The state has announced that the new visitor center at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site will open to the public on Friday, Sept. 27, with operating hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 18-month-long project began in October 2022 and has a price tag of nearly $25 million.
You might be wondering why Fort Fisher was so important. Well, this was the site of the largest amphibious battle of the Civil War, and it played a crucial role in the Confederacy’s ability to get supplies. By the time it fell in January 1865, the Union had effectively cut off one of the last major supply lines for the South, hastening the end of the war. It’s a fascinating piece of history, and the new center will give visitors a better understanding of why this battle mattered so much.
The new building will allow for more space to display the items unearthed over the years from one of the most pivotal Civil War battles. An official ribbon-cutting for the visitor center and underwater archaeology center will take place at the grand opening.
Admission and parking for the grand opening are free to the public.
Per the NC Department of Natural Resources and NC Division of State Historic Sites, the site is expected to serve over 1 million annual visitors. The original visitor center, built in 1965, was expected to accommodate an estimated 25,000 visitors annually.