Fence Barrier
Tour Trail
Reconstructed
Palisades
PRESERVED EARTHWORKS
OF FORT FISHER'S LAND FACE
Bridge
Shepherd's Battery
R
VISITOR CENTER
PAVILION EXHIBIT
“Hidden Beneath the Waves”
WORLD WAR II AIRSTRIP WORLD WAR II AIRSTRIP
U.S. 421
1
5
7 6
10
13
14
11
12
9
8
2
3
4
Remnants of
Fort Fisher’s
Land Face
WAYSIDE EXHIBITS:
1. Tour Trail Begins Here
2. Blockade-Running
3. History Trail
4. Growth of Fort Fisher, 1861-1862
5. Lamb Expands the Fort, 1862-1865
6. River Road Sally Port
7. Restoration of Shepherd’s Battery
8. Shepherd’s Battery
9. Shepherd’s Bombproof
10. Union Fiasco: The First Battle
11. Capture!
12. Fort Fisher Since 1865
13. Blockade-Running
14. Fighting the Sea - Saving the Fort
“BATTLE ACRE”
Monument
Walkway
Map by Mark Anderson Moore
N.C. Office of Archives & History
Based on maps of the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, and the Office of State
Archaeology.
Ca pe Fear River
US
421
Remnants of
Battery
Buchanan
FORT FISHER -
SOUTHPORT FERRY
“THE ROCKS”
Light
FERRY
LANDING
Federal Point
FORT FISHER
N.C.
AQUARIUM
US
421
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Dangerous Rip Currents
Dangerous Rip Currents
NO LIFEGUARDS
NO LIFEGUARDS
River Marsh
To Fort Fisher - Southport Ferry
and Battery Buchanan
To Carolina
Beach
PRIVATE
RESIDENCES
PRIVATE
RESIDENCES
Swimming is not allowed at Fort Fisher
Swimming is not allowed at Fort Fisher
Public Beach Access
Public Beach Access
REVETMENT
FORT FISHER
STATE RECREATION AREA
Stairs
Stairs
R
1
Public Rest Rooms
Parking
Handicapped Accessibility:
Tour Trail partially accessible; Restored Gun Battery is not accessible.
Visitor Center & Bathrooms fully accessible.
Tour and Walking Trails
Reconstructed Palisades of Fort Fisher
Wayside Exhibit Key
100 100 200 300
FEET
0
R Coquina
Outcrop
Remnants of
Wartime River Road
to Wilmington
Kure Beach, North Carolina
MILES
0
Reconstructed
Palisades
OVERLOOK
OVERLOOK
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
The Lower Peninsula
To N.C. Aquarium and
Fort Fisher State
Recreation Area
FAC I LI T I E S AT FORT FI S H E R
Historic Structures:
Visitor Center:
Trails, Monuments, Outdoor Exhibits:
Handicapped Accessibility:
Picnic Facilities:
Gift Shop:
Programs, Group Activities:
Guided Tours:
Fees:
Less than ten percent of the earthen fortification remains. Approximately 180
yards of the land face exists on the river side of U.S. 421 and seventy-five yards of the land face
exists on the ocean side. The partial remains of Battery Buchanan are at the southern end of Federal
Point (just south of the ferry landing).
A fifteen-minute audiovisual program tells the story of Fort Fisher. Exhibits trace the
history of Fort Fisher and blockade-running; and a large fiber-optic map—featuring hundreds of
moving lights and exciting sounds of battle—outlines the fall of Fort Fisher in January 1865.
The tour trail is approximately one-quarter-mile long 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. A restored gun emplacement is located at
Shepherd’s Battery. Battle Acre, a monument to Confederate dead, is located on the ocean side of U.S.
421. A pavilion located at the northern end of the parking lot houses a display on underwater
archaeology.
The visitor center and rest rooms are fully accessible. The tour trail is
also accessible with assistance, but the restored gun emplacement is accessible.
None.
The gift shop features flags, books, CDs, T-shirts, and many other unique items related to
Fort Fisher and the CivilWar.
At scheduled times throughout the year, costumed guided tours tell the
story of the Confederate artillerists and U.S. infantrymen. Guides teach participants the "drill" with
wooden rifles. Participants also learn the artillery drill (non-firing) on a bronze 12-pounder gun.
Staff and volunteers also fire the 12-pounder and 32-pounder throughout the year. A 24-pounder
Coehorn mortar is also live fired, with a ball!
Regular guided tours are given daily on a scheduled basis:
9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The 9:30 tour is only available from April through October.
We ask that groups make reservations in advance.
No admission fees. There is a suggested donation at some special events.
not
Monday-Saturday:
Sunday:
H O U R S O F O PE RAT I O N
FORT FI S H E R S TAT E H I S T O R I C S I T E
April 1-October 31
November 1-March 31 (Closed Monday)
Closed on most major holidays.
Phone:
Fax:
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.—Monday-Saturday
1:00-5:00 p.m.—Sunday
10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.—Tuesday-Saturday
1:00-4:00 p.m.—Sunday
P.O. Box 169
Kure Beach, NC 28449
(910) 458-5538
(910) 458-0477
8-inch Columbiad with Front-Pintle Barbette Carriage
— Drawing by Mark Anderson Moore
Heavy seacoast weapons of this type (and others) were mounted on the
Land Face of Fort Fisher during the Civil War
