I even remember the very first Fort Fisher Visitors Center and Museum which was a maybe 60 by 60 foot metal shed located at Battle Acre by the Confederate monument. I'm not sure when it was built. As a matter of fact when I was really young, I liked going to Fort Fisher but not to see the history or museum of it. There was this really strange man with a long beard and usually shirtless who held court there. He was known as the Fort Fisher Hermit.
Then came the Civil War Centennial (1961-1965). This happened right when I was the most interested in the Civil War in my young life (I was 10 to 15 during the centennial.) Around 1963, they built the structure that served as the museum until earlier this year.
I spent a lot of time in there whenever I was in North Carolina visiting family.
When I first heard about the new center, I was told that the plan was to immediately tear down the old one and put up a temporary structure to house the museum and center because of parking. I thought that was not a good move. Leave the old one up until right before the new one is complete and then move stuff over directly.
Part of the problem was parking, but I figured why not just have people park in the part of Fort Fisher that was torn down for an airstrip during WW II. This is what they did.
I sure am going to miss the old one, but really look forward to seeing the new one.
--Old B-Runner
