Fort Fisher, A North Carolina Historic Site
Sep 9th, 2008 by Bella
Located near the end of Pleasure Island is Fort Fisher also known as the “last major stronghold of the Confederacy”. For any history buff this is a must see when visiting our area. 
I recently took my family there when they came to visit me, it was an afternoon enjoyed by all. This is a perfect activity for everyone, it is educational, scenic and FREE! We were just in time to catch one of the daily guided tours around the Fort. Attired fully in Civil War uniform, our guide led us around the quarter mile trail that surrounds what still remains of Fort Fisher.
The Fort originally had only a few sand batteries and two dozen guns. However, by it’s completion it comprised fifteen mounds of earth and sand connected by underground passageways. The Fort was built under the direction of Col. William Lamb in a three year time period from 1862-1865 with as many as one thousand men working together.
The importance of this Fort was its strategic location just between the Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of the Cape Fear River. With Wilmington being the last major port open to the Confederacy , the Fort ensured somewhat safe passage for the “blockade-runners” bringing in supplies from places such as Bermuda, Bahamas and Nova Scotia.
The visitor center at Fort Fisher also has indoor exhibits, a video presentation and a large fiber optic map detailing the final stand of the Confederate soldiers. The gift shop has many interesting books that tell of the battles here, letters to and from the soldiers who fought and the stories and legends of their ghosts that remain.
Once a year in January there is a Civil War reenactment held at Fort Fisher where they fire off the canons and set up camps the way it may have been in 1865. I have written about that experience HERE.
For more information about activites and special events at Fort Fisher the phone number is 910-458-5538. Their website is http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/fisher/fisher.htm
