Preserved Civil War fortification featuring restored earthworks, interpretive exhibits, historic artifacts, scenic coastal landscapes, and a visitor center exploring the fall of Wilmington during the final months of the war.
Closed Sunday, Monday, and designated state holidays
Standard Guided Tour: Adults $5, Seniors (65+) and Military $4, Children (3–17) $1
Above the Scenes Tour: $10 per person
How to Get There
From Wilmington, NC (18 mi): Take US-421 south through Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, continue along Fort Fisher Boulevard South, and follow signs directly to the historic site visitor center and fort grounds.
Overview
Fort Fisher guarded the last open Confederate seaport during the Civil War, its massive earthen defenses among the strongest in North America at the time. It held off Union attacks until a massive amphibious assault captured it in January 1865, sealing Wilmington's fate and hastening the Confederacy's collapse. Today you can walk the surviving earthworks and trails, and tour a visitor center whose exhibits cover the soldiers, sailors, and civilians — including enslaved people — caught up in the fight. Set between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River, the site pairs serious history with a scenic coastal setting.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Fort Fisher State Historic Site, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
