August 14 - Living Our Civil War History. Craftspeople and vendors will demonstrate and sell mid 19th century crafts. Costumed interpreters will give tours, period music.
The Port
- Wilmington
- The River Defenses
- The Cape Fear Estuary and Approaches to Wilmington (165K)
- Confederate Map of Civil War Wilmington (73K)
- Federal Map of Civil War Wilmington (66K)
- Running the Blockade
The Fort
- Ft. Fisher
- Map of Ft. Fisher (67K)
- Armament
- The Crimean War Connection: The Malakoff (Sebastopol) (51K)
The Civil War at Ft. Fisher
Politics
1st Attack
- The Powder Vessel
- Battle Chronology
- Casualties and Other Numbers
- Union Command Gallery
- Confederate Command Gallery
2nd Attack
- Battle Chronology
- Casualties and Other Numbers
- Union Command Gallery
- Confederate Command Gallery
- Black Troops at Ft. Fisher
Battle Maps
- Bombardment of Ft. Fisher (60K)
- Opposing Lines on Federal Point (68K)
- Attack of Federal Sailors and Marines (66K)
- Federal Infantry Attack (66K)
- Advance of Abbott's Brigade (72K)
- Surrender at Battery Buchanan (66K)
Aftermath
The Forces
WWII
Fort Fisher Information
Contact Us
Ft. Fisher
P.O. Box 169
1610 Ft. Fisher Blvd South
Kure Beach, N.C. 28449
Phone: (910) 458-5538
Fax: (910) 458-0477
Email: fisher@ncdcr.gov
Hours of Operation
April 1 - Sept. 30
Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday 1-5 p.m.
Oct. 1 - March 31
Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed Sunday and Monday and most major state holidays.
Admission
No admission fees. There is a suggested donation at some special events.